Dr. Browning is awarded an NSF Astronomy and Astrophysics Postdoctoral Fellowship to carry out a program of research and education at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Bary will conduct simulations of convection and dynamo activity within M-type dwarf stars of several different masses at a range of rotation rates. Using the anelastic spherical harmonic (ASH) code, which solves the full 3-D compressible magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) fluid equations, Dr. Bary will examine the roles of rotation and convection in determining the strength of dynamo-generated fields. By modeling M-type dwarfs of different masses, he will further seek to determine the origin of the striking observational trends concerning the surface magnetism of such stars. His results will thus provide fundamental insights into the nature of dynamo action in stars.
Dr. Bary will also lead education and outreach activities among both the general public and young astronomers in the Berkeley area that will advance understanding of how stars build magnetic fields. In addition, Dr. Bary will design and teach a seminar course for upper-level undergraduate students at Berkeley that will provide a grounding in MHD concepts.
