Yue Hu (胡越), Astrophysicist

NASA Hubble Fellow, Institute for Advanced Study

Burke Fellow, Caltech


In September 2024, I will join the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS) as a NASA Hubble Fellow, jointly serving as a Burke Fellow at Caltech. I earned my Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Spring 2024, supervised by Prof. Alex Lazarian.
My research delves into the turbulent and magnetic intricacies of the Universe. Though invisible to the naked eye, turbulence and magnetism are pivotal forces interwoven through vast galaxy clusters down to the microphysics of cosmic rays.
Where do these forces originate? How do they shape the Universe, govern star formation, drive the activity within the nuclei of Seyfert galaxies, and regulate the evolution of galaxy clusters?
To address these questions, I employ a combination of MHD turbulence theories, state-of-the-art two-fluids (ion and neutral) MHD simulations, physics-informed machine learning approaches, and observational data. 

Email: yuehu@ias.edu

Research

3D Galactic magnetic field distribution (Hu & Lazarian 2023)

3D magnetic field traced by young stellar objects (Hu et al. 2021)

Probing 3D magnetic fields in ISM

The intricate web of magnetic fields threading the Galaxy plays a fundamental role in a plethora of astrophysical phenomena, from the enigmatic origins of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays to the process of star formation. Despite their significance, directly measuring the three-dimensional (3D) magnetic fields within the interstellar medium (ISM) remains a formidable challenge. Driven by an enriched comprehension of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence, this project proposes innovative methodologies to trace and characterize the orientation and strength of 3D magnetic fields:

3D Galactic magnetic field:

3D magnetic fields in star-forming regions:

Magnetic field in the El Gordo cluster (Hu et al. 2024)

Mega-parsec magnetic fields in galaxy clusters

Magnetic fields interwoven within the Intracluster Medium (ICM) exert a substantial influence on the evolution of galaxy clusters. Despite their fundamental role, the properties of these magnetic fields remain largely enigmatic, with their measurement presenting a significant challenge. This project aims to probe the magnetic fields in the ICM by examining their association with both thermal X-ray emission, and non-thermal radio emission. By applying advanced methodologies to these observations, we have achieved the first-ever measurement of magnetic field topology within radio halos.

Magnetic fields in the galaxy clusters:

Magnetic field around the Sgr A* (Hu et al. 2022)

Image credit: SOFIA

Magnetic fields in the Galactic center and extragalaxy

The magnetic field is a pivotal yet enigmatic force within the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) and galaxies at large. To elucidate the complexities of magnetic fields in the CMZ and neighboring galaxies, this project leverages a multi-wavelength observational strategy. We combine neutral and ionized gas spectroscopic observations, radio polarization data, and far-infrared polarization measurements. Through this rich dataset, we generate detailed magnetic field maps, facilitating an in-depth analysis of how magnetic fields contribute to the dynamics of galactic nuclei and the orchestration of interstellar processes. 

Multi-scale and 3D magnetic fields in the Central Molecular Zone:

Magnetic fields in nearby galaxies:

Two-fluid Athena++ simulations of turbulence (Hu et al. 2023)

MHD turbulence in astrophysics

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence represents a cornerstone component within the Interstellar Medium (ISM) and Intracluster Medium (ICM), with its influence extending across a vast spectrum of scales—from hundreds of parsecs down to sub-astronomical units. This project is dedicated to an in-depth examination of MHD turbulence and its related astrophysical manifestations through the lens of cutting-edge simulations.

Cosmic ray transport:

Turbulent dynamo:

Turbulence damping due to neutral-ion decoupling:

Simulation of star formation with stellar feedback (Hu et al. 2022)

Turbulence and magnetic fields in star formation

Deciphering the regulatory mechanisms of star formation necessitates a comprehensive analysis of the interplay among turbulence, magnetic fields, stellar feedback, and gravitational forces within molecular clouds. This project endeavors to dissect the characteristics of turbulence and magnetic field structures within star-forming regions. By integrating state-of-the-art numerical simulations with high-resolution spectroscopic observations, we aim to illuminate the intricate dynamics at play in these stellar nurseries.

Turbulence in star formation:

Magnetic fields in star formation:

Magnetic field in the Smith HI cloud (Hu et al. 2019)

The CMB foreground polarization

Observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) polarization yield invaluable insights into the primordial inhomogeneities of the universe. However, these signals are muddied by the polarization of the Galactic foreground. This project aims to model the Galactic foreground with the aid of atomic neutral hydrogen data. Our goal is to enhance the clarity of CMB data, thereby sharpening our view of the universe's earliest epochs. 

Modeling of the Galactic foreground polarization: