Professor Rainer Hollerbach

Research interests

The Earth's magnetic field is created by so-called dynamo action, involving fluid motions in its molten iron core. The Sun's magnetic field is similarly created by flows of electrically conducting plasmas in its interior. My research goal is to understand the dynamics underlying some of these processes, and involves large-scale numerical solutions of the governing partial differential equations for the fluid flow and the magnetic field. I am particularly interested in geophysically or astrophysically motivated liquid metal laboratory experiments, and some of my theoretical predictions have lead directly to the design of new experiments, e.g. on the helical magnetorotational instability in a Taylor-Couette device.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Professional memberships

• Institute of Mathematics and its Applications
• Institute of Physics
• American Physical Society
• American Geophysical Union

Research groups and institutes

• Applied Mathematics
• Astrophysical and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

Current postgraduate researchers

• Christina Pontin
• David Phillips
• Nils de Vries

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>