PEOPLE
Li Hua-bai 李華白
Li, Hua-bai / Associate Professor
PHONE: (852) 39431118
EMAIL: hbli@cuhk.edu.hk
ORCID: 0000-0003-2641-9240
OFFICE: Room 305, 3/F, Science Centre Nort Block
Research
News
The molecular cloud simulation in Cao & Li 2023 — Turbulence in Zeeman Measurements from Molecular Clouds
Experience it in 3D with full-screen mode using Google Cardboard! (by Andre Chen)
Education
- PhD, Department of Astronomy and Physics, Northwestern University, 2006
Position
- 2019-now, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2013-2019, Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- 2009-2013, Postdoctoral Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
- 2006-2009, Postdoctoral Fellow, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
- 2000-2006, Research/Teaching Assistant, Northwestern University
- 1997-1999, Second Lieutenant, Taiwanese Marine Corp
Research Interests
- Star formation
- Interstellar medium turbulence and magnetic fields
- Astronomical instrumentation
Selected Recent Publications
Magnetic fields of molecular clouds
- “Anchoring Magnetic Field in Turbulent Molecular Clouds“, Li, H.-b., Dowell, C. D., Goodman, A., Hildebrand, R. and Novak, G., ApJ 704, 891 (2009).
- “The Alignment of Molecular Cloud Magnetic Fields with the Spiral Arms in M33“, Li, H.-b. and Henning, T., Nature 479, 499 (2011).
- “The Link between Magnetic Fields and Cloud/Star Formation“, Li et al., A Chapter of Protostars and Planets VI, (2014).
- “Anchoring Magnetic Field in Turbulent Molecular Clouds II – from 0.1 to 0.01 Parsec“, Zhang, Y. (Ph.D. student), Guo, Z. (M.Phil. student), Wang H.H. and Li, H.-b., ApJ 871, 98 (2019).
- “A comparison between magnetic field directions inferred from Planck and starlight polarimetry towards Gould Belt Clouds“, Q. Gu & H.-b. Li, ApJL 871, L15 (2019).
- “Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds—Observation and Interpretation“, LI, H.-b. Galaxies 2021, 9, 41 (2021).
… and their effects on cloud fragmentation
- “The link between magnetic fields and filamentary clouds: bimodal cloud orientations in the Gould Belt“, Li, H.-b., Fang, M., Henning, T. and Kainulainen, J., MNRAS, doi:10.1093/mnras/stt1849 (2013).
- “Self-similar Fragmentation Regulated by Magnetic Fields in a Region Forming Massive Stars“, Li, H.-b., Yuen K. H., Otto F., Leung P. K., et al., Nature, (2015).
- “The link between magnetic field orientations and star formation rates“, H.-b. Li, H.J. Jiang, X.D. Fan, Q.L. Gu and Y.P. Zhang, Nature Astronomy 1, 0158 (2017).
- “The link between magnetic fields and filamentary clouds II: Bimodal linear mass distributions“, Law C. Y. (M.Phil student), Li, H.-B. and Leung, P. K., MNRAS 484, 3604 (2019).
- “Bayesian Revisit of the Relationship between the Total Field Strength and the Volume Density of Interstellar Clouds“, H.J. Jiang, H.-b. Li, X.D. Fan, ApJ 890, 153 (2020).
- “The links between magnetic fields and filamentary clouds III: field regulated mass cumulative functions“, Law C. Y. (M.Phil student), Li H.-B., Cao Z. (Ph.D. student) and Ng C.-Y., MNRAS 498, 850 (2020).
- “Turbulence in Zeeman Measurements from Molecular Clouds“, Zhuo Cao (Ph.D. student) and Hua-bai Li, ApJL, 946, L46 (2023)
… and their effects on gas motion (turbulence)
- “Evidence of Dynamically Important Magnetic Fields in Molecular Clouds“, Li, H.-b., Blundell, R., Hedden, A., Kawamura, J., Paine, S. and ong, E., MNRAS 411, 2067 (2011).
- “Velocity Anisotropy in Self-gravitating Molecular Clouds. I. Simulation“, Otto, F. ( Postdoc), Ji, W. (exchange student) and Li, H.-b., ApJ 836, 95 (2017).
- “Velocity Anisotropy in Self-gravitating Molecular Clouds. II. Observation“, Luk, S.-S. (M.Phil student), Li, H.-b., and Li, D., ApJ 928, 132 (2022).
Turbulence Induced Ambipolar Diffusion
- “Probing the Turbulence Dissipation Range and Magnetic Field Strengths in Molecular Clouds“, Li, H.-b. and Houde, M., ApJ 677, 1151 (2008).
- “Tracing Turbulent Ambipolar Diffusion in Molecular Clouds“, Li, H.-b., Houde, M., Lai, S. and Sridharan, T. K., ApJ 718, 905
(2010). - “Probing the Turbulence Dissipation Range and Magnetic Field Strengths in Molecular Clouds II. Directly Probing the
Ion-neutral Decoupling Scale“, Tang, K.S. (M.Phil student), Li, H.-b. and Lee, W-K, ApJ 862, 42 (2018).
Instrumentation
- “Design and Initial Performance of SHARP, a Polarimeter for SHARC-II Camera at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory“, Li, H.-b., Dowell, D., Kirby, L., Novak, G. and Vaillancourt, J., Applied Optics 47, 422 (2008).
- “Atacama sub-millimeter telescope experiment polarimeter (APol) I: design and lab-test result“, Y. Zhang, H.-B. Li, D. Lühr, T. Takekoshi, T. Oshima and Q. Gu, Applied Optics 59, 2593 (2020).
- “A control system for the ASTEPolarimeter: design and testing“, Lühr Sierra, Melillanca, Vargas and H.-B. Li, Proc. SPIE 11452, Software and Cyberinfrastructure for Astronomy VI, 1145237 (2020).
Press Release
- CUHK Physicist and Statistician Work Together to Reveal Link Between Magnetic Fields and Birth Rate of Stars, CUHK
- CUHK Physicist Unveils Mystery of Massive Star Formation, CUHK
- As Stars Form, Magnetic Fields Influence Regions Big and Small, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
- Magnetic fields set the stage for the birth of new stars, Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie
- Stellar midwives, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Magnetic Fields in Interstellar Clouds, Harvard-Smithsonian Centerfor Astrophysics Weekly Science Update
- Magnetic Fields Play Larger Role in Star Formation than Previously Thought, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
Research in the Media (Examples):
- 中大揭磁場催生「巨星」, 文匯報
- Cosmic magnetic fields act as ‘birth control’ for stars, Hong Kong and US scientists discover, South China Morning Post
- Even though cosmic magnetic fields are much weaker than Earth’s magnetic field, they have an important effect in regulating how stars form, Astronomy Magazine
- Anziehende Geburten im All, Frankfurter Allgemeine
- Magnetic Fields May Rock Cosmic Cradles for Unborn Stars, Space.com
- Magnetic Fields Guide Star Birth, Space.com
- Magnetic Fields Set Stage for Birth of New Stars, Science Daily
- Birth Control for Stars, Science Now