Project Grant 2408025

This $365,771 Project Grant awarded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Astronomical Sciences supports research at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) to enhance understanding of stellar astrophysics and the impacts of solar activity. The project aims to improve modeling of turbulent plasma flows and rotational mixing within stars, which is crucial for predicting stellar evolution and mitigating risks from solar flares. Key activities include direct numerical simulations, asymptotic analyses, and integrating the influence of convective zones on differential rotation - innovations that will culminate in new rotational mixing models implemented within the MESA framework. This research holds significant implications for understanding stars from inception to demise, with applications for life on Earth and beyond. The award also supports UCSC's commitment to STEM diversity and education, providing undergraduate and master's students with hands-on research experience and empowering women in geophysical fluid dynamics and theoretical astrophysics.