Cleo Loi
Born1991 or 1992 (age 31–32)[1]
NationalityAustralian
Alma materUniversity of Sydney
Known forMapping plasma tubes in the Earth's atmosphere
AwardsBok Prize of the Astronomical Society of Australia (2015)
Scientific career
FieldsAstrophysics
InstitutionsCAASTRO ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics

Shyeh Tjing Cleo Loi (born c. 1991) is an Australian astrophysicist and PhD candidate in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge under John Papaloizou,[2] having completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Sydney School of Physics in 2014. She is credited with proving the existence of plasma tubes inside the Earth's magnetosphere and extending into the plasmasphere.[3][4][5]

Background

Loi had been a student at James Ruse Agricultural High School[4] before studying at the University of Sydney as an undergraduate and member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO).[4]

Plasma tubes

While working on her undergraduate thesis, Loi followed the suspicions of scientists as far back as 60 years ago theorizing the existence of plasma tubes. Loi was the lead researcher on the project, and first to successfully prove their existence using the Murchison Widefield Array. The findings of the study were published in the Geophysical Research Letters.[4]

In June 2015, Tara Murphy of the University of Sydney explained the process by which her undergraduate student, Loi, had used MWA results to determine the existence of plasma channels following the Earth's magnetic field lines.[6] Loi applied visualization techniques to specific data that showed distortions in positions for distant point sources, explaining the distortion by the existence of tubular structures along the field lines. Dividing the MWA data into a 'stereo' set from several MWA sources allowed the height of the tubes to be determined. They are believed to be, or are related to, "whistler ducts".[6]

Honors and prizes

Loi won the Astronomical Society of Australia and Australian Academy of Science's 2015 Bok Prize for her plasma tube research.[4] Loi was a finalist of the Young Australian of the Year 2017.[7]

Music

Loi has become a well known violinist, violist, recorder player, and répétiteur and is currently active in the vibrant Cambridge University music scene. She is best known for her work as Assistant Musical Director in Trial By Jury with the Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society working alongside conductor Robert Nicholas and director Tiffany Charnley.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Australian undergraduate student becomes first to map atmospheric plasma tubes". Xinhua. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  2. ↑ Cleo's home page at DAMTP
  3. ↑ Luntz, Stephen. "Student Confirms That There Are Enormous Tubes Of Plasma Floating Above The Earth". IFL Science. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Strom, Marcus. "Sydney University physics undergraduate maps huge plasma tubes in the sky". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "Aussie student proves existence of plasma tubes floating above Earth". News.com.au. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  6. 1 2 How an undergraduate discovered tubes of plasma in the sky, Tara Murphy, The Conversation, 5 June 2015, accessed 7 June 2015
  7. ↑ "Finalists announced for 2017 NSW Australian of the Year Awards". New South Wales: Australia Day Council. 2016. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  8. ↑ "Person: Cleo Loi - Camdram". Camdram. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
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