Liu Ningyu

Liu Ningyu is a Professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of New Hampshire (UNH), with a joint appointment in the Space Science Center of the Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans, and Space (EOS). His research spans plasma physics, ionospheric physics, radio science, remote sensing, and computational electrodynamics, with a focus on atmospheric electrical discharges such as lightning, jets, and sprites.

His research interests include plasma discharge physics, ionospheric coupling, radio interferometry, optical imaging, and numerical modeling of transient luminous events. He develops simulation tools, builds radio and optical instruments, and analyzes observational data to understand the physics of high-energy atmospheric phenomena. His work has been published in top journals including Nature Communications, Physical Review Letters, and Geophysical Research Letters.

His recent publications show a strong focus on 3D radio and optical mapping of gigantic jets, LOFAR-based interferometric imaging of lightning leaders, streamer dynamics, and electric field quantification during lightning initiation. His research increasingly integrates high-resolution observational data with advanced numerical models to unravel the mechanisms of fast breakdown and discharge propagation in thunderstorms.

• National Science Foundation (NSF)
• U.S. Department of Defense (Air Force)
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

He has led multiple grants including projects on Understanding VHF Emissions from Lightning, Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Streamer Discharges, and A Spectroscopic Study of Starters, Jets, and Gigantic Jets. His students have won awards at scientific meetings and received university honors.

Liu Ningyu teaches core physics courses such as Electricity and Magnetism, Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, and Senior Design. He advises both undergraduate and graduate students in experimental and computational aspects of atmospheric and space physics.