Parisa Mostafavi

Space physicist

240-592-3897

B.S. , Engineering Physics

2009, Science and Research University
M.S., Plasma Engineering

2013, Shahid Beheshti University
M.S., Space Science

2017, The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Ph.D., Space Science

2019, The University of Alabama in Huntsville

I am interested in the structure and properties of the solar winds and energetic particles. I developed a theoretical model and a numerical code to investigate the structure of the shock waves in the presence of the energetic particles in the heliosphere and the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). I have worked on investigating the role of pickup ions (PUIs) at the heliospheric termination shock, the inner heliosheath, and the VLISM. My research interest also includes the interaction of our heliosphere with the VLISM. I currently work on modeling the inner heliosphere with the GAMERA MHD code to study the turbulence and instabilities of the solar wind at unprecedented resolution. Moreover, I am interested in Parker Solar Probe observations, switchbacks and their origins.

Notable Awards and Leadership

Year(s)	Description
2015-2019	Academic Excellence Award from Dean of graduate studies, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
2015	Departmental Scholarship, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
2016-2019	NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship (NESSF)
2019	Graduate Research Award in the Collage of Science, The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL
2020	Fred L. Scarf Award. The Fred L. Scarf Award is given annually to one honoree in recognition of an outstanding dissertation that contributes directly to solar-planetary science.
2014-Present	Member, American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2016-Present	Honorary member of Phi-Kappa-phi
2019-Present	Session co-convener at AGU meeting

Scholarly Publications

High-resolution Simulations of the Inner Heliosphere in Search of the Kelvin–Helmholtz Waves

The Astrophysical Journal, 2022

P. Mostafavi, V. G. Merkin, E. Provornikova, K. Sorathia, C. N. Arge, J. Garretson, (2022), High-resolution Simulations of the Inner Heliosphere in Search of the Kelvin–Helmholtz Waves, The Astrophysical Journal

Alpha–Proton Differential Flow of the Young Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations

The Astrophysical Journal Letters, 2022

P. Mostafavi, R. C. Allen, M. D. McManus, G. C. Ho, N. E. Raouafi, D. E. Larson, J. C. Kasper, S. D. Bale, (2022), Alpha–Proton Differential Flow of the Young Solar Wind: Parker Solar Probe Observations, The Astrophysical Journal Letters

Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

Space Science Reviews, 2022

P. Mostafavi, L. F. Burlaga, I. H. Cairns, S. A. Fuselier, F. Fraternale, D. A. Gurnett, T. K. Kim, W. S. Kurth, N. V. Pogorelov, E. Provornikova, J. D. Richardson, D. L. Turner, G. P. Zank, (2022), Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium, Space Science Reviews

Response of Pickup Ions in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to Solar Variations: Implications for the Evolution of the IBEX Ribbon and Interstellar Helium

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

E. J. Zirnstein, T. K. Kim, P. Mostafavi, J. Heerikhuisen, D. J. McComas, N. V. Pogorelov, (2020), Response of Pickup Ions in the Very Local Interstellar Medium to Solar Variations: Implications for the Evolution of the IBEX Ribbon and Interstellar Helium, The Astrophysical Journal

Cosmic-Ray Acceleration in Radio-jet Shear Flows: Scattering Inside and Outside the Jet

The Astrophysical Journal, 2020

G. M. Webb, P. Mostafavi, S. Al-Nussirat, A. F. Barghouty, G. Li, J. A. le Roux, G. P. Zank, (2020), Cosmic-Ray Acceleration in Radio-jet Shear Flows: Scattering Inside and Outside the Jet, The Astrophysical Journal

A Magnetic Pressure Front Upstream of the Heliopause and the Heliosheath Magnetic Fields and Plasma, Observed during 2017

The Astrophysical Journal, 2019

L. F. Burlaga, N. F. Ness, D. B. Berdichevsky, L. K. Jian, J. Park, P. Mostafavi, J. D. Richardson, (2019), A Magnetic Pressure Front Upstream of the Heliopause and the Heliosheath Magnetic Fields and Plasma, Observed during 2017, The Astrophysical Journal

Inner Heliosheath Shocks and Their Effect on Energetic Neutral Atom Observations by IBEX

The Astrophysical Journal, 2019

P. Mostafavi, G. P. Zank, E. J. Zirnstein, D. J. McComas, (2019), Inner Heliosheath Shocks and Their Effect on Energetic Neutral Atom Observations by IBEX, The Astrophysical Journal

Particle Acceleration by Cosmic Ray Viscosity in Radio-jet Shear Flows

The Astrophysical Journal, 2019

G. M. Webb, S. Al-Nussirat, P. Mostafavi, A. F. Barghouty, G. Li, J. A. le Roux, G. P. Zank, (2019), Particle Acceleration by Cosmic Ray Viscosity in Radio-jet Shear Flows, The Astrophysical Journal

Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Jet Shear Flows

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2019

Hu, Q. and Webb, G.~M. and Nussirat, S.~A. and Mostafavi, P. and Li, G. and Barghouty, N. and le Roux, J.~A. and Zank, G.~P., (2019), Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Jet Shear Flows, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2019, SH13D-3419

The Pickup Ion-mediated Solar Wind

The Astrophysical Journal, 2018

G. P. Zank, L. Adhikari, L.-L. Zhao, P. Mostafavi, E. J. Zirnstein, D. J. McComas, (2018), The Pickup Ion-mediated Solar Wind, The Astrophysical Journal

Telegrapher Equations for Cosmic Rays and Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Jet Shear Flows

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018

Webb, G.~M. and Barghouty, N. and le Roux, J.~A. and Hu, Q. and Mostafavi, P. and Zank, G.~P., (2018), Telegrapher Equations for Cosmic Rays and Particle Acceleration in Relativistic Jet Shear Flows, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018, SH11D-2908

The Pickup Ion Mediated Solar Wind

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018

Zank, G.~P. and Zhao, L. and Adhikari, L. and Mostafavi, P. and Zirnstein, E. and McComas, D.~J., (2018), The Pickup Ion Mediated Solar Wind, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018, SH12B-05

Enhancement of Pickup Ion Pressure in the Inner Heliosheath and Possible Implications for Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) Observations by IBEX

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018

Mostafavi, P. and Zank, G.~P. and McComas, D.~J. and Zirnstein, E., (2018), Enhancement of Pickup Ion Pressure in the Inner Heliosheath and Possible Implications for Energetic Neutral Atom (ENA) Observations by IBEX, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2018, SH13C-2950

The Structure of Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

The Astrophysical Journal, 2018

P. Mostafavi, G. P. Zank, (2018), The Structure of Shocks in the Very Local Interstellar Medium, The Astrophysical Journal , 854, 1, L15, https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/aaab54

The Mediation of Collisionless Oblique Magnetized Shocks by Energetic Particles

The Astrophysical Journal, 2018

P. Mostafavi, G. P. Zank, G. M. Webb, (2018), The Mediation of Collisionless Oblique Magnetized Shocks by Energetic Particles, The Astrophysical Journal

The Evolution of Interplanetary Shocks Propagating into the Very Local Interstellar Medium

Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2018

Mostafavi, Parisa and Zank, Gary P., (2018), The Evolution of Interplanetary Shocks Propagating into the Very Local Interstellar Medium, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 1100, 012018

Time-varying processes in the outer heliosphere

42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 2018

Zank, Gary and Washimi, Haruichi and Mostafavi, Parisa, (2018), Time-varying processes in the outer heliosphere, 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 42, D1.2-20-18

The Structure of Heliospheric Shock Waves in the Presence of a Suprathermal PUI Population; yes

Solar Heliospheric and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE 2018), 2018

Mostafavi, Parisa and Zank, Gary P., (2018), The Structure of Heliospheric Shock Waves in the Presence of a Suprathermal PUI Population; yes, Solar Heliospheric and INterplanetary Environment (SHINE 2018), 102

Energetic Particles Mediated Heliospheric Shock Waves

42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 2018

Mostafavi, Parisa and Zank, Gary and Webb, Gary, (2018), Energetic Particles Mediated Heliospheric Shock Waves, 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 42, D1.3-8-18

Shock Waves in the Very local Interstellar medium

42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 2018

Mostafavi, Parisa and Zank, Gary, (2018), Shock Waves in the Very local Interstellar medium, 42nd COSPAR Scientific Assembly, 42, PIR.1-15-18

Structure of Energetic Particle Mediated Shocks Revisited

The Astrophysical Journal, 2017

P. Mostafavi, G. P. Zank, G. M. Webb, (2017), Structure of Energetic Particle Mediated Shocks Revisited, The Astrophysical Journal , 841, 1, 4, https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aa6f10

Shock Structure: Application to the heliospheric termination shock and an interstellar shock

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2017

Mostafavi, P. and Zank, G.~P., (2017), Shock Structure: Application to the heliospheric termination shock and an interstellar shock, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2017, SH51A-2472

Shock Wave Structure in the Presence of Energetic Particles

Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2017

Mostafavi, Parisa and Zank, Gary P. and Webb, Gary M., (2017), Shock Wave Structure in the Presence of Energetic Particles, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 900, 012016

Shock Wave Structure Mediated by Energetic Particles

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2016

Mostafavi, P. and Zank, G.~P. and Webb, G.~M., (2016), Shock Wave Structure Mediated by Energetic Particles, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SH21A-2500

Particle Acceleration At Shock Waves and Downstream Small-Scale Flux Ropes

EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, 2016

Zank, Gary and Hunana, Peter and Mostafavi, Parisa and le Roux, Jakobus and Webb, Gary and Khabarova, Olga and Li, Gang and Cummungs, Alan and Stone, Edward and Decker, Robert, (2016), Particle Acceleration At Shock Waves and Downstream Small-Scale Flux Ropes, EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EPSC2016-2031

The Modeling of Pickup Ion or Energetic Particle Mediated Plasmas

Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2016

Zank, G.~P. and Mostafavi, P. and Hunana, P., (2016), The Modeling of Pickup Ion or Energetic Particle Mediated Plasmas, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 719, 012014

Particle acceleration and reconnection in the solar wind

Solar Wind 14, 2016

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P. and le Roux, J.~A. and Webb, G.~M. and Khabarova, O. and Cummings, A.~C. and Stone, E.~C. and Decker, R.~B., (2016), Particle acceleration and reconnection in the solar wind, Solar Wind 14, 1720, 070011

Pickup ion mediated plasmas: Shock wave structure

Solar Wind 14, 2016

Mostafavi, P. and Zank, G.~P. and Webb, G.~M., (2016), Pickup ion mediated plasmas: Shock wave structure, Solar Wind 14, 1720, 090003

Diffusive Shock Acceleration and Reconnection Acceleration Processes

\apj, 2015

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P. and Le Roux, J.~A. and Li, Gang and Webb, G.~M. and Khabarova, O. and Cummings, A. and Stone, E. and Decker, R., (2015), Diffusive Shock Acceleration and Reconnection Acceleration Processes, apj, 814, 2, 137

Particle Acceleration At Small-Scale Flux Ropes In The Heliosphere

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2015

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P. and le Roux, J.~A. and Li, G. and Webb, G.~M. and Khabarova, O. and Cummings, A.~C. and Stone, E.~C. and Decker, R.~B., (2015), Particle Acceleration At Small-Scale Flux Ropes In The Heliosphere, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2015, SH14B-01

Particle acceleration by combined diffusive shock acceleration and downstream multiple magnetic island acceleration

Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2015

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P. and le Roux, J.~A. and Li, Gang and Webb, G.~M. and Khabarova, O., (2015), Particle acceleration by combined diffusive shock acceleration and downstream multiple magnetic island acceleration, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 642, 012031

Plasma Physics of the Very Local Interstellar Medium

Journal of Physics Conference Series, 2015

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P., (2015), Plasma Physics of the Very Local Interstellar Medium, Journal of Physics Conference Series, 577, 012025

Pickup Ion Mediated Plasmas. I. Basic Model and Linear Waves in the Solar Wind and Local Interstellar Medium

\apj, 2014

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P. and Goldstein, M.~L., (2014), Pickup Ion Mediated Plasmas. I. Basic Model and Linear Waves in the Solar Wind and Local Interstellar Medium, apj, 797, 2, 87

Plasma Physics, Waves and Turbulence in the Very Local Interstellar Medium

AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2014

Zank, G.~P. and Hunana, P. and Mostafavi, P., (2014), Plasma Physics, Waves and Turbulence in the Very Local Interstellar Medium, AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, 2014, SH13E-07

Simulation of filamentation instability of a current-carrying plasma by particle in cell method

Physics of Plasmas, 2012

Niknam, A.~R. and Mostafavi, P.~S. and Komaizi, D. and Salahshoor, M., (2012), Simulation of filamentation instability of a current-carrying plasma by particle in cell method, Physics of Plasmas, 19, 8, 082119