T. D. Lee Chair Professor
Astronomy and Astrophysics Division
TDLI N526
mail AT sjtu.edu.cn
Education Background
| 1991-1994 | PhD | Cornell University |
| 1988-1991 | Master | Cornell University |
| 1983-1988 | Bachelor | University of Science and Technology of China |
Professional Experience
| 2008-present | Professor of Astronomy, Benson and Mary Simon Professor | Cornell University |
| 2002-2008 | Associate Professor | Cornell University |
| 1997-2002 | Assistant Professor | Cornell University |
| 1994-1997 | Postdoctoral Fellow | Caltech |
Research Interests
| Astrophysics of Exoplanets: dynamics, formation, protoplanetary disks, star-planet interactions. |
| Compact Objects: neutron stars, black holes, white dwarfs, gravitational waves, neutrinos, condensed matter |
| Astrophysical (particle and fluid) dynamics in general: celestial mechanics, waves, oscillations, instabilities |
Honors and Awards
| 1984-1988 | University Fellowship, University of Science & Technology of China |
| 1988 | Winner of China-U.S. Physics Examination & Application Program (CUSPEA) |
| 1988-1989 | Sage Graduate Fellowship, Cornell University |
| 1991 | C.Liu Memorial Award for Academic Excellence, Cornell University |
| 1994-1997 | Richard C. TolmanResearch Fellowship in Theoretical Astrophysics, California Institute of Technology |
| 1998-2002 | Alfred P. SloanResearch Fellowship |
| 2000 | Dorothy & Fred ChauAward for Excellence in Undergraduate Research Project Supervision, Cornell University |
| 2004 | Oversea Outstanding Young Scientist, P.R. China |
| 2016-2017 | Simons Fellow in Theoretical Physics, Simons Foundation |
| 2018 | Distinguished Alumni Lecturer, University of Science and Technology of China |
| 2020 | Miller Visiting Professor, UC Berkeley |
Selected Publications
- Lai, D. 2001,“Matter in Strong Magnetic Fields”,Review of Modern Physics, 73, 629-661
- Harding, A. K., Lai, D. 2006, “Physics of Strongly Magnetized Neutron Stars”, Report of Progress of Physics, 69, 2631
- Lai, D., Tsang, D. 2009, “Corotational Instability of Inertial-Acoustic Modes in Black Hole Accretion Discs and Quasi-Periodic Oscillations”, MNRAS, 393, 979-991
- Lai, D., Foucart, F., Lin, D.N.C. 2011, “Evolution of Spin Direction of Accreting Magnetic Protostars and Spin-Orbit Misalignment in Exoplanetary Systems”, MNRAS, 412, 2790-2798
- Fuller, J., Lai, D. 2012, “Dynamical Tides in Compact White Dwarf Binaries: Tidal Synchronization and Dissipation”, MNRAS, 421, 426-445
- Lai, D. 2012, “DC Circuit Powered by Orbital Motion: Magnetic Interactions in Compact Object Binaries and Exoplanetary Systems”, ApJ, 757, L3
- Storch, N.I., Anderson, K.R., Lai, D. 2014, “Chaotic Dynamics of Stellar Spin in Binaries and the Production of Misaligned Hot Jupiters”, Science, 345, 1317
- Wang, C., Lai, D. 2016, “Axion-Photon Propagation in Magnetized Universe”, JCAP, 6, 006
- Xu, Wenrui, Lai, D. 2017, “Resonant Tidal Excitation of Oscillation Modes in Merging Binary Neutron Stars: Inertial-Gravity Modes”, Phys. Rev. D 96, 083005
- Zanazzi, J.J., Lai, D. 2018, “Inclination Evolution of Protoplanetary Disks Around Eccentric Binaries”, MNRAS, 473, 603-615
- Liu, B., Lai, D. 2018, “Black Hole and Neutron Star Binary Mergers in Triple Systems: Merger Fraction and Spin-Orbit Misalignment”, ApJ, 863, 68
- Munoz, D.J., Miranda, R., Lai, D. 2019, “Hydrodynamics of circumbinary accretion: Angular momentum transfer and binary orbital evolution”, ApJ, 871, 84
- Vick, M., Lai, D., Anderson, K.R. 2019, “Chaotic Tides in Migrating Gas Giants: Forming Hot and Transient Warm Jupiters via High-Eccentricity Migration”, MNRAS, 484, 5645-5668
- Liu, B., Lai, D., Wang, Y.-H. 2019,“Binary Mergers near a Supermassive Black Hole: Relativistic Effects in Triples”,ApJ Letters, 883, L7
- Li, Jiaru, Lai, D. 2020,“Planetary Spin and Obliquity from Mergers”, ApJ Letters, 898, L20
- Lai, Dong 2021,“Jupiter’s Dynamical Love Number”,Planetary Science Journal, 2, 122
- Su, Yubo, & Lai, Dong 2022,“Dynamics of Colombo’s Top: Tidal Dissipation and Resonance Capture, with Applications to Oblique Super-Earths, Ultra-Short-Period Planets and Inspiraling Hot Jupiters” MNRAS, 509, 3301-3320
- O’Connor, C.E., Teyssandier, J., Lai, Dong 2022,“Secular chaos in white-dwarf planetary systems: origins of metal pollution and short-period planetary companions”, MNRAS, 513, 4178-4195
- Li, Jiaru, Lai, Dong, & Rodet, L.⋆⋆ 2022, “Long-term Evolution of Tightly-Packed Stellar Black Holes in AGN Disks: Formation of Merging Black-Hole Binaries via Close Encounters”, ApJ, 934, 154
- Li, Rixin, & Lai, Dong 2022, “Hydrodynamical Evolution of Black-Hole Binaries Embedded in AGN Discs”,MNRAS, 517, 1602-1624
- Rodet, Laetitia, & Lai, Dong 2022, “Eccentric debris belts reveal the dynamical history of the companion exoplanet”, MNRAS, 516, 5544-5554
- Lai, Dong 2023, “IXPE Detection of Polarized X-rays from Magnetars and Photon Mode Conversion at QED Vacuum Resonance”, PNAS, 120, 17, e2216534120
- Lai, Dong, & Munoz, Diego J. 2023, “Circumbinary Accretion: From Binary Stars to Massive Binary Black Holes”, Ann Review Astron. Astrophys.Chai 61, 517-560