Details & Abstract
We hosted a student talk on Star–Planet Interactions, exploring the stellar winds, magnetic interactions and their significance in exoplanetary systems through engaging explanations and discussions.
What Happened
Singularity organized a student talk session titled “Star–Planet Interactions: From Parker Winds to Alfvén Wings”, delivered by Sagnik Saha, a BS-MS student. The session explored the fascinating dynamics of star–planet interactions (SPIs), where orbiting planets interact with the stellar wind and magnetic fields of their host stars through gravitational, magnetic and plasma-mediated effects.
The talk began with an introduction to the fundamental concepts behind stellar winds, particularly Parker’s model, and gradually moved towards more complex ideas such as Alfvén wings and their role in shaping star–planet environments. Through intuitive explanations and visual illustrations, the speaker helped the audience build a conceptual understanding of how these interactions influence planetary atmospheres and stellar behavior.
The session also highlighted the broader significance of SPIs in modern astrophysics, including their role in studying exoplanetary systems and space weather phenomena.
The speaker also discussed potential observational signatures of such interactions and how they are relevant in current research. The talk maintained an engaging and interactive atmosphere, encouraging participants to think critically and connect theoretical concepts with real-world astrophysical scenarios. It concluded with a lively question-and-answer session, where attendees actively participated and clarified their doubts, making the event both insightful and intellectually stimulating.
Speaker / Author
Sagnik Saha