Publications

Selected peer-reviewed papers are grouped below by their primary scientific contribution; cross-cutting papers appear once. For citation metrics and the complete, most current publication record, visit Google Scholar. Conference presentations follow the publication sections.

Selected Publications

Computational Plasma Physics

Luo, H., Zhang, B., Tian, J., Cai, J., Chen, J., Feng, E., Zheng, Z., Xi, S., & Lyon, J. G. (2026). GAMERA-OP: A three-dimensional finite-volume magnetohydrodynamic solver for orthogonal curvilinear geometries. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 285(1), 15. Paper ↗
Luo, H., Zhang, B., Lyon, J. G., & Tian, J. (2025). Enhanced partial donor cell method for hyperbolic equations in orthogonal curvilinear coordinates. Computer Physics Communications, 109808. Paper ↗
Luo, H., Lyon, J. G., & Zhang, B. (2023). Gas kinetic schemes for solving the magnetohydrodynamic equations with pressure anisotropy. Journal of Computational Physics, 490, 112311. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Zhang, B., Yan, M., Lyon, J., Yao, Z., Xiao, S., Zhang, T., & Lei, J. (2023). A new tool for understanding the solar wind–Venus interaction: three-dimensional multifluid MHD model. The Astrophysical Journal, 945(2), 91. Paper ↗
Li, Z., Lei, J., & Zhang, B. (2021). Numerical considerations in the simulation of equatorial spread F. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126(10), e2021JA029622. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Zhang, B., Lei, J., Wang, W., Burns, A., Liu, H.-L., Pham, K., & Sorathia, K. A. (2021). Azimuthal averaging–reconstruction filtering techniques for finite-difference general circulation models in spherical geometry. Geoscientific Model Development, 14(2), 859-873. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Sorathia, K. A., Lyon, J. G., Merkin, V. G., & Wiltberger, M. (2019). GAMERA: A three-dimensional finite-volume MHD solver for non-orthogonal curvilinear geometries. The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series, 244(1), 20. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Sorathia, K. A., Lyon, J. G., Merkin, V. G., & Wiltberger, M. (2019). Conservative averaging-reconstruction techniques (Ring Average) for 3-D finite-volume MHD solvers with axis singularity. Journal of Computational Physics, 376, 276-294. Paper ↗
Xi, S., Lotko, W., Zhang, B., Brambles, O. J., Lyon, J. G., Merkin, V. G., & Wiltberger, M. (2015). Poynting flux-conserving low-altitude boundary conditions for global magnetospheric models. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120(1), 384-400. Paper ↗

Terrestrial Magnetosphere

Yang, Z., Zhang, B., Lotko, W., & Lei, J. (2025). Global evolution, energetics, and origins of auroral streamers. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(12), e2025GL115681. Paper ↗
Yang, Z., Zhang, B., Lei, J., & Lotko, W. (2024). Why Doesn’t the Observed Field-Aligned Current Saturate With Increasing Interplanetary Electric Field? Geophysical Research Letters, 51(21), e2024GL110037. Paper ↗
Fu, S., Zhang, B., Lei, J., Lotko, W., Yang, Z., Dang, T., & Luan, X. (2024). What Controls the Dawn-Dusk Asymmetry of Dayside Alfvénic Power: Interplanetary Magnetic Field or Ionospheric Conductance? Geophysical Research Letters, 51(20), e2024GL112011. Paper ↗
Yang, Z., Zhang, B., Lei, J., & Dang, T. (2020). Nonlinear response of the cross polar cap potential to solar wind density under northward interplanetary magnetic field. Geophysical Research Letters, 47(8), e2020GL087559. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., & Lyon, J. G. (2020). Is Nightside Outflow Required to Induce Magnetospheric Sawtooth Oscillations? Geophysical Research Letters, 47, e2019GL086419. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Brambles, O. J., Cassak, P. A., Ouellette, J. E., Wiltberger, M., Lotko, W., & Lyon, J. G. (2017). Transition from global to local control of dayside reconnection from ionospheric-sourced mass loading. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 122(9), 9474-9488. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Brambles, O. J., Wiltberger, M., Lotko, W., Ouellette, J. E., & Lyon, J. G. (2016). How does mass loading impact local versus global control on dayside reconnection? Geophysical Research Letters, 43(5), 1837-1844. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., Ouellette, J. E., & Lyon, J. G. (2016). The role of ionospheric O+ outflow in the generation of earthward propagating plasmoids. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 121(2), 1425-1435. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Brambles, O., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. (2015). Electron precipitation models in global magnetosphere simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120(2), 1035-1056. Paper ↗
Lotko, W., Smith, R. H., Zhang, B., Ouellette, J. E., Brambles, O. J., & Lyon, J. G. (2014). Ionospheric control of magnetotail reconnection. Science, 345(6193), 184-187. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Brambles, O., Xi, S., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. (2014). Solar wind control of auroral Alfvénic power generated in the magnetotail. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 119(3), 1734-1748. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Brambles, O., Lotko, W., Dunlap-Shohl, W., Smith, R., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. (2013). Predicting the location of polar cusp in the Lyon-Fedder-Mobarry global magnetosphere simulation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 118(10), 6327-6337. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Brambles, O., Damiano, P., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. (2012). Magnetotail origins of auroral Alfvénic power. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 117(A9), A09205. Paper ↗
Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., Zhang, B., Wiltberger, M., Lyon, J., & Strangeway, R. J. (2011). Magnetosphere sawtooth oscillations induced by ionospheric outflow. Science, 332(6034), 1183-1186. Paper ↗

Space Weather

Yin, Q., Feng, E., Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Pham, K. H., Zheng, Z., Yang, Z., Dang, T., Fu, H., & Brambles, O. (2026). Alfvénic Poynting flux characterized by a substorm-SMC cycle and ionospheric influence. Space Weather, 24(8), e2026SW005078. Paper ↗
Yin, Q., Pham, K. H., Chen, J., & Zhang, B. (2024). Validation of simulated statistical characteristics of magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in global geospace simulations over an entire Carrington rotation. Space Weather, 22(6), e2023SW003749. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Li, X., Luo, B., Li, R., Zhang, B., Pham, K., Ren, D., Chen, X., Lei, J., & Wang, Y. (2022). Unveiling the space weather during the Starlink satellites destruction event on 4 February 2022. Space Weather, 20(8), e2022SW003152. Paper ↗
Pham, K. H., Zhang, B., Sorathia, K., Dang, T., Wang, W., Merkin, V., Liu, H., Lin, D., Wiltberger, M., Lei, J., & others. (2022). Thermospheric density perturbations produced by traveling atmospheric disturbances during August 2005 storm. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 127(2), e2021JA030071. Paper ↗
McGranaghan, R. M., Ziegler, J., Bloch, T., Hatch, S., Camporeale, E., Lynch, K., Owens, M., Gjerloev, J., Zhang, B., & Skone, S. (2021). Toward a next generation particle precipitation model: Mesoscale prediction through machine learning (a case study and framework for progress). Space Weather, 19(6), e2020SW002684. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Lei, J., Wang, W., Wang, B., Zhang, B., Liu, J., Burns, A., & Nishimura, Y. (2019). Formation of double tongues of ionization during the 17 March 2013 geomagnetic storm. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 124(12), 10619-10630. Paper ↗
Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., Zhang, B., Ouellette, J., Lyon, J., & Wiltberger, M. (2013). The effects of ionospheric outflow on ICME and SIR driven sawtooth events. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 118(10), 6026-6041. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Wiltberger, M. J., Brambles, O. J., & Damiano, P. A. (2011). A statistical study of magnetosphere–ionosphere coupling in the Lyon–Fedder–Mobarry global MHD model. Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 73(5-6), 686-702. Paper ↗
Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., Damiano, P. A., Zhang, B., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. (2010). Effects of causally driven cusp O+ outflow on the storm time magnetosphere-ionosphere system using a multifluid global simulation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 115(A9), A00J04. Paper ↗

Ionosphere–Thermosphere

Li, Z., Lei, J., & Zhang, B. (2023). Three-dimensional simulation of equatorial spread F: Effects of field-aligned plasma flow and ionospheric conductivity. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 128(3), e2022JA031070. Paper ↗
Pham, K. H., Lotko, W., Varney, R. H., & Zhang, B. (2021). Thermospheric impact on the magnetosphere through ionospheric outflow. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 126(2), e2020JA028656. Paper ↗
Chen, X., Dang, T., Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Pham, K., Wang, W., Lin, D., Sorathia, K., Merkin, V., Luan, X., & others. (2021). Global effects of a polar solar eclipse on the coupled magnetosphere-ionosphere system. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(23), e2021GL096471. Paper ↗
Wang, W., Dang, T., Lei, J., Zhang, S.-R., & Zhang, B. (2019). Physical processes driving the response of the F2 region ionosphere to the 21 August 2017 solar eclipse at Millstone Hill. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 124(4), 2978-2991. Paper ↗
Lotko, W., & Zhang, B. (2018). Alfvénic heating in the cusp ionosphere-thermosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123(12), 10368-10383. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Zhang, B., Wiltberger, M., Wang, W., Varney, R., Dou, X., Wan, W., & Lei, J. (2018). On the relation between soft electron precipitations in the cusp region and solar wind coupling functions. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 123(1), 211-226. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Lei, J., Wang, W., Burns, A., Zhang, B., & Zhang, S.-R. (2018). Suppression of the polar tongue of ionization during the 21 August 2017 solar eclipse. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(7), 2918-2925. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Wang, W., Wu, Q., Knipp, D., Kilcommons, L., Brambles, O. J., Liu, J., Wiltberger, M., Lyon, J. G., & Häggström, I. (2016). Effects of magnetospheric lobe cell convection on dayside upper thermospheric winds at high latitudes. Geophysical Research Letters, 43(16), 8348-8355. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Varney, R. H., Lotko, W., Brambles, O. J., Wang, W., Lei, J., Wiltberger, M., & Lyon, J. G. (2015). Pathways of F region thermospheric mass density enhancement via soft electron precipitation. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 120(7), 5824-5831. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Lotko, W., Brambles, O., Wiltberger, M., Wang, W., Schmitt, P., & Lyon, J. (2012). Enhancement of thermospheric mass density by soft electron precipitation. Geophysical Research Letters, 39(20), L20102. Paper ↗

Jupiter / Saturn

Chen, J., Delamere, P. A., Lotko, W., Xu, Y., Yao, Z., Brambles, O., Feng, E., Yang, Z., Pham, K. H., & Zhang, B. (2026). The role of planetary rotation in polar cusp localization. Geophysical Research Letters, 53(10), e2026GL122024. Paper ↗
Feng, E., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Delamere, P. A., Zheng, Z., Dunn, W. R., & Ye, S.-Y. (2025). Control of the Jovian magnetopause by iogenic plasma: Initial results from global MHD simulations. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(7), e2024GL112624. Paper ↗
Feng, E., Zheng, Z., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., & Delamere, P. A. (2025). Dawn-dusk asymmetry of Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices along the Kronian magnetopause. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(11), e2025GL114758. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Brambles, O. J., Delamere, P. A., Lotko, W., Grodent, D., Bonfond, B., Chen, J., Sorathia, K. A., Merkin, V. G., & others. (2024). A unified framework for global auroral morphologies of different planets. Nature Astronomy, 8(8), 964-972. Paper ↗
Chen, J., Zhang, B., Delamere, P. A., Yao, Z., Guo, R., & Brambles, O. (2024). Numerical investigation of magnetic reconnection in Jupiter’s dayside magnetodisc. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 691, A13. Paper ↗
Chen, J., Zhang, B., Delamere, P. A., Yao, Z., & Brambles, O. (2024). The dynamic response of Jovian magnetotail reconnection to enhanced solar wind ram pressure. The Astrophysical Journal, 969(2), 137. Paper ↗
Feng, E., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Delamere, P. A., Zheng, Z., Dunn, W. R., & Ye, S.-Y. (2023). Variation of the Jovian magnetopause under constant solar wind conditions: Significance of magnetodisc dynamics. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(12), e2023GL104046. Paper ↗
Chen, J., Zhang, B., Lin, D., Delamere, P. A., Yao, Z., Brambles, O., Sorathia, K. A., Merkin, V. G., & Lyon, J. G. (2023). Prediction of axial asymmetry in jovian magnetopause reconnection. Geophysical Research Letters, 50(9), e2022GL102577. Paper ↗
Feng, E., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Delamere, P. A., Zheng, Z., Brambles, O. J., Ye, S.-Y., & Sorathia, K. A. (2022). Dynamic Jovian magnetosphere responses to enhanced solar wind ram pressure: Implications for auroral activities. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(19), e2022GL099858. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Delamere, P. A., Yao, Z., Bonfond, B., Lin, D., Sorathia, K. A., Brambles, O. J., Lotko, W., Garretson, J. S., Merkin, V. G., & others. (2021). How Jupiter’s unusual magnetospheric topology structures its aurora. Science Advances, 7(15), eabd1204. Paper ↗
Zhang, B., Delamere, P. A., Ma, X., Burkholder, B., Wiltberger, M., Lyon, J. G., Merkin, V. G., & Sorathia, K. A. (2018). Asymmetric Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at Jupiter’s magnetopause boundary: Implications for corotation-dominated systems. Geophysical Research Letters, 45(1), 56-63. Paper ↗

Moons

Long, M., Ni, B., Roussos, E., Summers, D., Blanc, M., Xiao, Z., Cao, X., Yao, Z., Zhang, B., Ye, S., & others. (2025). Long-term enhancing of Jupiter’s electrostatic waves as diagnostic of Io’s mass loading activity. Science Bulletin. Paper ↗
De Becker, A., Head, L. A., Bonfond, B., Jehin, E., Manfroid, J., Yao, Z., Zhang, B., Grodent, D., Schneider, N., & Benkhaldoun, Z. (2023). A study of Io’s sodium jets with the TRAPPIST telescopes. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 680, A3. Paper ↗

Venus / Mars

Zhang, M., Dang, T., Lei, J., Zhang, B., Wang, R., Xiao, S., Zhang, T., Chen, J., & Yan, M. (2026). Shock-induced magnetic reconnection in the Venusian magnetotail. Nature Communications, 17(1), 6513. Paper ↗
Yan, M., Lei, J., Terada, N., Zhang, B., Dang, T., Sakata, R., Sakai, S., & Ma, Y. (2026). Asymmetrically distributed Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at Venusian magnetosphere. Geophysical Research Letters, 53(7), e2026GL121691. Paper ↗
Yan, M., Lei, J., Yang, Z., Zhang, B., & Dang, T. (2026). A simulation study of an HFA-like event at Mars. The Astrophysical Journal, 999(1), 7. Paper ↗
Cai, J., Dang, T., Lei, J., Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Chen, J., Xu, X., Xiao, S., & Zhang, T. (2026). Response of Venusian plasma environment to the interplanetary coronal mass ejections on 5 November 2011: A magnetohydrodynamics simulation study. Astronomy & Astrophysics, 706, A118. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Lei, J., Zhang, B., Xiao, S., Zhang, T., He, J., Chen, J., Yan, M., & Yao, Z. (2025). Unveiling the global characteristics of turbulence in the Venusian space environment. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(14), e2025GL116892. Paper ↗
Jiang, K., Lei, J., Yan, M., & Zhang, B. (2025). Numerical simulation of Martian ionospheric irregularities. Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, 130(3), e2024JE008898. Paper ↗
Liu, Z., Lei, J., Yan, M., Cao, Y.-T., Dang, T., Cui, J., & Zhang, B. (2024). Parameterization of secondary ionization rates and photoelectron heating rates of Venus and Mars. Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, 129(5), e2024JA032411. Paper ↗
Yan, M., Dang, T., Cao, Y.-T., Cui, J., Zhang, B., Liu, Z., & Lei, J. (2022). A comparative study of ionospheric response to solar flares at Earth, Venus, and Mars. The Astrophysical Journal, 939(1), 23. Paper ↗
Dang, T., Lei, J., Zhang, B., Zhang, T., Yao, Z., Lyon, J., Ma, X., Xiao, S., Yan, M., Brambles, O., & others. (2022). Oxygen ion escape at Venus associated with three-dimensional kelvin-helmholtz instability. Geophysical Research Letters, 49(6), e2021GL096961. Paper ↗

Uranus / Neptune

Representative publications will be added as this research direction develops.

[Additional publications available on Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=AC8jpboAAAAJ]

Selected Conference Presentations

Only first-author conference presentations are listed below.

Zhang, B., & Yao, Z. (2025). Unveiling Giant Magnetospheres: Research Advances in China and Prospectives for Future Missions. EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU25-14477.
Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Delamere, P. A., & Brambles, O. (2023). Explosive magnetotail activities in rotating magnetosphere-implication for dawnstorms? Advances in Understanding Alfven Waves in the Sun and the Heliosphere, AGU.
Zhang, B., Yao, Z., Delamere, P. A., Lotko, W., Sorathia, K., Brambles, O., Bonfond, B., Grodent, D. C., & Lyon, J. (2022). Magnetospheric origin of Jovian auroral dawn storms. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM41D-04.
Zhang, B. (2021). The Open Polar Cap of Rotating Magnetospheres. European Planetary Science Congress, EPSC2021-829.
Zhang, B., Sorathia, K., Merkin, V., & Lyon, J. (2021). Global Alfvenic power during geomagnetic substorms. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM12B-02.
Zhang, B., Sorathia, K., Delamere, P. A., Merkin, V. G., & Lyon, J. (2019). Comparative Studies on Magnetotail Dynamics Between the Earth, Saturn and Jupiter. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM12A-06.
Zhang, B., Delamere, P. A., Sorathia, K., Ma, X., Merkin, V. G., Lyon, J., & Yao, Z. (2019). The closed polar cap of the Jovian magnetosphere: implications for auroral precipitation from global MHD and test particle simulations. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM43B-02.
Zhang, B., Ma, X., Delamere, P. A., & Lyon, J. (2018). A Numerical Experiment of the global Jupiter Magnetosphere: Initial Results from Multifluid MHD. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM23E-3233.
Zhang, B., Wiltberger, M. J., & Merkin, V. G. (2017). Global Geospace Modeling of Upper Thermospheric Dynamics during Storm Time. AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts, SM32B-02.

[Additional invited lectures available upon request]

Last updated: August 2026

Prof. Binzheng Zhang