Astrophysical Magnetohydrodynamics, Plasma Physics and Cosmic Rays
A special issue of Galaxies (ISSN 2075-4434).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026 | Viewed by 568
Special Issue Editors
Interests: astrophysical magnetism; turbulence; plasma physics; cosmic rays
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This Special Issue brings together state-of-the-art research at the intersection of astrophysical magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), plasma physics, and cosmic ray (CR) dynamics. The central focus is on understanding how magnetized turbulence and plasma processes shape the structure, dynamics, and energetic phenomena across a wide range of astrophysical environments—from the interstellar and circumgalactic medium to galaxy clusters and beyond.
The scope of this issue is intentionally broad, aiming to reflect the diversity and interdisciplinarity of the field. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Theoretical, numerical, and observational studies of MHD turbulence and instabilities;
- Magnetic reconnection in both collisional and collisionless plasmas;
- Multi-phase plasma dynamics and the interplay between ionized and neutral components;
- Plasma processes in star formation, cosmic structure formation, and galaxy evolution;
- Transport, acceleration, and confinement of cosmic rays in turbulent media;
- Development and application of novel diagnostics for magnetic fields and plasma conditions;
- Data-driven approaches, including machine learning, to analyze plasma turbulence and cosmic-ray behavior.
We welcome contributions that explore new physical mechanisms, propose innovative methodologies, or offer synthetic views that unify different branches of MHD and plasma astrophysics.
This Special Issue serves as a timely supplement to the existing literature in several key ways. While foundational MHD theory has been long established, recent years have seen a surge in techniques that bridge high-resolution simulations with observational diagnostics of magnetic fields and turbulence. This issue highlights work that operationalizes theoretical models into tools that can be directly compared with data.
The issue also includes contributions that examine plasma behavior across scales—from microscopic dissipation and reconnection to galactic-scale flows—thereby expanding upon earlier studies that often considered these processes in isolation. The integration of machine learning, synthetic observations, and gradient-based analysis represents a new methodological frontier. These tools not only extend traditional analysis but also make it possible to derive magnetic and plasma parameters from complex observational datasets.
Dr. Yue Hu
Dr. Ka Wai Ho
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Galaxies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- astrophysics
- MHD turbulence
- magnetism
- plasama
- cosmic ray
- numerical simulations
- multi-phase media
- magnetic reconnection
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
