Contact Me
Cahill Astrophysics: 1216 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125
Mail code: MC 249-17
Office: 323
skalidis [at] caltech.edu
rafaskalidis [at] gmail.com
Research Projects
High accuracy magnetometry
This work focuses on improving how we constrain the strength of interstellar magnetic fields from dust polarization and spectroscopic data — a key challenge in understanding star formation and the structure of the magnetized interstellar medium. The method was introduced in Skalidis & Tassis 2021. In followup works, we tested the method in a wide range of numerical simulations, including diffuse (Skalidis et al. 2021) and collapsing clouds (Polychronakis et al. 2025).
Magnetohydrodynamic turbulence
The energy flow in compressible turbulence holds the key to understanding phenomena such as star formation and the structure of Galactic foregrounds. I study how magnetization and compressibility interact to shape the energetics of turbulent in astrophysical systems:
Mapping the magnetized interstellar medium
Magnetic fields influence the cold gas structures in the interstellar medium, where star formation occurs. I utilize dust polarization and spectroscopic to investigate the interactions between magnetic fields and gas dynamics. I have extensively mapped the properties of the Polaris Flare (Skalidis et al. 2023) and Ursa Major Cirrus (Skalidis et al. 2022).
Molecular structures in the interstellar medium
We developed a new way to trace molecular hydrogen in the diffuse interstellar medium without relying on carbon monoxide, which often fails to reveal the full amount of molecular gas. By combining dust extinction and atomic hydrogen data, we built a map of the Galaxy’s hidden molecular component. This approach shows that a large fraction of molecular gas is invisible in traditional CO surveys, revealing a more complete view of how hydrogen transitions from atomic to molecular form in space.
3D atlas of the Galactic magnetic field
PASIPHAE is an international survey mapping the polarization of millions of stars to reveal the three-dimensional structure of the Milky Way’s magnetic field (Tassis et al. 2018). By combining data from observatories in both hemispheres, PASIPHAE is uncovering how magnetic fields shape interstellar dust and gas, while also helping cosmologists better separate Galactic foregrounds from the cosmic microwave background:​
