Wenda Cao
Wenda Cao
(Cao, W.) Professor, Center for Solar Research - CA
101 Tiernan Hall (TIER)
About Me
Dr. Wenda Cao is currently a Professor of Physics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He is the Director of the Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) of the NJIT Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research (CSTR), which operates the 1.6-meter clear aperture, off-axis Goode Solar Telescope (GST) at Big Bear Lake, California.
Dr. Cao is currently serving on the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) of the National Science Foundation (NSF). He is also serving on
the Science Working Group of 4-Meter Inouye Solar Telescope which is the largest aperture solar telescope ever built in the world. Dr. Cao has been serving on NJIT Faculty Research Advisory Board since 2014, as well as serving on a committee making the NJIT Strategic Plan for the College of Science and Liberal Arts: 2015-2020.
Dr. Cao is currently serving on the Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) of the National Science Foundation (NSF). He is also serving on
the Science Working Group of 4-Meter Inouye Solar Telescope which is the largest aperture solar telescope ever built in the world. Dr. Cao has been serving on NJIT Faculty Research Advisory Board since 2014, as well as serving on a committee making the NJIT Strategic Plan for the College of Science and Liberal Arts: 2015-2020.
Education
Ph.D.; National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Astrophysics And Astronomical Instrument; 2001
M.S.; National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences; ; 1992
B.S.; University of National Defense Science and Technology (China); ; 1989
M.S.; National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences; ; 1992
B.S.; University of National Defense Science and Technology (China); ; 1989
Website
2025 Spring Courses
PHYS 792 - PRE-DOCTORAL RESEARCH
PHYS 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
PHYS 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
PHYS 111 - PHYSICS I
PHYS 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
PHYS 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
PHYS 701B - MASTER'S THESIS
PHYS 701C - MASTER'S THESIS
PHYS 111 - PHYSICS I
PHYS 790A - DOCT DISSERTATION & RES
PHYS 700B - MASTER'S PROJECT
Past Courses
PHYS 102: GENERAL PHYSICS
PHYS 105: PHYSICS A
PHYS 106: PHYSICS B
PHYS 111: PHYSICS I
PHYS 320: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSCIS I
PHYS 780: CURR TOPICS APPLIED PHYS
PHYS 105: PHYSICS A
PHYS 106: PHYSICS B
PHYS 111: PHYSICS I
PHYS 320: ASTRONOMY & ASTROPHYSCIS I
PHYS 780: CURR TOPICS APPLIED PHYS
Research Interests
Dr. Cao studies the solar small-scale physical processes in the photosphere and chromosphere using high-resolution imaging spectroscopy and polarimetry in the visible and near-infrared. His research interests involve the investigation of fine structures in solar sunspots and granulation, dynamics of small-scale magnetic fields and jets, flares and filament eruptions, and coronal heating. Dr. Cao is also engaged in the development of next-generation instruments and data analysis tools for high-resolution solar observations, such as imaging spectrometers and polarimeters, adaptive optics, and cryogenic infrared spectrographs. Dr. Cao has actively advanced Goode Solar Telescope campaign observations with other ground-based solar optical/radio telescopes and NASA solar space missions. He is also advancing international collaboration between large ground-based solar telescopes, with an emphasis on instrumentation development and sharing technology.
Journal Article
Ju Jing, Nian Liu, Jeongwoo Lee, Yan Xu, Wenda Cao, Haimin Wang. 2023. “Characterizing 3D Magnetic Structures in Sunspot Light Bridges .” ApJ, vol. 952, pp. 40.
Bryce Cannon, Ju Jing, Qin Li, Nian Liu, Jeongwoo Lee, Wenda Cao, Haimin Wang. 2023. “Magnetic Reconnection Rate in the M6.5 Solar Flare on 2015 June 22 .” ApJ, vol. 950, pp. 144.
Jeongwoo Lee, Vasyl Yurchyshyn, Haimin Wang, Xu Yang, Wenda Cao, Juan Carlos Martinez-Oliveros. 2022. “Solar Chromospheric Network as a Source for Solar Wind Switchbacks.” Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 935, pp. 27.
Wenda Cao, Vasyl Yurchyshyn, Xu Yang, Kyung-Suk Cho, . 2022. “Supporting Parker Solar Probe Mission with Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory.” SPIE, vol. 12184, pp. 1218428.
Yanxiao Liu, Chaowei Jiang, Ding Yuan, Ping-Bing Zuo, Wenda Cao. 2022. “Length Scale of Photospheric Granules in Solar Active Regions.” Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 22, pp. 085008.
Bryce Cannon, Ju Jing, Qin Li, Nian Liu, Jeongwoo Lee, Wenda Cao, Haimin Wang. 2023. “Magnetic Reconnection Rate in the M6.5 Solar Flare on 2015 June 22 .” ApJ, vol. 950, pp. 144.
Jeongwoo Lee, Vasyl Yurchyshyn, Haimin Wang, Xu Yang, Wenda Cao, Juan Carlos Martinez-Oliveros. 2022. “Solar Chromospheric Network as a Source for Solar Wind Switchbacks.” Astrophysical Journal Letters, vol. 935, pp. 27.
Wenda Cao, Vasyl Yurchyshyn, Xu Yang, Kyung-Suk Cho, . 2022. “Supporting Parker Solar Probe Mission with Goode Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory.” SPIE, vol. 12184, pp. 1218428.
Yanxiao Liu, Chaowei Jiang, Ding Yuan, Ping-Bing Zuo, Wenda Cao. 2022. “Length Scale of Photospheric Granules in Solar Active Regions.” Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics, vol. 22, pp. 085008.
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Other
“Astronomical Massive Data Processing Technology”
Advances in Astronomy, January (1st Quarter/Winter) 2020.
Advances in Astronomy, January (1st Quarter/Winter) 2020.
Conference Proceeding
“CYRA - The cryogenic infrared spectrograph for the Goode Solar Telescope in Big Bear”
January (1st Quarter/Winter) 2020.
“Multi-wavelength Multi-height Study of Super Strong Surface and Coronal Magnetic Fields in Active Region 12673”
June 2019.
“Study of 3D magnetic Structure Corresponding to Extremely Strong Photospheric Magnetic Fields in Active Region 12673”
May 2018.
“AO-308: the high-order adaptive optics system at Big Bear Solar Observatory”
Proceedings of the SPIE, September 2014.
“Control and operation of the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope in Big Bear”
August 2014.
January (1st Quarter/Winter) 2020.
“Multi-wavelength Multi-height Study of Super Strong Surface and Coronal Magnetic Fields in Active Region 12673”
June 2019.
“Study of 3D magnetic Structure Corresponding to Extremely Strong Photospheric Magnetic Fields in Active Region 12673”
May 2018.
“AO-308: the high-order adaptive optics system at Big Bear Solar Observatory”
Proceedings of the SPIE, September 2014.
“Control and operation of the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope in Big Bear”
August 2014.
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Book
A. Anđić, J. Chae, H. Park, H. Yang, Keun Hyuk Ahn, Wenda Cao, Y. D. Park. 2015. “Connection between chromospheric events and photospheric dynamics.” 55-71 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Jongchul Chae, Hyung Min Park, Kwangsu Ahn, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Kyung Suk Cho, Wenda Cao. 2015. “Doppler shifts of the hα line and the ca ii 854.2 nm line in a quiet region of the sun observed with the FISS/NST.” 89-103 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Jongchul Chae, Hyung Min Park, Kwangsu Ahn, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Jakyoung Nah, Bi Ho Jang, Kyung Suk Cho, Wenda Cao, Philip R. Goode. 2015. “Fast imaging solar spectrograph of the 1.6 meter new solar telescope at big bear solar observatory.” 1-22 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Hyungmin Park, Jongchul Chae, Donguk Song, Ram Ajor Maurya, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Bi Ho Jang, Jakyoung Nah, Kyung Suk Cho, Yeon Han Kim, Kwangsu Ahn, Wenda Cao, Philip R. Goode. 2015. “Temperature of solar prominences obtained with the fast imaging solar spectrograph on the 1.6 m new solar telescope at the big bear solar observatory.” 105-116 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Philip R. Goode, Wenda Cao. 2014. “Infrared observations from the new solar telescope at big bear.” 315-322 pp. ISBN 9781489980052.
Jongchul Chae, Hyung Min Park, Kwangsu Ahn, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Kyung Suk Cho, Wenda Cao. 2015. “Doppler shifts of the hα line and the ca ii 854.2 nm line in a quiet region of the sun observed with the FISS/NST.” 89-103 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Jongchul Chae, Hyung Min Park, Kwangsu Ahn, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Jakyoung Nah, Bi Ho Jang, Kyung Suk Cho, Wenda Cao, Philip R. Goode. 2015. “Fast imaging solar spectrograph of the 1.6 meter new solar telescope at big bear solar observatory.” 1-22 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Hyungmin Park, Jongchul Chae, Donguk Song, Ram Ajor Maurya, Heesu Yang, Young Deuk Park, Bi Ho Jang, Jakyoung Nah, Kyung Suk Cho, Yeon Han Kim, Kwangsu Ahn, Wenda Cao, Philip R. Goode. 2015. “Temperature of solar prominences obtained with the fast imaging solar spectrograph on the 1.6 m new solar telescope at the big bear solar observatory.” 105-116 pp. ISBN 9783319121239.
Philip R. Goode, Wenda Cao. 2014. “Infrared observations from the new solar telescope at big bear.” 315-322 pp. ISBN 9781489980052.