Research
My research currently spans two distinct areas: theoretical studies of the formation and evolution of compact-object binaries, and radio observations of pulsars and transient sources. These lines of work have so far been pursued separately. In future, I aim to connect them by using radio pulsar observations to constrain compact-object formation and binary evolution.
Compact-Object Formation and Binary Evolution
I study binaries containing neutron stars, black holes, and white dwarfs. My work examines how mass transfer, stellar winds, super-Eddington accretion, common-envelope evolution, and compact-object mass growth shape X-ray binaries, binary pulsars, and mass-gap black-hole candidates.
My doctoral research centered on compact-object and X-ray binaries, including possible formation channels for mass-gap black holes and the evolution of white-dwarf and millisecond-pulsar binaries. I use stellar- and binary-evolution calculations and population-synthesis methods to compare theoretical outcomes with observed systems.
Radio Pulsars and Transients
My current work emphasizes searches for radio pulsars and transients, together with pulsar polarization studies using FAST, the Green Bank Telescope, and the Parkes 64-m radio telescope (Murriyang).
Research highlights include:
- the detection of more than 30 pulsars in FAST data, with those identified in publicly available FAST observations documented on the Pulsar Gleaners page;
- the discovery of PSR J1750-3116A, the first pulsar associated with the globular cluster Terzan 6, through a direct search at 6 GHz; and
- studies of RRAT J2325-0530 and its atypical waiting-time distribution.
NJU 4.5-m Radio Telescope
I am involved in commissioning and testing the 4.5-m radio telescope at Nanjing University’s Zuo Dijiang Observatory. The work includes telescope control, pointing calibration, observing-chain tests, and development of an SDR-based pulsar observing terminal.
We have detected radio pulsations from eight pulsars, including the Crab and Vela pulsars and PSR B0329+54. The telescope provides a hands-on platform for pulsar observing, student training, and public outreach.