Elias Aydi , Ph.D. Assistant Professor - Astronomy & Astrophysics

Education

• Ph.D. Astrophysics, University of Cape Town, South Africa (2018)
• M.S. Astrophysics, University of Notre Dame and Université Saint-Joseph (Lebanon) (2014)
• B.S. Physics, Lebanese University, Lebanon (2011)

Research Interests

My research focuses on time-domain and high-energy astrophysics, with particular emphasis on classical and recurrent novae: thermonuclear explosions occurring on accreting white dwarfs in interacting binary systems. I investigate the physical processes that shape these eruptions, including mass ejection, shocks, particle acceleration, accretion, and binary interactions. My work combines rapid-response observations and long-term monitoring across the electromagnetic spectrum, from radio and infrared wavelengths to optical, ultraviolet, X-rays, and gamma rays. I also use high-resolution spectroscopy and interferometric imaging to resolve the structure and evolution of nova ejecta. Through coordinated observations with ground- and space-based facilities, my research aims to establish novae as laboratories for understanding explosive transients, shock physics, and multi-messenger astrophysics.
A complementary area of my research involves three-dimensional hydrodynamic and radiation-hydrodynamic modeling of evolved stars and their circumstellar environments. I study how the pulsations and winds of asymptotic giant branch stars interact with nearby stellar and substellar companions. These interactions can enhance mass loss and produce complex structures, including multiple spiral arms, in the material surrounding evolved stars. This work helps us understand how binary companions shape stellar outflows, planetary nebulae, and the eventual evolution of planetary systems around aging stars.

Selected Publications

• Aydi, E., Monnier, J. D., Mérand, A., et al. (2026), “Multiple outflows and delayed ejections revealed by early imaging of novae,” Nature Astronomy, 10, 271–280.
• Aydi, E., Chomiuk, L., Strader, J., et al. (2024), “Revisiting the classics: On the evolutionary origin of the ‘Fe II’ and ‘He/N’ spectral classes of novae,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 527, 9303–9321.
• Aydi, E., & Mohamed, S. (2022), “3D models of the circumstellar environments of evolved stars: Formation of multiple spiral structures,” Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 513, 4405–4430.
• Gordon, A. C., Aydi, E., Page, K. L., et al. (2021), “Surveying the X-ray behavior of novae as they emit gamma rays,” The Astrophysical Journal, 910, 134.
• Aydi, E., Sokolovsky, K. V., Chomiuk, L., et al. (2020), “Direct evidence for shock-powered optical emission in a nova,” Nature Astronomy, 4, 776–780.
• Aydi, E., Chomiuk, L., Izzo, L., et al. (2020), “Early spectral evolution of classical novae: Consistent evidence for multiple distinct outflows,” The Astrophysical Journal, 905, 62.

 

Outreach and public engagement

Beyond my research, I am deeply committed to public outreach and science communication. I organize Texas Tech University’s public AstroNights, which bring astronomy talks, hands-on science activities, and telescope viewing to the wider community. I also created the Two Minute Paper project (www.two-minute-paper.com), which presents scientific research through short, accessible videos designed for a general audience. In addition, I have authored a series of children’s science books that introduce young readers to scientific concepts in an engaging and approachable way.
To learn more about my research and outreach activities, please visit my personal website: www.eliasaydi.com.