Faculty
Professor Liu earned his Ph.D degree in space plasma physics at Cornell University in 2007, after graduating from Peking University with his B.S. and M.S. degrees in 1999 and 2002, respectively. He then worked as Postdoctoral Researcher for one year at Finnish Meteorological Institute, Finland and for three and a half years at Los Alamos National Laboratory, USA. After that, he joined the Department of Physics, Auburn University as Assistant Professor in 2012 and was promoted to Associate Professor with tenure in 2017. In May 2018, he joined Southern University of Science and Technology. Professor Liu specializes in theoretical and computational space plasma physics. His research interest is focused on plasma instabilities and wave-particle interactions in Earth's radiation belts. He also studies pickup ion-related plasma processes in the outer heliosphere and around planets.
Education Background
2007 Ph.D. in Space Plasma Physics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
2002 M.S. in Space Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
1999 B.S. in Space Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
Work Experience
5/2018-Present: Professor, Department of Earth and Space Sciences,
Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
8/2017-5/2018: Associate Professor
Physics Department, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
2012-7/2017: Assistant Professor
Physics Department, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
2009-2012: Postdoctoral Researcher
ISR1, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, USA
2007-2008: Postdoctoral Researcher
Earth Observation Division, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Research
1. Plasma instabilities and wave-particle interactions in Earth’s radiation belts
2. Pickup ion dynamics in the heliosphere3. Solar wind and planets interactions
Publications
43. da Silva, C. L., R. E. Denton, M. K. Hudson, R. M. Millan, K. Liu, and J. Bortnik (2018), Test-particle simulations of linear and nonlinear interactions between a 2-D whistler-mode wave packet and radiation belt electrons, Geophys. Res. Lett., 45, doi:10.1029/2018GL077877.
42. Min, K., K. Liu, X. Wang, L. Chen, and R. E. Denton (2018), Fast magnetosonic waves observed by Van Allen Probes: Testing local wave excitation mechanism, J. Geophys. Res., 123, doi:10.1002/2017JA024867.
41. Min, K., and K. Liu (2018), Contributions of mirror and ion Bernstein instabilities to the scattering of pickup ions in the outer heliosheath, Astrophys. J., 852, 1, doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aaa0d4.
40. Thomsen, M. F., M. H. Denton, S. P. Gary, K. Liu, and K. Min (2017), Ring/shell ion distributions at geosynchronous orbit, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 12,055-12,071, doi:10.1002/2017JA024612.
39. Min, K., K. Liu, and S. P. Gary (2017), Proton velocity ring-driven instabilities and their dependence on the ring speed: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 7891-7906, doi:10.1002/2017JA023944.
38. Gao, X., K. Liu, X. Wang, K. Min, Y. Lin, and X.G. Wang (2017), Gyrokinetic electron and fully kinetic ion simulations of fast magnetosonic waves in the magnetosphere, Phys. Plasmas, 24(6), doi:10.1063/1.4985303.
37. Min, K., R. E. Denton, K. Liu, S. P. Gary and H. E. Spence (2017), Ion Bernstein instability as a possible source for oxygen ion cyclotron harmonic waves, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 5449–5465, doi:10.1002/2017JA023979.
36. Gary, S. P., X. Fu, M. M. Cowee, D. Winske, and K. Liu (2017), Scalings for the Alfvén-cyclotron instability: Linear dispersion theory and hybrid particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 464-474, doi:10.1002/2016JA023425.
35. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Ion Bernstein instability dependence on the proton-to-electron mass ratio: Linear dispersion theory, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 6692–6710, doi:10.1002/2016JA022850.
34. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Understanding the growth rate patterns of ion Bernstein instabilities driven by ring-like proton velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 3036–3049, doi:10.1002/2016JA022524.
33. Min, K., K. Liu, and S. P. Gary (2016), Scalings of Alfvén-cyclotron and ion Bernstein instabilities on temperature anisotropy of a ring-like velocity distribution in the inner magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 2185–2193, doi:10.1002/2015JA022134.
32. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Proton velocity-ring driven instabilities in the inner magnetosphere: Linear theory and particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 475–491, doi:10.1002/2015JA022042.
31. Min, K., and K. Liu (2015), Regime transition of ion Bernstein instability driven by ion shell velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 8448–8454, doi:10.1002/2015JA021514.
30. Min, K., and K. Liu (2015), Fast magnetosonic waves driven by shell velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 2739–2753, doi:10.1002/2015JA021041.
29. Min K., K. Liu, J. W. Bonnell, A. W. Breneman, R. E. Denton, H. O. Funsten, J.-M. Jahn, C. A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, B. A. Larsen, G. D. Reeves, H. E. Spence, and J. R. Wygant (2015), Study of EMIC wave excitation using direct ion measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 2702–2719, doi:10.1002/2014JA020717.
28. Wu, S., R. E. Denton, K. Liu, and M. K. Hudson (2015), One and two dimensional hybrid simulations of whistler mode waves in a dipole field, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 1908–1923, doi:10.1002/2014JA020736.
27. Fu, X., M. Cowee, R. H. Friedel, H. O. Funsten, S. P. Gary, G. B. Hospodarsky, C. Kletzing, W. Kurth, B. A. Larsen, K. Liu, E. A. MacDonald, K. Min, G. D. Reeves, R. M. Skoug, and D. Winske (2014), Whistler anisotropy instabilities as the source of banded chorus: Van Allen Probes observations and particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 8288–8298, doi:10.1002/2014JA020364.
26. Min, K., K. Liu, and W. Li (2014), Signatures of electron Landau resonant interactions with chorus waves from THEMIS observations, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 5551–5560, doi:10.1002/2014JA019903.
25. Tu., W., M. Cowee, and K. Liu (2014), Modeling the loss of inner belt protons by magnetic field line curvature scattering, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 5638–5650, doi:10.1002/2014JA019864.
24. Fu, X., M. Cowee, K. Liu, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2014), Particle-in-cell simulations of instabilities driven by an anisotropic electron beam, Phys. Plasmas, 21, 042108.
23. Möbius, E., K. Liu, H. O. Funsten, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2013), Analytical model of the IBEX ribbon with neutral solar wind based ion pickup beyond the heliopause, Astrophys. J., 766, 129, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/766/2/129.
22. Liu, K., E. Möbius, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2012), Pickup proton instabilities and scattering in the distant solar wind and the outer heliosheath: Hybrid simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A10102, doi:10.1029/2012JA017969.
21. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and L. Chen (2012), Alfvén-cyclotron instability with singly ionized helium: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A08201, doi:10.1029/2012JA017740.
20. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, R. E. Denton, and S. Wu (2012), Whistler anisotropy instability with a cold electron component: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A07203, doi:10.1029/2012JA017631.
19. Liu, K., D. Winske, S. P. Gary, and G. D. Reeves (2012), Relativistic electron scattering by large amplitude electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves: The role of phase bunching and trapping, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A06218, doi:10.1029/2011JA017476.
18. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2011), Excitation of banded whistler waves in the magnetosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L14108, doi:10.1029/2011GL048375.
17. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and D. Winske (2011), Whistler anisotropy instability at low electron β: Particle-in-cell simulations, Phys. Plasmas, 18 (8), doi:10.1063/1.3610378.
16. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and D. Winske (2011), Bernstein instability driven by suprathermal protons in the ring current, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A08215, doi:10.1029/2011JA016543.
15. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2011), Excitation of magnetosonic waves in the terrestrial magnetosphere: Particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A07212, doi:10.1029/2010JA016372.
14. Tao, X., J. Bortnik, J. M. Albert, K. Liu, and R. M. Thorne (2011), Comparison of quasilinear diffusion coefficients for parallel propagating whistler mode waves with test particle simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L06105, doi:10.1029/2011GL046787.
13. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, D. Winske, and R. E. Denton (2010), Ion Bernstein instability in the terrestrial magnetosphere: Linear dispersion theory, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A12209, doi:10.1029/2010JA015965.
12. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2010), Heliosheath fluctuations near the perpendicular termination shock: Two-dimensional hybrid simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A12114, doi:10.1029/2010JA015694.
11. Wu, P., K. Liu, D. Winske, S. P. Gary, N. A. Schwadron, and H. O. Funsten (2010), Hybrid simulations of the termination shock: Suprathermal ion velocity distributions in the heliosheath, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A11105, doi:10.1029/2010JA015384.
10. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2010), Spectral properties of the Alfvén cyclotron instability: Applications to relativistic electron scattering, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A08212, doi:10.1029/2009JA015201.
9. Liu, K., D. S. Lemons, D. Winske, and S. P. Gary (2010), Relativistic electron scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron fluctuations: Test particle simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A04204, doi:10.1029/2009JA014807.
8. Kallio, E., K. Liu, R. Jarvinena, V. Pohjolaa and P. Janhunen (2010), Oxygen ion escape at Mars in a hybrid model: High energy and low energy ions, Icarus, 206(1), 152-163.
7. Brain, D., S. Barabash, A. Boesswetter, S. Bougher, S. Brecht, G. Chanteur, D. Hurley, E. Dubinin, X. Fang, M. Fraenz, J. Halekas, E. Harnett, M. Holmstrom, E. Kallio, H. Lammer, S. Ledvina, M. Liemohn, K. Liu, J. Luhmann, Y. Mam, R. Modolo, A. Nagy, U. Motschmann, H. Nilsson, H. Shinagawa, S. Simon, N. Terada(2010), A comparison of global models for the solar wind interaction with Mars, Icarus, 206(1), 139-151.
6. Lemons, D. S., K. Liu, D. Winske, and S. P. Gary (2009), Stochastic analysis of pitch angle scattering of charged particles by transverse magnetic waves, Phys. Plasmas, 16 (11), doi:10.1063/1.3264738.
5. Liu, K., E. Kallio, R. Jarvinen, H. Lammer, H. Lichtenegger, Y. Kulikov, N. Terada, T. L. Zhang, and P. Janhunen (2009), Hybrid simulations of the O+ ion escape from Venus: Influence of the solar wind density and the IMF x component, Adv. Space Res., 43(9), 1436-1441, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.01.005.
4. Seyler, C. E., and K. Liu (2007), Particle energization by oblique inertial Alfvén waves in the auroral region, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A09302, doi:10.1029/2007JA012412.
3. Liu, K., C. E. Seyler, and T. Xu (2006), Particle-in-cell simulations of current shear-driven instabilities and the generation of broadband ELF fluctuations, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A11307, doi:10.1029/2006JA011858.
2. Klatt, E. M., P. M. Kintner, C. E. Seyler, K. Liu, E. A. MacDonald, and K. A. Lynch (2005), SIERRA observations of Alfvénic processes in the topside auroral ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A10S12, doi:10.1029/2004JA010883.
1. Xiao, Z, K. Liu, and D. Zhang (2002), Some typical records of ionospheric Doppler shift and their significance in the study of ionospheric morphology, Chinese Journal of Space Science, 22, 321-329.
43. da Silva, C. L., R. E. Denton, M. K. Hudson, R. M. Millan, K. Liu, and J. Bortnik (2018), Test-particle simulations of linear and nonlinear interactions between a 2-D whistler-mode wave packet and radiation belt electrons, Geophys. Res. Lett., 45, doi:10.1029/2018GL077877.
42. Min, K., K. Liu, X. Wang, L. Chen, and R. E. Denton (2018), Fast magnetosonic waves observed by Van Allen Probes: Testing local wave excitation mechanism, J. Geophys. Res., 123, doi:10.1002/2017JA024867.
41. Min, K., and K. Liu (2018), Contributions of mirror and ion Bernstein instabilities to the scattering of pickup ions in the outer heliosheath, Astrophys. J., 852, 1, doi:10.3847/1538-4357/aaa0d4.
40. Thomsen, M. F., M. H. Denton, S. P. Gary, K. Liu, and K. Min (2017), Ring/shell ion distributions at geosynchronous orbit, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 12,055-12,071, doi:10.1002/2017JA024612.
39. Min, K., K. Liu, and S. P. Gary (2017), Proton velocity ring-driven instabilities and their dependence on the ring speed: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 7891-7906, doi:10.1002/2017JA023944.
38. Gao, X., K. Liu, X. Wang, K. Min, Y. Lin, and X.G. Wang (2017), Gyrokinetic electron and fully kinetic ion simulations of fast magnetosonic waves in the magnetosphere, Phys. Plasmas, 24(6), doi:10.1063/1.4985303.
37. Min, K., R. E. Denton, K. Liu, S. P. Gary and H. E. Spence (2017), Ion Bernstein instability as a possible source for oxygen ion cyclotron harmonic waves, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 5449–5465, doi:10.1002/2017JA023979.
36. Gary, S. P., X. Fu, M. M. Cowee, D. Winske, and K. Liu (2017), Scalings for the Alfvén-cyclotron instability: Linear dispersion theory and hybrid particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 122, 464-474, doi:10.1002/2016JA023425.
35. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Ion Bernstein instability dependence on the proton-to-electron mass ratio: Linear dispersion theory, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 6692–6710, doi:10.1002/2016JA022850.
34. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Understanding the growth rate patterns of ion Bernstein instabilities driven by ring-like proton velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 3036–3049, doi:10.1002/2016JA022524.
33. Min, K., K. Liu, and S. P. Gary (2016), Scalings of Alfvén-cyclotron and ion Bernstein instabilities on temperature anisotropy of a ring-like velocity distribution in the inner magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 2185–2193, doi:10.1002/2015JA022134.
32. Min, K., and K. Liu (2016), Proton velocity-ring driven instabilities in the inner magnetosphere: Linear theory and particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 121, 475–491, doi:10.1002/2015JA022042.
31. Min, K., and K. Liu (2015), Regime transition of ion Bernstein instability driven by ion shell velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 8448–8454, doi:10.1002/2015JA021514.
30. Min, K., and K. Liu (2015), Fast magnetosonic waves driven by shell velocity distributions, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 2739–2753, doi:10.1002/2015JA021041.
29. Min K., K. Liu, J. W. Bonnell, A. W. Breneman, R. E. Denton, H. O. Funsten, J.-M. Jahn, C. A. Kletzing, W. S. Kurth, B. A. Larsen, G. D. Reeves, H. E. Spence, and J. R. Wygant (2015), Study of EMIC wave excitation using direct ion measurements, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 2702–2719, doi:10.1002/2014JA020717.
28. Wu, S., R. E. Denton, K. Liu, and M. K. Hudson (2015), One and two dimensional hybrid simulations of whistler mode waves in a dipole field, J. Geophys. Res., 120, 1908–1923, doi:10.1002/2014JA020736.
27. Fu, X., M. Cowee, R. H. Friedel, H. O. Funsten, S. P. Gary, G. B. Hospodarsky, C. Kletzing, W. Kurth, B. A. Larsen, K. Liu, E. A. MacDonald, K. Min, G. D. Reeves, R. M. Skoug, and D. Winske (2014), Whistler anisotropy instabilities as the source of banded chorus: Van Allen Probes observations and particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 8288–8298, doi:10.1002/2014JA020364.
26. Min, K., K. Liu, and W. Li (2014), Signatures of electron Landau resonant interactions with chorus waves from THEMIS observations, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 5551–5560, doi:10.1002/2014JA019903.
25. Tu., W., M. Cowee, and K. Liu (2014), Modeling the loss of inner belt protons by magnetic field line curvature scattering, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 5638–5650, doi:10.1002/2014JA019864.
24. Fu, X., M. Cowee, K. Liu, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2014), Particle-in-cell simulations of instabilities driven by an anisotropic electron beam, Phys. Plasmas, 21, 042108.
23. Möbius, E., K. Liu, H. O. Funsten, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2013), Analytical model of the IBEX ribbon with neutral solar wind based ion pickup beyond the heliopause, Astrophys. J., 766, 129, doi:10.1088/0004-637X/766/2/129.
22. Liu, K., E. Möbius, S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2012), Pickup proton instabilities and scattering in the distant solar wind and the outer heliosheath: Hybrid simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A10102, doi:10.1029/2012JA017969.
21. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and L. Chen (2012), Alfvén-cyclotron instability with singly ionized helium: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A08201, doi:10.1029/2012JA017740.
20. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, R. E. Denton, and S. Wu (2012), Whistler anisotropy instability with a cold electron component: Linear theory, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A07203, doi:10.1029/2012JA017631.
19. Liu, K., D. Winske, S. P. Gary, and G. D. Reeves (2012), Relativistic electron scattering by large amplitude electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves: The role of phase bunching and trapping, J. Geophys. Res., 117, A06218, doi:10.1029/2011JA017476.
18. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2011), Excitation of banded whistler waves in the magnetosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L14108, doi:10.1029/2011GL048375.
17. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and D. Winske (2011), Whistler anisotropy instability at low electron β: Particle-in-cell simulations, Phys. Plasmas, 18 (8), doi:10.1063/1.3610378.
16. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, and D. Winske (2011), Bernstein instability driven by suprathermal protons in the ring current, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A08215, doi:10.1029/2011JA016543.
15. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2011), Excitation of magnetosonic waves in the terrestrial magnetosphere: Particle-in-cell simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 116, A07212, doi:10.1029/2010JA016372.
14. Tao, X., J. Bortnik, J. M. Albert, K. Liu, and R. M. Thorne (2011), Comparison of quasilinear diffusion coefficients for parallel propagating whistler mode waves with test particle simulations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L06105, doi:10.1029/2011GL046787.
13. Gary, S. P., K. Liu, D. Winske, and R. E. Denton (2010), Ion Bernstein instability in the terrestrial magnetosphere: Linear dispersion theory, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A12209, doi:10.1029/2010JA015965.
12. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2010), Heliosheath fluctuations near the perpendicular termination shock: Two-dimensional hybrid simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A12114, doi:10.1029/2010JA015694.
11. Wu, P., K. Liu, D. Winske, S. P. Gary, N. A. Schwadron, and H. O. Funsten (2010), Hybrid simulations of the termination shock: Suprathermal ion velocity distributions in the heliosheath, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A11105, doi:10.1029/2010JA015384.
10. Liu, K., S. P. Gary, and D. Winske (2010), Spectral properties of the Alfvén cyclotron instability: Applications to relativistic electron scattering, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A08212, doi:10.1029/2009JA015201.
9. Liu, K., D. S. Lemons, D. Winske, and S. P. Gary (2010), Relativistic electron scattering by electromagnetic ion cyclotron fluctuations: Test particle simulations, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A04204, doi:10.1029/2009JA014807.
8. Kallio, E., K. Liu, R. Jarvinena, V. Pohjolaa and P. Janhunen (2010), Oxygen ion escape at Mars in a hybrid model: High energy and low energy ions, Icarus, 206(1), 152-163.
7. Brain, D., S. Barabash, A. Boesswetter, S. Bougher, S. Brecht, G. Chanteur, D. Hurley, E. Dubinin, X. Fang, M. Fraenz, J. Halekas, E. Harnett, M. Holmstrom, E. Kallio, H. Lammer, S. Ledvina, M. Liemohn, K. Liu, J. Luhmann, Y. Mam, R. Modolo, A. Nagy, U. Motschmann, H. Nilsson, H. Shinagawa, S. Simon, N. Terada(2010), A comparison of global models for the solar wind interaction with Mars, Icarus, 206(1), 139-151.
6. Lemons, D. S., K. Liu, D. Winske, and S. P. Gary (2009), Stochastic analysis of pitch angle scattering of charged particles by transverse magnetic waves, Phys. Plasmas, 16 (11), doi:10.1063/1.3264738.
5. Liu, K., E. Kallio, R. Jarvinen, H. Lammer, H. Lichtenegger, Y. Kulikov, N. Terada, T. L. Zhang, and P. Janhunen (2009), Hybrid simulations of the O+ ion escape from Venus: Influence of the solar wind density and the IMF x component, Adv. Space Res., 43(9), 1436-1441, doi:10.1016/j.asr.2009.01.005.
4. Seyler, C. E., and K. Liu (2007), Particle energization by oblique inertial Alfvén waves in the auroral region, J. Geophys. Res., 112, A09302, doi:10.1029/2007JA012412.
3. Liu, K., C. E. Seyler, and T. Xu (2006), Particle-in-cell simulations of current shear-driven instabilities and the generation of broadband ELF fluctuations, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A11307, doi:10.1029/2006JA011858.
2. Klatt, E. M., P. M. Kintner, C. E. Seyler, K. Liu, E. A. MacDonald, and K. A. Lynch (2005), SIERRA observations of Alfvénic processes in the topside auroral ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 110, A10S12, doi:10.1029/2004JA010883.
1. Xiao, Z, K. Liu, and D. Zhang (2002), Some typical records of ionospheric Doppler shift and their significance in the study of ionospheric morphology, Chinese Journal of Space Science, 22, 321-329.