{{Short description|Australian astrophysicist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox scientist |name = Cleo Loi |image = |image_size = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|23|2015|06|02}}<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2015-06/02/c_134290544.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124105857/http://www.xinhuanet.com//english/2015-06/02/c_134290544.htm|archive-date=24 November 2018|title= Australian undergraduate student becomes first to map atmospheric plasma tubes|agency=Xinhua|date=2 June 2015|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref> |birth_place = |death_date = |death_place = |residence = |field = Astrophysics |work_institutions =CAASTRO ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics |alma_mater = University of Sydney |known_for = Mapping plasma tubes in the Earth's atmosphere |fathers = |spouse = |children = |prizes = Bok Prize of the Astronomical Society of Australia (2015) }} '''Shyeh Tjing Cleo Loi''' (born {{c.|1991}}) is an Australian astrophysicist and PhD candidate in the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics at the University of Cambridge under John Papaloizou,<ref>[http://www.damtp.cam.ac.uk/people/stl36/ Cleo's home page at DAMTP]</ref> having completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Sydney School of Physics in 2014. She is credited with proving the existence of plasma tubes inside the Earth's magnetosphere and extending into the plasmasphere.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Luntz|first1=Stephen|title=Student Confirms That There Are Enormous Tubes Of Plasma Floating Above The Earth|url=http://www.iflscience.com/space/plasmasphere-series-tubes|website=IFL Science|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|last1=Strom|first1=Marcus|title=Sydney University physics undergraduate maps huge plasma tubes in the sky|url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/astronomy/sydney-university-physics-undergraduate-maps-huge-plasma-tubes-in-the-sky-20150601-ghcc9g.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Aussie student proves existence of plasma tubes floating above Earth|url=http://www.news.com.au/technology/science/aussie-student-proves-existence-of-plasma-tubes-floating-above-earth/story-fnjwlcze-1227379756018|website=News.com.au|access-date=3 June 2015}}</ref>

==Background== Loi had been a student at James Ruse Agricultural High School<ref name="auto"/> before studying at the University of Sydney as an undergraduate and member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO).<ref name="auto"/>

==Plasma tubes== While working on her undergraduate thesis, Loi followed the suspicions of scientists as far back as 60 years ago theorizing the existence of plasma tubes. Loi was the lead researcher on the project, and first to successfully prove their existence using the Murchison Widefield Array. The findings of the study were published in the ''Geophysical Research Letters''.<ref name="auto"/>

In June 2015, Tara Murphy of the University of Sydney explained the process by which her undergraduate student, Loi, had used MWA results to determine the existence of plasma channels following the Earth's magnetic field lines.<ref name="2015-06-05_Conv">[https://theconversation.com/how-an-undergraduate-discovered-tubes-of-plasma-in-the-sky-42810 How an undergraduate discovered tubes of plasma in the sky], Tara Murphy, ''The Conversation'', 5 June 2015, accessed 7 June 2015</ref> Loi applied visualization techniques to specific data that showed distortions in positions for distant point sources, explaining the distortion by the existence of tubular structures along the field lines. Dividing the MWA data into a 'stereo' set from several MWA sources allowed the height of the tubes to be determined. They are believed to be, or are related to, "whistler ducts".<ref name="2015-06-05_Conv" />

==Honors and prizes== Loi won the Astronomical Society of Australia and Australian Academy of Science's 2015 Bok Prize for her plasma tube research.<ref name="auto"/> Loi was a finalist of the Young Australian of the Year 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.australiaday.com.au/media-and-resources/latest-news/finalists-announced-for-2017-nsw-australian-of-the-year-awards/|title=Finalists announced for 2017 NSW Australian of the Year Awards|location=New South Wales|publisher=Australia Day Council|year=2016|access-date=2020-07-13|archive-date=16 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200316131437/https://www.australiaday.com.au/media-and-resources/latest-news/finalists-announced-for-2017-nsw-australian-of-the-year-awards/}}</ref>

== Music == '''Cleo Loi''' is an accomplished violinist, violist, recorder player, and répétiteur active in the Cambridge University music scene.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.camdram.net/people/cleo-loi |title=Cleo Loi |website=Camdram |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref>

She gained recognition as '''Assistant Musical Director''' for '''''Trial By Jury''''' (2018) with the Cambridge University Gilbert and Sullivan Society, collaborating with conductor '''Robert Nicholas''' and director '''Tiffany Charnley'''.<ref>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hv3pCEBocA |title=Trial by Jury 2018 |publisher=Cambridge University G&S Society |via=YouTube |date=2018 |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.camdram.net/people/cleo-loi |title=Trial by Jury credits |website=Camdram |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref>

Loi has performed extensively with Cambridge University musical societies: * '''The Gondoliers''' (2016) - Violin II, Cambridge University Gilbert & Sullivan Society<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.camdram.net/shows/2016-the-gondoliers |title=The Gondoliers cast list |website=Camdram |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref> * '''Iolanthe''' (2018) - Assistant Musical Director, Piano<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.camdram.net/people/cleo-loi |title=Iolanthe credits |website=Camdram |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref> * '''Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble''' (2018-19) - Publicity Officer<ref>{{cite web |url=https://cure.soc.srcf.net/old_committees.php |title=Cambridge University Recorder Ensemble Committee |website=SRCF.net |access-date=2026-04-26}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{cite journal |author=Shyeh Tjing Loi |display-authors=etal |title=Real-time imaging of density ducts between the plasmasphere and ionosphere |doi=10.1002/2015GL063699 |date=27 April 2015 |journal =Geophysical Research Letters |volume=42 |issue=10 |pages=3707–3714 |arxiv = 1504.06470 |bibcode = 2015GeoRL..42.3707L |s2cid=73661288 }}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Loi, Cleo}} Category:Living people Category:Australian astrophysicists Category:University of Sydney alumni Category:People educated at James Ruse Agricultural High School Category:1991 births Category:Australian women astrophysicists Category:Scientists from Sydney