Electron-Scale Physics in Space Plasma
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Department of Physics and Astronomy 1
Department of Physics and Astronomy 1 PHSX 216 and PHSX 236, provide a calculus-based foundation in Department of Physics physics for students in physical science, engineering, and mathematics. PHSX 313 and the laboratory course, PHSX 316, provide an introduction and Astronomy to modern physics for majors in physics and some engineering and physical science programs. Why study physics and astronomy? Students in biological sciences, health sciences, physical sciences, mathematics, engineering, and prospective elementary and secondary Our goal is to understand the physical universe. The questions teachers should see appropriate sections of this catalog and major addressed by our department’s research and education missions range advisors for guidance about required physics course work. Chemistry from the applied, such as an improved understanding of the materials that majors should note that PHSX 211 and PHSX 212 are prerequisites to can be used for solar cell energy production, to foundational questions advanced work in chemistry. about the nature of mass and space and how the Universe was formed and subsequently evolved, and how astrophysical phenomena affected For programs in engineering physics (http://catalog.ku.edu/engineering/ the Earth and its evolution. We study the properties of systems ranging engineering-physics/), see the School of Engineering section of the online in size from smaller than an atom to larger than a galaxy on timescales catalog. ranging from billionths of a second to the age of the universe. Our courses and laboratory/research experiences help students hone their Graduate Programs problem solving and analytical skills and thereby become broadly trained critical thinkers. While about half of our majors move on to graduate The department offers two primary graduate programs: (i) an M.S. -
Ion Cyclotron and Heavy Ion Effects on Reconnection in a Global Magnetotail R
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH, VOL. 109, A09206, doi:10.1029/2004JA010385, 2004 Ion cyclotron and heavy ion effects on reconnection in a global magnetotail R. M. Winglee Department of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA Received 12 January 2004; revised 21 May 2004; accepted 8 July 2004; published 22 September 2004. [1] Finite ion cyclotron effects play a significant role in determining the dynamics of the neutral sheet. The demagnetization of the ions facilitates reconnection and produces an electric field perpendicular to the direction of the tail currents. This in-plane electric field drives field-aligned currents and an out-of-plane (or core) magnetic field in conjunction with the generation of flux ropes. In addition to these electromagnetic effects, it is shown that ion cyclotron effects lead to the preferential convection of plasma from the dawnside to the duskside. This convection is consistent with results from single- particle tracking but differs from ideal MHD treatment where the flow occurs symmetrically around the Earth. A physical manifestation of these asymmetric particle trajectories is the wrapping of the field-aligned current between the region 1 currents and the region 2 and/or region 0 currents. In addition, localized density enhancements and depletions are seen in the tail where the local heavy ion density can be substantially elevated over ionospheric conditions. Because of the local density variations, reconnection across the tail is inhomogeneous. Reconnection is initiated postmidnight and then sweeps across to the dawn and dusk flanks within a few minutes. Because of this spatial variation, the ejection plasmoid is actually U-shaped and the subsequent flux rope formation is highly skewed. -
Solar and Space Physics: a Science for a Technological Society
Solar and Space Physics: A Science for a Technological Society The 2013-2022 Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics Space Studies Board ∙ Division on Engineering & Physical Sciences ∙ August 2012 From the interior of the Sun, to the upper atmosphere and near-space environment of Earth, and outwards to a region far beyond Pluto where the Sun’s influence wanes, advances during the past decade in space physics and solar physics have yielded spectacular insights into the phenomena that affect our home in space. This report, the final product of a study requested by NASA and the National Science Foundation, presents a prioritized program of basic and applied research for 2013-2022 that will advance scientific understanding of the Sun, Sun- Earth connections and the origins of “space weather,” and the Sun’s interactions with other bodies in the solar system. The report includes recommendations directed for action by the study sponsors and by other federal agencies—especially NOAA, which is responsible for the day-to-day (“operational”) forecast of space weather. Recent Progress: Significant Advances significant progress in understanding the origin from the Past Decade and evolution of the solar wind; striking advances The disciplines of solar and space physics have made in understanding of both explosive solar flares remarkable advances over the last decade—many and the coronal mass ejections that drive space of which have come from the implementation weather; new imaging methods that permit direct of the program recommended in 2003 Solar observations of the space weather-driven changes and Space Physics Decadal Survey. For example, in the particles and magnetic fields surrounding enabled by advances in scientific understanding Earth; new understanding of the ways that space as well as fruitful interagency partnerships, the storms are fueled by oxygen originating from capabilities of models that predict space weather Earth’s own atmosphere; and the surprising impacts on Earth have made rapid gains over discovery that conditions in near-Earth space the past decade. -
Searches for Point-Like Sources of Astrophysical Neutrinos with the Icecube Neutrino Observatory
Searches for Point-like Sources of Astrophysical Neutrinos with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory By Jacob Feintzeig Adissertationsubmittedinpartialfulfillmentof the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Physics) at the UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN–MADISON 2014 Date of final oral examination: August 22, 2014 The dissertation is approved by the following members of the Final Oral Committee: Amy Connolly, Assistant Professor, Physics John S Gallagher, Professor, Astronomy Francis Halzen, Professor, Physics Albrecht Karle, Professor, Physics Dan McCammon, Professor, Physics i ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Iamincrediblyfortunatetohavemanysupportivementorsandpeerswhomadethis work possible. I’d like to first thank my advisor Albrecht for giving me the opportunity to work on IceCube, for providing valuable guidance and advice throughout this project, and for giving me the independence to pursue ideas I found interesting. I’d like to thank Naoko for helping me troubleshoot analysis problems and brainstorm ideas when I was stuck, and providing advice from all issues large to small. Thanks to Chad for encouraging me to think in new ways and approach problems from di↵erent angles. I’d like to express my appreciation for Chris Wendt and Gary Hill for teaching me how to do statistics, dig into the details of the data, and complete a rigorous analysis. Thanks to John Kelley for helping me get to Pole and for teaching me how to do everything once we were there. Thanks to Dima and Juan Carlos for explaining the technical details of reconstruction and simulation in many times of need. Many thanks to Markus for our many valuable physics discussions. Ioweadebtofgratitudetothelargenumberofstudentsandpostdocswhohelpedme debug my code, brainstorm ideas, develop analyses, and o↵ered their support in a myriad of small, invisible ways (not to mention provided entertaining office banter). -
Icecube Searches for Neutrinos from Dark Matter Annihilations in the Sun and Cosmic Accelerators
UNIVERSITE´ DE GENEVE` FACULTE´ DES SCIENCES Section de physique Professeur Teresa Montaruli D´epartement de physique nucl´eaireet corpusculaire IceCube searches for neutrinos from dark matter annihilations in the Sun and cosmic accelerators. THESE` pr´esent´ee`ala Facult´edes sciences de l'Universit´ede Gen`eve pour obtenir le grade de Docteur `essciences, mention physique par M. Rameez de Kozhikode, Kerala (India) Th`eseN◦ 4923 GENEVE` 2016 i Declaration of Authorship I, Mohamed Rameez, declare that this thesis titled, 'IceCube searches for neutrinos from dark matter annihilations in the Sun and cosmic accelerators.' and the work presented in it are my own. I confirm that: This work was done wholly or mainly while in candidature for a research degree at this University. Where any part of this thesis has previously been submitted for a degree or any other qualifica- tion at this University or any other institution, this has been clearly stated. Where I have consulted the published work of others, this is always clearly attributed. Where I have quoted from the work of others, the source is always given. With the exception of such quotations, this thesis is entirely my own work. I have acknowledged all main sources of help. Where the thesis is based on work done by myself jointly with others, I have made clear exactly what was done by others and what I have contributed myself. Signed: Date: 27 April 2016 ii UNIVERSITE´ DE GENEVE` Abstract Section de Physique D´epartement de physique nucl´eaireet corpusculaire Doctor of Philosophy IceCube searches for neutrinos from dark matter annihilations in the Sun and cosmic accelerators. -
GZK Neutrino Search with the Icecube Neutrino Observatory Using New Cosmic Ray Background Rejection Methods
GZK Neutrino Search with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory using New Cosmic Ray Background Rejection Methods THÈSE NO 5813 (2013) PRÉSENTÉE LE 28 JUIN 2013 À LA FACULTÉ DES SCIENCES DE BASE LABORATOIRE DE PHYSIQUE DES HAUTES ÉNERGIES 1 PROGRAMME DOCTORAL EN PHYSIQUE ÉCOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FÉDÉRALE DE LAUSANNE POUR L'OBTENTION DU GRADE DE DOCTEUR ÈS SCIENCES PAR Shirit COHEN acceptée sur proposition du jury: Prof. O. Schneider, président du jury Prof. M. Ribordy, directeur de thèse Dr P. North, rapporteur Prof. E. Resconi, rapporteur Prof. D. Ryckbosch, rapporteur Suisse 2013 Acknowledgements It has been a great privilege and pleasure to take part in the IceCube collaboration research work during these past years. The effort to solve challenging physics questions within an international working group together with collaboration meetings and work stay abroad had been the most rewarding during this thesis work. I thank my advisor Mathieu Ribordy for giving me the opportunity to join IceCube, for his strong physics understanding and sharp ideas during the research work, and for his support in finalising the analysis. The work would not have been possible without the day-to-day guidance of Levent Demiroers, and almost as important, his good company in the office. I am also grateful to Ronald Bruijn for his help and patience in the past year and friendly discussions aside from work. Arriving at the finishing line of this doctoral studies within our tiny IceCube group in EPFL is an achievement you have all helped to realise and I am grateful for it. This research work was developed within the EHE/Diffuse working group in IceCube with its collaborators in the US, Europe and Japan — and accordingly complicated phone meetings schedule. -
Sources for the History of Space Concepts in Physics: from 1845 to 1995
CBPF-NF-084/96 SOURCES FOR THE HISTORY OF SPACE CONCEPTS IN PHYSICS: FROM 1845 TO 1995 Francisco Caruso(∗) & Roberto Moreira Xavier Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas F´ısicas Rua Dr. Xavier Sigaud 150, Urca, 22290–180, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Dedicated to Prof. Juan Jos´e Giambiagi, in Memoriam. “Car l`a-haut, au ciel, le paradis n’est-il pas une immense biblioth`eque? ” — Gaston Bachelard Brief Introduction Space — as other fundamental concepts in Physics, like time, causality and matter — has been the object of reflection and discussion throughout the last twenty six centuries from many different points of view. Being one of the most fundamental concepts over which scientific knowledge has been constructed, the interest on the evolution of the ideas of space in Physics would per se justify a bibliography. However, space concepts extrapolate by far the scientific domain, and permeate many other branches of human knowledge. Schematically, we could mention Philosophy, Mathematics, Aesthetics, Theology, Psychology, Literature, Architecture, Art, Music, Geography, Sociology, etc. But actually one has to keep in mind Koyr´e’s lesson: scientific knowledge of a particular epoch can not be isolated from philosophical, religious and cultural context — to understand Copernican Revolution one has to focus Protestant Reformation. Therefore, a deeper understanding of this concept can be achieved only if one attempts to consider the complex interrelations of these different branches of knowledge. A straightforward consequence of this fact is that any bibliography on the History and Philosophy of space would result incomplete and grounded on arbitrary choices: we might thus specify ours. From the begining of our collaboration on the History and Philosophy of Space in Physics — born more than ten years ago — we have decided to build up a preliminary bibliography which should include just references available at our libraries concerning a very specific problem we were mainly interested in at that time, namely, the problem of space dimensionality. -
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics RESEARCH ARTICLE Zonally Symmetric Oscillations of the Thermosphere at 10.1002/2018JA025258 Planetary Wave Periods Key Points: • A dissipating tidal spectrum Jeffrey M. Forbes1 , Xiaoli Zhang1, Astrid Maute2 , and Maura E. Hagan3 modulated by planetary waves (PW) causes the thermosphere to “vacillate” 1Ann and H. J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA, 2 over a range of PW periods 3 • The same tidal spectrum can amplify High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO, USA, Department of Physics, Utah penetration of westward propagating State University, Logan, UT, USA PW into the dynamo region, through nonlinear wave-wave interactions • Zonally symmetric ionospheric Abstract New mechanisms for imposing planetary wave (PW) variability on the oscillations arising from thermospheric vacillation are ionosphere-thermosphere system are discovered in numerical experiments conducted with the National potentially large Center for Atmospheric Research thermosphere-ionosphere-electrodynamics general circulation model. First, it is demonstrated that a tidal spectrum modulated at PW periods (3–20 days) entering the Supporting Information: ionosphere-thermosphere system near 100 km is responsible for producing ±40 m/s and ±10–15 K • Supporting Information S1 PW period oscillations between 110 and 150 km at low to middle latitudes. The dominant response is broadband and zonally symmetric (i.e., “S0”) over a range of periods and is attributable to tidal dissipation; essentially, the ionosphere-thermosphere system “vacillates” in response to dissipation of Correspondence to: J. M. Forbes, the PW-modulated tidal spectrum. In addition, some specific westward propagating PWs such as the [email protected] quasi-6-day wave are amplified by the presence of the tidal spectrum; the underlying mechanism is hypothesized to be a second-stage nonlinear interaction. -
A Brief History of Magnetospheric Physics Before the Spaceflight Era
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MAGNETOSPHERIC PHYSICS BEFORE THE SPACEFLIGHT ERA David P. Stern Laboratoryfor ExtraterrestrialPhysics NASAGoddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt,Maryland Abstract.This review traces early resea/ch on the Earth's aurora, plasma cloud particles required some way of magneticenvironment, covering the period when only penetratingthe "Chapman-Ferrarocavity": Alfv•n (1939) ground:based0bservationswerepossible. Observations of invoked an eleCtric field, but his ideas met resistance. The magneticstorms (1724) and of perturbationsassociated picture grew more complicated with observationsof with the aurora (1741) suggestedthat those phenomena comets(1943, 1951) which suggesteda fast "solarwind" originatedoutside the Earth; correlationof the solarcycle emanatingfrom the Sun's coronaat all times. This flow (1851)with magnetic activity (1852) pointed to theSun's was explainedby Parker's theory (1958), and the perma- involvement.The discovei-yof •solarflares (1859) and nent cavity which it producedaround the Earth was later growingevidence for their associationwith large storms named the "magnetosphere"(1959). As early as 1905, led Birkeland (1900) to proposesolar electronstreams as Birkeland had proposedthat the large magneticperturba- thecause. Though laboratory experiments provided some tions of the polar aurora refleCteda "polar" type of support;the idea ran into theoreticaldifficulties and was magneticstorm whose electric currents descended into the replacedby Chapmanand Ferraro's notion of solarplasma upper atmosphere;that idea, however, was resisted for clouds (1930). Magnetic storms were first attributed more than 50 years. By the time of the International (1911)to a "ringcurrent" of high-energyparticles circling GeophysicalYear (1957-1958), when the first artificial the Earth, but later work (1957) reCOgnizedthat low- satelliteswere launched, most of the importantfeatures of energy particlesundergoing guiding center drifts could the magnetospherehad been glimpsed, but detailed have the same effect. -
AS703: Introduction to Space Physics
AS703: Introduction to Space Physics Fall 2015 Course Description The temperature of the sun's surface is 4000K-5000K, but just outside the sur- face, in a region called the corona, the temperatures exceed 1.5 million degrees K. The mechanism that heats and sus- tains these high temperatures remains unexplained. Nevertheless, these high temperatures cause the corona to expel vast quantities of material, creating the solar wind. This plasma wind travels outward from the sun interacting with all solar system bodies. When the solar wind approaches planet Earth, it com- presses and distorts the region dom- inated by the Earth's magnetic field called the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere channels the solar wind around most of the at- mosphere and also into the polar regions. This channeling process drives large currents through the magnetosphere and into the charged part of the atmosphere below it; the partially ionized region called the ionosphere. These processes frequently energize particles creating the ring current, the radiation belts, and send energized particles crashing into the neutral atmosphere creating the Au- rora Borealis. The field of space physics studies physical phenomena from the Sun's outer layers to the upper atmospheres of the planets and, ultimately, to the point where the Solar wind's influence wanes. Understanding this region enables us to have a space program and to communicate through space. It also gives insight into plasma processes throughout the universe. The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to space and solar physics. Since the local space environment is predominantly filled by plasma and electromagnetic energy, a substantial amount of time will be dedicated to learning the basics of plasma physics. -
A Decadal Strategy for Solar and Space Physics
Space Weather and the Next Solar and Space Physics Decadal Survey Daniel N. Baker, CU-Boulder NRC Staff: Arthur Charo, Study Director Abigail Sheffer, Associate Program Officer Decadal Survey Purpose & OSTP* Recommended Approach “Decadal Survey benefits: • Community-based documents offering consensus of science opportunities to retain US scientific leadership • Provides well-respected source for priorities & scientific motivations to agencies, OMB, OSTP, & Congress” “Most useful approach: • Frame discussion identifying key science questions – Focus on what to do, not what to build – Discuss science breadth & depth (e.g., impact on understanding fundamentals, related fields & interdisciplinary research) • Explain measurements & capabilities to answer questions • Discuss complementarity of initiatives, relative phasing, domestic & international context” *From “The Role of NRC Decadal Surveys in Prioritizing Federal Funding for Science & Technology,” Jon Morse, Office of Science & Technology Policy (OSTP), NRC Workshop on Decadal Surveys, November 14-16, 2006 2 Context The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics Summary Report (2002) Compendium of 5 Study Panel Reports (2003) First NRC Decadal Survey in Solar and Space Physics Community-led Integrated plan for the field Prioritized recommendations Sponsors: NASA, NSF, NOAA, DoD (AFOSR and ONR) 3 Decadal Survey Purpose & OSTP* Recommended Approach “Decadal Survey benefits: • Community-based documents offering consensus of science opportunities -
Problems for the Course F5170 – Introduction to Plasma Physics
Problems for the Course F5170 { Introduction to Plasma Physics Jiˇr´ı Sperka,ˇ Jan Vor´aˇc,Lenka Zaj´ıˇckov´a Department of Physical Electronics Faculty of Science Masaryk University 2014 Contents 1 Introduction5 1.1 Theory...............................5 1.2 Problems.............................6 1.2.1 Derivation of the plasma frequency...........6 1.2.2 Plasma frequency and Debye length..........7 1.2.3 Debye-H¨uckel potential.................8 2 Motion of particles in electromagnetic fields9 2.1 Theory...............................9 2.2 Problems............................. 10 2.2.1 Magnetic mirror..................... 10 2.2.2 Magnetic mirror of a different construction...... 10 2.2.3 Electron in vacuum { three parts............ 11 2.2.4 E × B drift........................ 11 2.2.5 Relativistic cyclotron frequency............. 12 2.2.6 Relativistic particle in an uniform magnetic field... 12 2.2.7 Law of conservation of electric charge......... 12 2.2.8 Magnetostatic field.................... 12 2.2.9 Cyclotron frequency of electron............. 12 2.2.10 Cyclotron frequency of ionized hydrogen atom.... 13 2.2.11 Magnetic moment.................... 13 2.2.12 Magnetic moment 2................... 13 2.2.13 Lorentz force....................... 13 3 Elements of plasma kinetic theory 14 3.1 Theory............................... 14 3.2 Problems............................. 15 3.2.1 Uniform distribution function.............. 15 3.2.2 Linear distribution function............... 15 3.2.3 Quadratic distribution function............. 15 3.2.4 Sinusoidal distribution function............. 15 3.2.5 Boltzmann kinetic equation............... 15 1 CONTENTS 2 4 Average values and macroscopic variables 16 4.1 Theory............................... 16 4.2 Problems............................. 17 4.2.1 RMS speed........................ 17 4.2.2 Mean speed of sinusoidal distribution........