Implementation of remote capabilities for the planeterrella experiment at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory planeterrella.pppl.gov/RPX Adrianna Angulo1, Arturo Dominguez2, Andrew Zwicker2 1Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199 2Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ 08543 [email protected]

The Terrella and Planeterrella Phenomena Observations and Explanations Website and Education

The website includes supplemental information Web Content that explains the physical interpretation of plasma, The Terrella the controls, and astrophysical phenomena • Introduction - What am I looking at? • Voltage applied to electrode (the ) and a Stellar Ring Current The emitted by the large - Space Physics on Earth? suspended sphere (the Earth) in a vacuum sphere are confined to the magnetic - How can I make it glow? • Initially developed by William Gilbert ca.1600 equator due to magnetic mirror. The - What is a plasma? • Further developed by Norwegian physicist magnetic mirror occurs when a charged particle (the ) is reflected from a - Why does the plasma glow? Kristian Birkeland in 1896 region of stronger magnetic field. • Initial understanding of polar lights • Controls • Simplification of Solar-terrestrial system - Voltage Birkeland demonstrating his rendition Magnetopause of the Terrella The magnetopause is the boundary between the - Polarity planet’s magnetic field and the surrounding plasma. Electrons emitted from both objects Electrode Solar Corona meet at a common region and are concentrate • Phenomena The Planeterrella The small sphere radiates electrons and enough so that the light emitted by the collisions - Stellar Jets Small Sphere ionizes the surrounding gas. The localized becomes visible • Terrella modified in 2008 by Jean magnetic field exerts a force on the plasma - Solar Corona The RPX website layout was created with a combination of HTML5, that increases the pressure without as much of - Stellar Ring Currents Lilensten → the Planeterrella[1] Large Sphere CSS, Jquery, and Javascript. The user interface controls were an increase in the density. The magnetized - Auroral Ovals developed using WebUI Builder. The layout of the website emulates • The planeterrella is more flexible region rises until it reaches the object’s the layout of the Remote Glow Discharge Experiment website. and simulates more phenomena equivalence of a photosphere. The electrons - Magnetosphere than Terrella configuration are repelled from the poles that result in dark spots or coronal holes. • Voltage applied to pin-like electrode and two magnetized supported Conclusion spheres in a vacuum • Electrode → Plasma Sheet, The RPX is a captivating introduction to the link between the Earth space • Spheres → Planet or Plasma Sheet 11 environment and space weather that is accessible remotely. • Electrode height and sphere positions are adjustable • Objects are given an interchangeable positive or Physics behind phenomena can be explained at different levels: negative polarity • Explanations made as complicated or simplified as audience prefers • Discharge between objects creates plasma affected by • Accessible to users with a range of academic backgrounds (elementary the sphere’s magnetic fields Lilensten demonstrating his school – PhDs) planeterrella • Allows the user to control space-like phenomena

Popularization of space weather and science The Remote Planeterrella Experiment • Produces engaging colors, allures a diverse audience • Artists attracted by . Art is then a driver to improve scientific outreach

Schematic view of the different current systems which shape the Earth's magnetosphere Future Plans

All of the configurations incorporate the same basic premise: Install additional diagnostic and parameter controls The Magnetosphere • Electrons are emitted from a source Although it is not one of Lilensten’s original • Electrons interact with the magnetic field of an object configurations, this configuration offers a Auroral Ovals Greater Phenomena simulation and Flexibility static observation of the magnetosphere. • The gradient of the magnetic field creates a gradient drift which The electrons emitted by the large sphere • Bipolar Remote Capabilities → Stellar Jets The magnetosphere is the region where causes the electrons to orbit the object deviate towards the poles and along the • Electromagnet → Auroral spot on Uranus electric field between the large sphere charged particles (in this case electrons) • Electrons collide and ionize the gas • Remote Pressure Regulator → Van Allen Belts LabVIEW Code interact with and are deflected by the and the electrode. The intensity of the object’s magnetic field. • Gas returns to equilibrium- releases energy as light auroral ovals due to the higher density of electrons. Quantitative Analysis • Voltmeter, Gaussmeter, Ammeter The RPX DAQ Device • Remote Position Control → measure effects distance has on E and B field RPX Configurations • PPPL planeterrella, constructed in References 2013 by Science Education Dept. • Reproduces Lilensten’s planeterrella Simulation Electrode (V) Large Sphere (V) Small Sphere (V) 1. Lilensten, J., Barthélémy, M., Simon, C., Jeanjacquot P., Gronoff, G., 2008. The Planeterrella, a pedagogic experiment in • Current work is to enable live stream planetology and plasma physics, DOI: 10.2478/s11600-008-0079-x,230-235, Acta Geophysica, vol.57, no. 1, pp. 220-235, and online control of planeterrella at Stellar Ring Current Off -1500 Off 2008. PPPL 2. Rypdal, K. and Brundtland, T.: The Birkeland terella experiments and their importance for the modern synergy of laboratory • Users control magnitude of voltage of Magnetopause Off -1500 -500 and space plasma physics, J. Phys., 7, C4-113–131, 1997 the large sphere, small sphere and electrode Solar Corona -500 Off -1000 3. Cheng, C. C., 1998: The control of the magnetopause shape: A comparison of a model magnetopause and empirical models. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci, 9, 239 – 254. • Buttons with preset configurations of Electrode phenomena Magnetosphere -500 -500 -1000 4. "La Planeterrella - Le Simulateur D’aurores Polaires." La Planeterrella - Le Simulateur D’aurores Polaires. N.p., 2014. Web • Accessible world-wide Small Sphere Small Sphere Auroral Ovals -2000 -1000 Off 5. Gebhardt, Olivia. "The Planeterrella Experiment." Olivia Gebhardt. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, n.d. Web. • Pressure kept at 250mTorr