Space Physics

Figure: A coronal loop, containing hot plasma, extending out from the solar surface into the lower solar atmosphere.

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COVID-19 UPDATE

Due to the current situation with the pandemic, the teaching of this course will take place virtually, via Zoom-meetings. This will be the case for both lectures and tutorials.

The lectures will take place in the the EF2240 Zoom room: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/4080887604 Links to an external site.

The tutorials will take place here: https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/8106227164 Links to an external site. 

The examination will be a normal, written examination at the KTH Campus.

More information can be found in the Course Description document, which can be found in Modules.

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The course gives a broad survey of space physics and plasma phenomena from the Earth's vicinity to the Universe as a whole.

Learning outcomes
The goals of the course are that the student should be able to:

• define what is meant by a plasma, and how different types of plasmas can be classified.
• describe the plasma environment in space, with focus on the near-earth environment.
• explain how certain important plasma populations in the solar system, e.g. the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere, get their basic properties, and how these properties may differ between the planets.
• make order of magnitude estimates of some properties in space plasmas and space phenomena, e.g. the power dissipated in the aurora, or the amount of current floating from Earth's magnetosphere to its ionosphere.
• model certain space physics phenomena by applying basic physical laws, using simple mathemathics (e.g. model the form of the magnetosphere or estimate the temperature of a sunspot).
• describe current research within space physics and explain it to an interested layman

Syllabus
The plasma state. Typical properties of space plasmas. The sun and the solar wind, and how they effect the Earth’s space environment. The magnetosphere and the ionosphere, their origin, structure and dynamics. The aurora and geomagnetic storms and substorms. Space weather. Space environment of other celestial bodies. Interstellar and intergalactic plasma and cosmic radiation. Current research topics within space physics.