Auroral Physics

Auroral Physics
Author: David J. Knudsen
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 409
Release: 2021-08-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9789402421217

This volume surveys our current scientific understanding of the terrestrial aurora. It is organized into eleven reviews detailing theoretical and observational aspects of characteristic auroral morphologies, and how these in turn are organized according to local time, latitude, and activity level. Popular descriptions often attribute the aurora to the interaction of charged particles from the solar wind with atoms in the upper atmosphere. In fact, most auroras are not the result of direct entry of solar wind particles. Rather, as detailed in this volume, auroral particle acceleration and generation of auroral forms occur primarily within the magnetosphere. Importantly, many key aspects of the aurora – most notably, the physical mechanisms responsible for the generation of discrete arcs – are still unexplained, and auroral physics continues to be an active area of scientific research. Each review chapter therefore includes a summary of open questions for further investigation. Providing the first comprehensive review of the terrestrial aurora in two decades, this book will aid both active researchers and newcomers interested in understanding the current state of the field. Previously published Space Science Reviews in the Topical Collection "Auroral Physics”

Auroral Plasma Physics

Auroral Plasma Physics
Author: Götz Paschmann
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 494
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9400710860

This volume gives a broad synthesis of the current knowledge and understanding of the plasma physics behind the aurora. The aurora is not only one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on Earth, but the underlying physical processes are expected to be ubiquitous in the plasma universe. Recognizing the enormous progress made over the last decade) through in situ and groundbased measurements as well as theoretical modelling, it seemed timely to write the first comprehensive and integrated book on the subject. Recent advances concern the clarification of the nature of the acceleration process of the electrons that are responsible for the visible aurora, the recognition of the fundamental role of the large-scale current systems in organizing the auroral morphology, and of the interplay between particles and electromagnetic fields.

Advanced Space Plasma Physics

Advanced Space Plasma Physics
Author: Wolfgang Baumjohann
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 393
Release: 1997-01-03
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1911298704

This book builds on the fluid and kinetic theory of equilibria and waves presented in a companion textbook, Basic Space Plasma Physics (by the same authors), but can also serve as a stand-alone text. It extends the field covered there into the domain of plasma instability and nonlinear theory.The book provides a representative selection of the many possible macro- and microinstabilities in a space plasma, from the Rayleigh-Taylor and Kelvin-Helmholtz to electrostatic and electromagnetic kinetic instabilities. Their quasilinear stabilization and nonlinear evolution and their application to space physics problems are treated. The chapters on nonlinear theory include nonlinear waves, weak turbulence and strong turbulence, all presented from the viewpoint of their relevance to space plasma physics. Special topics include auroral particle acceleration, soliton formation and caviton collapse, anomalous transport, and the theory of collisionless shocks.

Introduction to Plasma Physics

Introduction to Plasma Physics
Author: D. A. Gurnett
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 468
Release: 2005-01-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780521364836

Advanced undergraduate/beginning graduate text on space and laboratory plasma physics.

Auroral Plasma Dynamics

Auroral Plasma Dynamics
Author: Robert L. Lysak
Publisher: American Geophysical Union
Total Pages: 314
Release: 1993-01-11
Genre: Science
ISBN:

Published by the American Geophysical Union as part of the Geophysical Monograph Series, Volume 80. The auroral zone is a region in which complex plasma dynamics take place. This region has been studied in great detail by sounding rocket and satellite experiments, as well as through ground-based observations. The primary focus of this volume is advances made in auroral research in the last 10 years. Main areas of concern are the global morphology of the auroral zone, auroral acceleration processes, parallel electric fields, magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling and waves and turbulence in the auroral zone, as well as the role played by active auroral experiments. The recent results from the Viking and Akebono satellites are considered, and the current state of the field is assessed in preparation for new missions such as Fast, Freja, and the ISTP program. This volume will serve to disseminate these results to the wider space physics community.

High-Latitude Space Plasma Physics

High-Latitude Space Plasma Physics
Author: Bengt Hultgvist
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 543
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 146133652X

Nobel symposium No. 54 on High Latitude Magnetospheric/Iono spheric Plasma Physics was organized in Kiruna, Sweden on March 22-25, 1982 by Kiruna Geophysical Institute and EISCAT Scientific Association. Some 50 leading experts from Western Europe, America and USSR were invited to the Symposium. One main purpose of the Symposium was to prepare for the intense European research effort in space plasma physics in the middle 1980's, in which the EISCAT facilities and the Swedish satellite Viking are two of the more important constituents. The prograuune of the symposium was tied to the physics of those regions of near space where EISCAT and Viking are expected to pro vide important new observational results. This is rather well covered by the t it Ie of these proceedings: High Lat itude Space Plasma Physics. The first two sessions dealt with the physics of the high latitude ionosphere and the third one with how this part of near space is affected by the properties of the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field. The remaining three sessions covered fairly extensively the high latitude magnetospheric physics at altitudes of 1-2 earth radii, which is the main scien tific object of the Viking project. The Prograuune COllDlittee of the Kiruna Nobel Symposium was composed of the following European scientists: P. Bauer (Issy-les-Moulineaux), R. Bostrom (Uppsala), C.G. FalthallDlar (Stockholm), T. Hagfors (Kiruna, Cochairman), o. Holt (Troms, s), B. Hultqvist (Kiruna, Cochairman), H. Kohl (Lindau), J. Oksman (Oulu), H. Rishbeth (Chilton), and L. Stenflo (Ume!).

Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion

Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Author: Francis F. Chen
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 427
Release: 2013-03-09
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1475755953

TO THE SECOND EDITION In the nine years since this book was first written, rapid progress has been made scientifically in nuclear fusion, space physics, and nonlinear plasma theory. At the same time, the energy shortage on the one hand and the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn on the other have increased the national awareness of the important applications of plasma physics to energy production and to the understanding of our space environment. In magnetic confinement fusion, this period has seen the attainment 13 of a Lawson number nTE of 2 x 10 cm -3 sec in the Alcator tokamaks at MIT; neutral-beam heating of the PL T tokamak at Princeton to KTi = 6. 5 keV; increase of average ß to 3%-5% in tokamaks at Oak Ridge and General Atomic; and the stabilization of mirror-confined plasmas at Livermore, together with injection of ion current to near field-reversal conditions in the 2XIIß device. Invention of the tandem mirror has given magnetic confinement a new and exciting dimension. New ideas have emerged, such as the compact torus, surface-field devices, and the EßT mirror-torus hybrid, and some old ideas, such as the stellarator and the reversed-field pinch, have been revived. Radiofrequency heat ing has become a new star with its promise of dc current drive. Perhaps most importantly, great progress has been made in the understanding of the MHD behavior of toroidal plasmas: tearing modes, magnetic Vll Vlll islands, and disruptions.

The Earth's Ionosphere

The Earth's Ionosphere
Author: Michael Kelly
Publisher: Elsevier
Total Pages: 500
Release: 2012-12-02
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0323148050

The Earth's Ionosphere: Plasma Physics and Electrodynamics emphasizes the study of plasma physics and electrodynamics of the ionosphere, including many aeronomical influences. The ionosphere is somewhat of a battleground between the earth's neutral atmosphere and the sun's fully ionized atmosphere, in which the earth is embedded. One of the challenges of ionosphere research is to know enough about these two vast fields of research to make sense out of ionospheric phenomena. This book provides insights into how these competing sources of mass, momentum, and energy compete for control of the ionosphere. Some of the topics discussed include the fundamentals of ionospheric plasma dynamics; equatorial plasma instabilities; high-latitude electrodynamics; and instabilities and structure in the high-latitude ionosphere. Throughout this text only the region above 90 km are discussed, ignoring the D region entirely. This publication is a good source of information for students and individuals conducting research on earth's ionosphere.