Topics in Space Physics. (3-0) 3 Credit Hours

Catalog description

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or consent of instructor. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Topics may include the following: Topic 1: Heliospheric Physics. The connection between the Sun and solar wind. Formation of transient events such as Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), co-rotating interaction regions, solar energetic particles, plasma waves, pickup ions and mass loading, anomalous cosmic rays, heliospheric boundaries and interaction with the local interstellar medium, energetic neutral atoms (ENAs). Topic 2: Magnetospheric Physics. Earth’s bow shock, magnetopause, magnetotail, plasma sheet, ring current and plasmasphere. Current systems, reconnection, magnetospheric storms and substorms, ionospheric interactions, aurora borealis. The geocorona and ENA emissions. Topic 3: Data Analysis Techniques in Space Physics. Space instrumentation and datasets, measurement processes, performance and instrument limitations, data interpretation, statistical data analysis, time series data analysis, Fourier wavelet analysis, correlation and regression, multi-spacecraft data analysis, minimum variance analysis, numerical modeling and simulations. Topic 4: Planetary Science. Planets, planetary atmospheres, and planetary magnetospheres. Planetary formation, composition, dynamics, end evolution of the solar system. Comparative planetology, interplanetary dust, comets, asteroids, and Kuiper belt objects. Extra-solar planets, astrobiology, exobiology, and the search for life beyond Earth. This course has Differential Tuition. Course Fee: GS01 $90; DL01 $75.