Space Physics – Laurea in Fisica LM17 [6 CFU]
Contents: Heliophysics; space plasma; energetic particles; Sun-Earth relations; space weather; space missions, measurements, and methods.
Textbooks: M. B. Kallenrode, “Space Physics – An Introduction to Plasmas and Particles in the Heliosphere and Magnetospheres”, 2004 Springer. U. Villante, “Al di là delle nuvole. La fisica delle relazioni Sole-Terra”, 2001 Ed. Bollati Boringhieri (Lettura divulgativa). Course slides and lecture notes are available at this page and under Unistudium.
Objectives: to acquire knowledge of heliospheric and interplanetary phenomena, Sun-Earth relations and space weather. Understanding of basic plasma astrophysics processes. Acceleration and transport of energetic particles.
Prerequisites: Basic physics, classical electrodynamics, special relativity, calculus.
Timetable: Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00; Friday 14:30 – 16:30.
Office hours: monday 17ish to 19ish, office V floor or online via MS Teams (o quando vi pare ma avvisate via email).
Program: Introduction to space plasma; solar, heliospheric, and magnetospheric plasma. Kinetic theory, orbit theory, adiabatic invariants. Heliophysics: the Sun structure, its variability and the solar cycle; solar flares and coronal mass ejections; the heliosphere, the solar wind, the interplanetary magnetic field, the interstellar space. Turbulence, shocks, winds. Transport processes of energetic particles. Spatial diffusion, convection, adiabatic cooling, drift, diffusive shock acceleration. Solar modulation of galactic cosmic rays. Acceleration and transport of solar energetic particles. Sun-Earth relations; the magnetosphere; geomagnetic disturbance and proxies; Stoermer orbits and geomagnetic cutoff. Aurora borealis; magnetic storms; ionospheric phenomena. Space weather; monitoring, nowcasting, and alert systems. Space missions, instruments and methods.
Introduction to Space Physics – Ph.D. in Physics [1.5 CFU]
Program: Heliophysics: the Sun variability and the solar cycle; the solar wind and the heliosphere; the interplanetary magnetic field, the interstellar space. Space plasmas: basic properties, Debye length and plasma parameter, plasma frequency, continuity equation. Heliospheric and magnetospheric plasmas. Single particle motion, cyclotron motion, drift equations, orbit theory. Magnetic dipole and bottle. Adiabatic invariants. Particles in the Earth magnetosphere. Transport of solar particles and cosmic rays in the heliosphere: turbulence and spatial diffusion, convection and cooling, drift, acceleration.
Textbooks: M. B. Kallenrode, “Space Physics – An Introduction to Plasmas and Particles in the Heliosphere and Magnetospheres”, 2004 Springer. Course material, slides and notes will be made available here.
Timetable: Monday 9:00 – 11:00; Tuesday 9:00 – 11:00. Since 29 November 2021 till 7 December 2021.