Contact Information

Instructor: Jim Crumley
Office: 107 Peter Engel Science Center
Email: jcrumley@csbsju.edu
Phone: 363–3183
Office Hour:1 pm even days (or by appointment or just stop by)

Course Information

Lecture: 8:00–9:10 am Days 246 (Mods C+D)
Room: 167 Peter Engel Science Center
Textbook:Space Science edited by Harra and Mason
Web Site: http://www.physics.csbsju.edu/368/

Introduction

Space Physics is the study of what goes on in the solar systems between the Sun and its satellites — the planets, moons, comets, asteroids, etc. In elementary science classes this region is often described as vacuum that contains no matter. This is an exaggeration — even though the number density of particles in most regions of the solar system is small enough to be considered a vacuum by earthbound standards, matter still exists in all regions. This matter usually exists as a plasma. Along with the plasma, many different types of waves exist in space. Much of this course will deal with the plasma and waves in space and their interactions with each other.

In some ways, Space Physics is one of the oldest branches of physics. Since before recorded history, people have been fascinated by the night sky. Much of what interested ancient people involved the stars, which would now be classified as astronomy, but some of the most striking phenomena, including most importantly the aurora borealis and australis, have their roots in Space Physics. Though Space Physics has its roots in the distant past, it did not really come into its own as a field of study until after man-made satellites were first launched into space. In-situ measurements are key to understanding the space environment and in this course we will often look at spacecraft data.

Homework Assignments

Homework will be assigned roughly once a cycle and be due roughly a cycle later.

Grading

The grade in this class will be 35 % from the total homework grade, 10 % from quizzes/participation, 20 % from the first test grade, and 35 % from the final test.

Course Schedule

Cycle Date SectionsTitle Topics
7-2W 3/11 1, 4.1–4.4Introduction to Space PhysicsPlasmas and space
7-4 F 3/134.5.1–4.5.4Basic Plasma Physics MHD and shocks
7-6 T 3/174.5.5–4.5.7Plasma as Particles Reconnection and magnetospheres
8-2 R 3/19 4.5.7–4.6More Magnetospheres SW interaction with other bodies
8-4M 3/23 6.1–6.3Introduction to the Sun Solar structure, energy
8-6W 3/25 6.4–6.6More on the Sun Neutrinos, helioseismology, BSun
9-2 F 3/27 6.7–6.9Solar atmosphere Photosphere, chromosphere, corona
9-4 T 3/31 6.10–6.12Solar Wind Solar wind and flares
9-6 R 4/02 1,4,6Review Review for Test 1
10-2M 4/06 1–5Test 1
10-4W 4/08 5.1–5.4Aurora Solar activity and aurora
Easter Break
10-6W 4/15 5.4–5.6Aurora II Aurora and substorms
11-2 F 4/17 5.7–5.12Solar Activity Flares, ionosphere, CMEs
11-4 T 4/21 5.13–5.16Magnetic Storms Storms, substorms, and CMEs
11-6 F 4/24 9.1–9.3Introduction to MHD Conservation and Maxwell’s eqns
12-2 T 4/28 9.4–9.7MHD details Momentum eqn, reconnection
12-4 R 4/30 9.8–9.9MHD waves Acoustic and Alfven waves
12-6M 5/04 1,4–6,9Review Review for Final
FinalW 5/06 Final Exam

References