A Rolling Programme in Space and Planetary Physics

Lead Research Organisation: Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics

Abstract

The work to be carried out in this rolling programme will be carried out in 3 separate and related areas. The first two areas cover gaining an understanding the physics of the variety of plasmas in our solar system. The third area consists of space instrumentation which designs and builds the instruments which make the measurements in space which enables us to interpret and understand these environments. Observing plasma processes out in space provides us with a way to study the fundamental processes that occur in both laboratory plasmas and astrophysical ones which are not as easy to measure. We wish to understand how the sun affects the Earth, what the origins and properties of the energetic particles are which reach the Earth, how the Sun influences the variety of bodies in our solar system, their atmospheres and their nearby plasma environments and how those bodies in turn affect the environment around them.

Publications

10 25 50
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Achilleos N (2008) Large-scale dynamics of Saturn's magnetopause: Observations by Cassini in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics

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Alexandrova O (2009) Universality of solar-wind turbulent spectrum from MHD to electron scales. in Physical review letters

 
Description New Rolling Grant Programme
Amount £3,000,000 (GBP)
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 04/2010 
End 03/2012
 
Description PPRP
Amount £52,954 (GBP)
Organisation Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2009 
End 04/2010
 
Description CINEMA/TRIO spacecraft 
Organisation Kyunghee University
Department School of Space Research
Country Korea, Republic of 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of MR magnetometer
Collaborator Contribution KHU funded collaborative visit to Korea for Imperial staff (P. Brown)
Impact Prototype sensor
Start Year 2008
 
Description CINEMA/TRIO spacecraft 
Organisation University of California, Berkeley
Department Space Sciences Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Development of MR magnetometer
Collaborator Contribution KHU funded collaborative visit to Korea for Imperial staff (P. Brown)
Impact Prototype sensor
Start Year 2008
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Boston University
Department Physics Department
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Braunschweig University of Technology
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Israeli Cultural Institute (IKI)
Country Hungary 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Johns Hopkins University
Department Applied Physics Laboratory (APL)
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Max Planck Society
Country Germany 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Department Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Observatory of Paris
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation Southwest Research Institute (SwRI)
Country United States 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University College London
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Arizona
Department Lunar and Planetary Laboratory
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Department Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP)
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Cologne
Department Department of Physics
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Iowa
Department Department of Physics and Astronomy
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Leicester
Department Department of Physics & Astronomy
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Michigan
Department Department of Physics
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Cassini and Saturn science 
Organisation University of Toulouse
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution close interaction on science analysis and discoveries made by Cassini instrument teams
Collaborator Contribution exchange of data and science ideas
Impact published papers (including Science and Nature), press releases
 
Description Electron-scale Turbulence 
Organisation Observatory of Paris
Country France 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Joint research using expertise on electron data (Imperial) and high frequency magnetic data (Meudon) to extend knowledge of plasma turbulence to the putative electron scale where it is dissipated.
Collaborator Contribution Joint research
Impact Alexandrova Phys. Rev. Letter (heavily cited)
Start Year 2008
 
Description Magnetopause Kelvin-Helmholtz characteristics 
Organisation Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency
Department Institute of Space and Astronautical Science
Country Japan 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Accurate reduction and manipulation of electron data and its interpretation.
Collaborator Contribution Detailed computer modelling (ISAS) and data assimilation
Impact Ground-breaking paper led by Hasegawa.
Start Year 2007
 
Description Plasma turbulence science 
Organisation Stony Brook University
Department C.N. Yang Institute for Theoretical Physics
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Data analysis and theoretical input, exchange of ideas and scientific analysis
Collaborator Contribution Theoretical input
Impact Scientific papers
Start Year 2007
 
Description Plasma turbulence science 
Organisation University of Oxford
Department Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Data analysis and theoretical input, exchange of ideas and scientific analysis
Collaborator Contribution Theoretical input
Impact Scientific papers
Start Year 2007
 
Description Shock Physics 
Organisation University of Iowa
Department Department of Physics and Astronomy
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Led some research areas, supported others.
Collaborator Contribution Careful treatment of electric field data
Impact Several papers, e.g., Matsui et al (2008), Lefebvre et al, (2009), Sigsbee et al. (2010)
Start Year 2006
 
Description Shock Physics 
Organisation University of New Hampshire
Department Space Science Center
Country United States 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Led some research areas, supported others.
Collaborator Contribution Careful treatment of electric field data
Impact Several papers, e.g., Matsui et al (2008), Lefebvre et al, (2009), Sigsbee et al. (2010)
Start Year 2006
 
Description Press briefings 
Form Of Engagement Activity A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience Media (as a channel to the public)
Results and Impact Numerous press briefings linked to reaearch publications and science discoveries, including appearances on national TV such as news programmes and Sky at Night

interest from the press and media
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010
 
Description Public lectures 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? Yes
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact numerous public lectures given on different aspects to the groups research

public interest in science
interest from schools in science
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010
 
Description School visits 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Primary Audience Schools
Results and Impact numerous talks given in schools by different members of staff

schools asked for visit to Imperial
schools described more interest in science following visits
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010