Imperial College Space Physics Rolling Grant
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
The research to be carried out in our rolling grant programme focuses on the physics of the heliosphere, fundamental space physics and planetary physics. This is all underpinned by our instrument development work, enabling us to design and build space instrumentation. The measurements made by our instruments allow us to interpret and understand different space 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 will learn what the implications are on our climate in response to the weakest solar minimum period we have had in recent history. We will understand how Coronal Mass Ejections evolve as they travel through interplanetary space and learn to forecast better what affect they will have on us on Earth. In Fundamental Space Physics we will better understand collisionless plasmas of which interplanetary space, the region around the Earth and other planets in our solar system, are prime examples. To do this we will focus on some of the underlying key physical processes that drive the dynamics of these regions, such as turbulence and shock physics. In Planetary Physics we will focus on understanding better the different physical processes which arise in Saturn's magnetosphere: is most of the energy derived from the fast rotation of the planet; or does the solar wind have a critical role to play as well? We will resolve how Titan's atmosphere changes with time and what it is made of, which will allow us to gain a better understanding of how our own atmosphere has changed from its initial formation. By observing how some of the small icy moons of Saturn interact with the environment around them we will understand how material is outgassed from their surface and then link this to cometary outgassing and the changes that occur as the orbit of the comet changes around the Sun. The new instruments we will develop will enable us to fly low mass and low power sensors on numerous upcoming spacecraft missions. We will also develop much smaller magnetometer instruments which can be flown on balloons, landers and penetrators. These vehicles are linked to plans to study the atmospheres and surfaces of many different solar system bodies, such as our Moon, as well as moons in the outer solar system like Europa, Ganymede, Titan or Enceladus.
Organisations
- Imperial College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- University of Arizona (Collaboration)
- Technische Universität Braunschweig (Collaboration)
- Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) (Collaboration)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Colorado Boulder (Collaboration)
- University of Michigan (Collaboration)
- Stony Brook University (Collaboration)
- Uppsala University (Collaboration)
- University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- Boston University (Collaboration)
- Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) (Collaboration)
- Johns Hopkins University (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
- University of Iowa (Collaboration)
Publications
Mitchell J
(2013)
Nonlocal electron heating at the Earth's bow shock and the role of the magnetically tangent point
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
See V
(2013)
Non-adiabatic electron behaviour due to short-scale electric field structures at collisionless shock waves
in Annales Geophysicae
Pudney M
(2013)
Near-magnetic-field scaling for verification of spacecraft equipment
in Geoscientific Instrumentation, Methods and Data Systems
Pudney M
(2013)
Near equipment magnetic field verification and scaling
Kellett S
(2010)
Nature of the ring current in Saturn's dayside magnetosphere
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Li L
(2011)
Multiple responses of magnetotail to the enhancement and fluctuation of solar wind dynamic pressure and the southward turning of interplanetary magnetic field MULTIPLE RESPONSES OF MAGNETOTAIL
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Möstl C
(2012)
MULTI-POINT SHOCK AND FLUX ROPE ANALYSIS OF MULTIPLE INTERPLANETARY CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS AROUND 2010 AUGUST 1 IN THE INNER HELIOSPHERE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Alexandrova O
(2014)
Microphysics of Cosmic Plasmas
Schwartz S
(2013)
Microphysics in Astrophysical Plasmas
in Space Science Reviews
Volwerk M
(2016)
Mass-loading, pile-up, and mirror-mode waves at comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko
in Annales Geophysicae
Description | Numerous high profile papers published, including in Science and Nature |
Exploitation Route | Enable others understanding of scientific questions |
Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education |
Description | the success of our science return from instrument building means we are routinely approached by industry for collaboration in new missions |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Arizona |
Organisation | University of Arizona |
Department | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Development of Titan simulation code |
Collaborator Contribution | Science expertise |
Impact | Yelle, R. V., D. S. Snowden, and I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg (2014), Titan's upper atmosphere: thermal structure, dynamics, and energetics, in: "Titan - Interior, Surface, Atmosphere, and Space Environment", I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, C. A. Griffith, E. Lellouch, and T. E. Cravens (Eds.), Cambridge University Press, New York. Cui, J., R. V. Yelle, D. F. Strobel, I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, D. Snowden, T. T. Koskinen, and M. Galand (2012), The CH4 structure in Titan's upper atmosphere revisited, Journal of Geophysical Research, doi:10.1029/2012JE004222. Cui, J., M. Galand, R.V. Yelle, V. Vuitton, J.E. Wahlund, P.P. Lavvas, I.C.F. Müller-Wodarg, T. E. Cravens, W.T. Kasprzak, and J.H. Waite Jr. (2009), Diurnal variations of Titan's ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 114, A06310, doi:10.1029/2009JA014228. Cui, J., R.V. Yelle, V. Vuitton, J.H. Waite Jr., W.T. Kasprzak, D.A. Gell, H.B. Niemann, I.C.F. Mueller-Wodarg, N. Borggren, G.G. Fletcher, E.L. Patrick, E. Raaen, B.A. Magee (2009), Analysis of Titan's neutral upper atmosphere from Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer measurements, Icarus, 200, 581-615, doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2008.12.005 Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., Yelle, R., J. Cui, and J. H. Waite (2008), Horizontal structures and dynamics of Titan's thermosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E10005, doi:10.1029/2007JE003033. Yelle, R., J. Cui, and I. C.F. Mueller-Wodarg (2008), Methane escape from Titan's atmosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 113, E10003, doi:10.1029/2007JE003031. Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., R. V. Yelle, N. Borggren, and J. H. Waite (2006), Waves and horizontal structures in Titan's thermosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 111, A12315, doi:10.1029/2006JA011961. Yelle, R. V., N. Borggren, V. de la Haye, W. T. Kasprzak, H. B. Niemann, I. Mueller-Wodarg, and J. H. Waite Jr. (2006), The vertical structure of Titan's upper atmosphere from Cassini Ion Neutral Mass Spectrometer measurements, Icarus, 182, 567-576. Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., R. V. Yelle, M. Mendillo, and A. D. Aylward (2003), On the global distribution of neutral gases in Titan's upper atmosphere and its effect on the thermal structure, J. Geophys. Res., Vol. 108 (A12) 1453, doi:10.1029/2003JA010054. Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., and R. V. Yelle (2002), The effect of Dynamics on the Composition of Titan's Upper Atmosphere, Geophys. Res. Lett., Vol. 29, No. 23, 54-1 - 54-4, doi: 10.1029/2002GL016100. Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., R. V. Yelle, M. Mendillo, L. A. Young, and A. D. Aylward (2000), The Thermosphere of Titan Simulated by a Global 3-Dimensional Time-Dependent Model , J.Geophys.Res., 105, 20833-20856. |
Description | BU |
Organisation | Boston University |
Department | Centre for Space Physics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of essential simulation code |
Collaborator Contribution | Development of components used in my model; Science expertise |
Impact | Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., L. Moore, M. Galand, S. Miller, and M. Mendillo (2012), Magnetosphere-Atmosphere Coupling at Saturn: 1. Response of Thermosphere and Ionosphere to Steady State Polar Forcing, Icarus, doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2012.08.034 Moore, L., G. Fischer, I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, M. Galand, and M. Mendillo (2012), Diurnal Variation of Electron Density in the Saturn Ionosphere: Model Comparisons with Saturn Electrostatic Discharge (SED) Observations, Icarus, doi: 10.1016/j.icarus.2012.08.010 Galand, M., L. Moore, I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, M. Mendillo, and S. Miller (2011), Response of Saturn's auroral ionosphere to electron precipitation: electron density, electron temperature, and electrical conductivity, J. Geophys. Res., doi:10.1029/2010JA016412. Moore, L., I. Mueller-Wodarg, M. Galand, A. Kliore, and M. Mendillo (2010), Latitudinal variations in Saturn's ionosphere: Cassini measurements and model comparisons, J. Geophys. Res., 115, A11317, doi:10.1029/2010JA015692. Moore L., M. Galand, I. Müller-Wodarg, and M. Mendillo (2009), Response of Saturn's Ionosphere to Solar Radiation: Testing Parameterizations for Thermal Electron Heating and Secondary Ionization Processes, Planet. Space Sci., 57, 1699-1705, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2009.05.001 Moore, L., M. Galand, I. Mueller-Wodarg, R. Yelle, and M. Mendillo (2008), Plasma temperatures in Saturn's ionosphere, J. Geophys. Res., 113, A10306, doi:10.1029/2008JA013373. Mueller-Wodarg, I. C. F., M. Mendillo, R. V. Yelle, and A. D. Aylward (2006), A global circulation model of Saturn's thermosphere, Icarus, 180, 147-160. Mendillo, M. L. E. Moore, J. Clarke, I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, and W. Kurth (2005), Effects of ring shadowing on the detection of electrostatic discharges at Saturn, Geophys. Res. Lett. 32, L05107, doi:10.1029/2004GL021934. Moore, L. E., M. Mendillo, I. C. F. Mueller-Wodarg, and D. L. Murr (2004), Modeling of global variations and ring shadowing in Saturn's ionosphere, Icarus, 172, 503-52. |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Braunschweig University of Technology |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA) |
Department | Wigner Research Centre for Physics |
Country | Hungary |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Johns Hopkins University |
Department | Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) |
Department | Space Research |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of Arizona |
Department | Lunar and Planetary Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of Colorado Boulder |
Department | Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of Iowa |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Organisation | University of Michigan |
Department | Space Research Building (SRB) |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am the Principal Investigator of the Cassini Magnetometer Team |
Collaborator Contribution | helped to build the instruments, and science collaboration |
Impact | Numerous high profile research papers based on Cassini data, and a working instrument still flying on Cassini |
Description | IRF Uppsala |
Organisation | Uppsala University |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Simulations of ionospheres and plasma environment |
Collaborator Contribution | Science expertise & instrument collaboration |
Impact | Wahlund J.-E., M. Galand, I. Müller-Wodarg, J. Cui, R.V. Yelle, F.J. Crary, K. Mandth, B. Magee, J.H. Waite Jr., D.T. Yung, A.J. Coates, P. Garnier, K. Ågren, M. André, A.I. Eriksson, T.E. Cravens, V. Vuitton, D.A. Gurnett, and W.S. Kurth (2009), On the amount of heavy molecular ions in Titan's ionosphere, Planet. Space Sci., 57, 1857-1865, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2009.07.014 Ågren, K., J.-E. Wahlund, P. Garnier, R. Modolo, J. Cui, M. Galand, and I. Mueller-Wodarg (2009), The ionospheric structure of Titan, Planet. Sp. Sci, 57,1821-1827, doi: 10.1016/j.pss.2009.04.012. Rosenqvist, L., J.-E. Wahlund, K. Ågren, R. Modolo, H.J. Opgenoorth, D. Strobel, I. Mueller-Wodarg, P. Garnier, and C. Bertucci (2009), Titan ionospheric conductivities from Cassini measurements, Planet. Sp. Sci, 57, 1828-1833, doi:10.1016/j.pss.2009.01.007. Ågren, K., J.-E. Wahlund, R. Modolo, D. Lummerzheim, M. Galand, I. Müller-Wodarg, P. Canu, W. S. Kurth, T. Cravens, R. Yelle, J. H. Waite Jr., A. Coates, G. Lewis, D. Young, C. Bertucci, M. K. Dougherty, On magnetospheric electron impact ionisation and dynamics in Titan's ram-side & polar ionosphere - a Cassini case study, Annal. Geophys., 25 (11), 2007. Wahlund, J.-E. R. Boström, G. Gustafsson, D. A. Gurnett, W. S. Kurth, A. Pedersen, T. F. Averkamp, G. B. Hospodarsky, A. M. Persson, P. Canu, F. M. Neubauer, M. K. Dougherty, A. I. Eriksson, M. W. Morooka, R. Gill, M. André, L. Eliasson, and I. Mueller-Wodarg, (2005), Cassini Measurements of Cold Plasma in the Ionosphere of Titan, Science, 308, 986-989. |
Description | Plasma turbulence science |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Department | Laboratory for Space Science and Astrophysical Instrumentation |
Country | France |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | Data analysis and theoretical input, exchange of ideas and scientific analysis |
Collaborator Contribution | Theoretical and data input |
Impact | Scientific papers |
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 and data input |
Impact | Scientific papers |
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 and data input |
Impact | Scientific papers |
Title | Magnetoresistive Magnetometer for Spacecraft Attitude Determination |
Description | Magnetoresistive magnetometer (see also Brown et al., 2012) developed by Imperial College for space science applications on small satellites such as CubeSats also has application as an attitude-determining sensor for LEO satellites and hence has commercial value. The Space and Atmospheric Physics group of Imperial College London has, through Imperial Innovations Ltd, licensed the magnetometer sensor and its associated electronics Satellite Services Ltd of Portsmouth, UK, who are marketing the device to commercial satellite builders. |
IP Reference | |
Protection | Protection not required |
Year Protection Granted | |
Licensed | Yes |
Impact | In addition to its commercial use as an attitude sensor (for which Satellite Services Ltd has sold several units), the device has also flown as a science-instrument onboard the US CubeSat 'CINEMA' and two south-Korean CubeSats. |
Description | "The Sun: Living With Our Star" exhibition at Science Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Imperial College engaged actively with the Science Museum during the development of their new exhibition on the Sun, providing advice and support. Solar Orbiter is featured prominently in this exhibition and it includes footage of an interivew with Helen O'Brien, magnetometer instrument manager, as well as a physical engineering model of the magnetic field sensor that will fly on the spacecraft. This exhibition will tour following the end of its run in London in 2019. Detailed analytics on public impact will be available at a later date. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018,2019 |
URL | https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/see-and-do/the-sun-living-with-our-star |