Space and planetary physics 2019-2022
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We will carry out a wide range of research projects which will answer important questions about our solar system and the planets within it. We will also study the links between the Sun and interplanetary space through the solar wind, as well as how they affect space around the Earth. Space is filled with small amounts of hot charged particles, called a plasma, along with a magnetic field, so much of the work we do is fundamental plasma physics applied to space and the processes that we study occur throughout the Universe.
In our work we will study the fundamental plasma process of reconnection, which releases magnetic energy and is important in allowing plasma from the Sun, the solar wind, to enter near-Earth space. We will also use new data from spacecraft travelling close to the Sun to examine how fine scale structure on the Sun extends out into space. We will study how discrete releases of material from the Sun evolve as they travel into interplanetary space; when they reach the Earth, these objects can cause significant disruption to technological systems on the ground and in Earth orbit.
We will also consider other bodies in the solar system, both small and large. We will continue to model the environment around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Gerasimenko in order to interpret the rich Rosetta dataset and use measurements of Saturn's magnetic field to probe its interior dynamics. We will consider how the planetary fields of Jupiter and Saturn link into the space around them, and model the interactions between the solar wind plasma and the outer gas giants Uranus and Neptune.
These are important topics to study not just because they provide new insight into fundamental physical processes which we do not fully understand, but also because of their effects on our lives, on other areas of science and of what they tell us about our Universe. Our work on plasma physics is related to both laboratory work on the Earth as well as many astrophysical objects such as stars and the space between the galaxies. Our work on giant planets and moons helps us to better characterise the processes that occur on and around exoplanets.
While we use theoretical models and computer simulations for some of our work, we also make extensive use of measurements returned from spacecraft in orbit around the Earth, around other planets and around the Sun. In many cases, these measurements are made wholly or in part by scientific instruments designed, built and operated by our laboratory here at Imperial College. London. Our expertise is in making instruments that measure the magnetic field in space - although it is very small, often hundreds of thousands of times smaller than the Earth's, this magnetic field is vital because it interacts with the charged particles in the plasma and it is this interaction that produces the broad range of behaviour that we observe.
As part of this proposal, we will also improve on our magnetic field instrument designs, making them more stable and accurate for a future generation of scientific missions, to the outer planets and elsewhere in the Solar System.
In our work we will study the fundamental plasma process of reconnection, which releases magnetic energy and is important in allowing plasma from the Sun, the solar wind, to enter near-Earth space. We will also use new data from spacecraft travelling close to the Sun to examine how fine scale structure on the Sun extends out into space. We will study how discrete releases of material from the Sun evolve as they travel into interplanetary space; when they reach the Earth, these objects can cause significant disruption to technological systems on the ground and in Earth orbit.
We will also consider other bodies in the solar system, both small and large. We will continue to model the environment around comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Gerasimenko in order to interpret the rich Rosetta dataset and use measurements of Saturn's magnetic field to probe its interior dynamics. We will consider how the planetary fields of Jupiter and Saturn link into the space around them, and model the interactions between the solar wind plasma and the outer gas giants Uranus and Neptune.
These are important topics to study not just because they provide new insight into fundamental physical processes which we do not fully understand, but also because of their effects on our lives, on other areas of science and of what they tell us about our Universe. Our work on plasma physics is related to both laboratory work on the Earth as well as many astrophysical objects such as stars and the space between the galaxies. Our work on giant planets and moons helps us to better characterise the processes that occur on and around exoplanets.
While we use theoretical models and computer simulations for some of our work, we also make extensive use of measurements returned from spacecraft in orbit around the Earth, around other planets and around the Sun. In many cases, these measurements are made wholly or in part by scientific instruments designed, built and operated by our laboratory here at Imperial College. London. Our expertise is in making instruments that measure the magnetic field in space - although it is very small, often hundreds of thousands of times smaller than the Earth's, this magnetic field is vital because it interacts with the charged particles in the plasma and it is this interaction that produces the broad range of behaviour that we observe.
As part of this proposal, we will also improve on our magnetic field instrument designs, making them more stable and accurate for a future generation of scientific missions, to the outer planets and elsewhere in the Solar System.
Planned Impact
Our work has a wide range of impacts across society, government and business.
We enhance the quality of life of wider society through our extensive public engagement. Space is a compelling subject and with our expertise and involvement in some of the most exciting discoveries in the field, we play an active role in explaining new results and enthusing the public, both young and old. Our location in central London means that we are in demand for broadcast interviews on national and international media on a regular basis. We also engage directly with schools and via other routes, including Imperial's Fringe public events which regularly attract hundreds of visitors. Being next to the Science Museum, we are regularly involved with their engagement activities such as the Principia launch event, loaning and donating space hardware for display, and contributing to an upcoming major exhibition on the Sun. We have also found value in social media, for example setting up a research group Twitter account which continues to extend our reach.
We enhance the nation's wealth principally through our engagement with industry. Our hardware programme has resulted in miniature magnetometers with diverse applications. Through STFC, TSB and NSTP funding, we have collaborated with Ultra Electronics and developed and refined our design for commercial applications, which has now been licensed for satellite attitude determination to NewSpace Systems via Imperial Innovations; this development won the 2016 NMI Research Collaboration Award. We have also identified and are actively investigating other, non-space applications. A CASE studentship with Airbus has successfully transferred magnetic cleanliness expertise into that organisation, for Solar Orbiter and future projects.
We train the next generation of scientists and engineers to support the UK's goal of growing the space economy to 10% by 2030, and the knowledge economy more generally. Our research attracts high-quality school students to Imperial College, and students at Imperial gain further knowledge through working directly with us. As well as following traditional academic careers, PhD students have pursued a variety of careers in IT, finance, management and business.
We support government through our contributions to the understanding and prediction of space weather effects. In addition to relevant fundamental research, we actively collaborate with the Met Office on modelling of the Earth's magnetosphere and its response to solar wind variations, with the explicit goal of improving predictions of space weather effects. We also collaborate with Imperial's Business School on the commercial and governmental aspects of risk modelling of space weather events.
We enhance the quality of life of wider society through our extensive public engagement. Space is a compelling subject and with our expertise and involvement in some of the most exciting discoveries in the field, we play an active role in explaining new results and enthusing the public, both young and old. Our location in central London means that we are in demand for broadcast interviews on national and international media on a regular basis. We also engage directly with schools and via other routes, including Imperial's Fringe public events which regularly attract hundreds of visitors. Being next to the Science Museum, we are regularly involved with their engagement activities such as the Principia launch event, loaning and donating space hardware for display, and contributing to an upcoming major exhibition on the Sun. We have also found value in social media, for example setting up a research group Twitter account which continues to extend our reach.
We enhance the nation's wealth principally through our engagement with industry. Our hardware programme has resulted in miniature magnetometers with diverse applications. Through STFC, TSB and NSTP funding, we have collaborated with Ultra Electronics and developed and refined our design for commercial applications, which has now been licensed for satellite attitude determination to NewSpace Systems via Imperial Innovations; this development won the 2016 NMI Research Collaboration Award. We have also identified and are actively investigating other, non-space applications. A CASE studentship with Airbus has successfully transferred magnetic cleanliness expertise into that organisation, for Solar Orbiter and future projects.
We train the next generation of scientists and engineers to support the UK's goal of growing the space economy to 10% by 2030, and the knowledge economy more generally. Our research attracts high-quality school students to Imperial College, and students at Imperial gain further knowledge through working directly with us. As well as following traditional academic careers, PhD students have pursued a variety of careers in IT, finance, management and business.
We support government through our contributions to the understanding and prediction of space weather effects. In addition to relevant fundamental research, we actively collaborate with the Met Office on modelling of the Earth's magnetosphere and its response to solar wind variations, with the explicit goal of improving predictions of space weather effects. We also collaborate with Imperial's Business School on the commercial and governmental aspects of risk modelling of space weather events.
Organisations
Publications
LaMoury A
(2021)
Solar Wind Control of Magnetosheath Jet Formation and Propagation to the Magnetopause
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Steinvall K
(2021)
Solar wind current sheets and deHoffmann-Teller analysis First results from Solar Orbiter's DC electric field measurements
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Tilquin H
(2020)
Solar Wind Reconnection Exhausts in the Inner Heliosphere Observed by Helios and Detected via Machine Learning
in The Astrophysical Journal
Øieroset M
(2021)
Spatial evolution of magnetic reconnection diffusion region structures with distance from the X-line
in Physics of Plasmas
Laker R
(2021)
Statistical analysis of orientation, shape, and size of solar wind switchbacks
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Carbone F
(2021)
Statistical study of electron density turbulence and ion-cyclotron waves in the inner heliosphere: Solar Orbiter observations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Telloni D
(2021)
Study of two interacting interplanetary coronal mass ejections encountered by Solar Orbiter during its first perihelion passage Observations and modeling
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Desai M
(2022)
Suprathermal Ion Energy Spectra and Anisotropies near the Heliospheric Current Sheet Crossing Observed by the Parker Solar Probe during Encounter 7
in The Astrophysical Journal
Laker R
(2022)
Switchback deflections beyond the early parker solar probe encounters
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Fedorov A
(2021)
Switchback-like structures observed by Solar Orbiter
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Drake J
(2021)
Switchbacks as signatures of magnetic flux ropes generated by interchange reconnection in the corona
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Verscharen D
(2021)
The angular-momentum flux in the solar wind observed during Solar Orbiter's first orbit
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Heyner D
(2021)
The BepiColombo Planetary Magnetometer MPO-MAG: What Can We Learn from the Hermean Magnetic Field?
in Space Science Reviews
Baumjohann W
(2020)
The BepiColombo-Mio Magnetometer en Route to Mercury
in Space Science Reviews
Kollhoff A
(2021)
The first widespread solar energetic particle event observed by Solar Orbiter on 2020 November 29
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Lavraud B
(2020)
The Heliospheric Current Sheet and Plasma Sheet during Parker Solar Probe's First Orbit
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Cravens T
(2019)
The Ion Composition of Saturn's Equatorial Ionosphere as Observed by Cassini
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chen C
(2021)
The near-Sun streamer belt solar wind: turbulence and solar wind acceleration
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stansby D
(2020)
The origin of slow Alfvénic solar wind at solar minimum
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hunt G
(2022)
The Response of Saturn's Dawn Field-Aligned Currents to Magnetospheric and Ring Current Conditions During Cassini's Proximal Orbits: Evidence for a Region 2 Response at Saturn
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Müller D
(2020)
The Solar Orbiter mission Science overview
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maksimovic M
(2021)
The Solar Orbiter Radio and Plasma Waves (RPW) instrument (Corrigendum)
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Zouganelis I
(2020)
The Solar Orbiter Science Activity Plan Translating solar and heliospheric physics questions into action
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stephenson P
(2023)
The source of electrons at comet 67P
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Perrone D
(2019)
Thermodynamics of pure fast solar wind: radial evolution of the temperature-speed relationship in the inner heliosphere
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Desai R
(2020)
Three-Dimensional Simulations of Solar Wind Preconditioning and the 23 July 2012 Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection
in Solar Physics
Zhao L
(2021)
Turbulence and wave transmission at an ICME-driven shock observed by the Solar Orbiter and Wind
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Stawarz J
(2022)
Turbulence-driven magnetic reconnection and the magnetic correlation length: Observations from Magnetospheric Multiscale in Earth's magnetosheath
in Physics of Plasmas
Kretzschmar M
(2021)
Whistler waves observed by Solar Orbiter / RPW between 0.5 AU and 1 AU
Kretzschmar M
(2021)
Whistler waves observed by Solar Orbiter/RPW between 0.5 AU and 1 AU
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | ABC (Australia) Radio Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed as part of an ABC Australia radio show on space weather - impact was in general publicity relating to funded research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/sciencefriction/the-apocalypse-part-1-suns-supercharge... |
Description | AstroSoc Imperial College, lecture given by Michele Dougherty on Cassini and JUICE |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | Outreach talk to AstroSoc members at Imperial College |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | BBC Radio 4 In Our Time (Solar Wind: 23 Jan 2020) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | One of three members of In Our Time episode on the solar wind, broadcast 23 Jan 2020 on BBC Radio 4. Producer reports the following engagement figures: Circa 2 million hear it live, around 400,000 later that evening, around 800,000 downloaded and listen to within a week., |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dg9n |
Description | Birkeland Lecture, Oslo, September 2021 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Michele Dougherty was invited to be the Birkeland lecturer in Oslo, in person in September 2021, after being postponed for a year due to covid |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | CNN International Interview |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Interviewed for a story on Mars settlements published online by CNN International. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/mars-science-city-design-spc-scn/index.html |
Description | COSPAR Interdisciplinary Lecture, Sydney (online), January 2021 postponed from August 2020 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Michele Dougherty gave a Cospar Interdisciplanary lecture on new results from the magnetospheres of Jupiter and Saturn |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | CSEO SpaceWorks Webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Facebook live event as part of the CSEO 2030 SpaceWorks Webinar series. Online event reached audience of more than 40,000, leading to plans for similar events in future. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.facebook.com/CyprusSpaceExplorationOrganisation/videos/438468813794844/ |
Description | Design Museum Moving to Mars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Workshop about 'Moving to Mars' at the Design Museum in support of the exhibition of the same name. Well attended with enthusiastic audience participation and questions, leading to further plans for similar events should the opportunity arise. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://designmuseum.org/exhibitions/moving-to-mars |
Description | Imperial College Schrodinger Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Imperial College's annual science lecture, open to all. Prof. Michele Dougherty presented results from the Cassini mission. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Press conference, American Geophysical Union, Fall 2020 meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press conference organised by ESA at the AGU Fall 2020 meeting, several journalists present; gave presentations, Q&A session |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Science on Stage |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 100+ pupils from local schools and home-schooled students attended a lecture at the British Museum as part of the Benjamin Franklin house 2019 Science-on-Stage event. Teachers reported a lively and interesting event which enthused the students. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Twitter account |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | @SolarOrbiterMAG Twitter account started and run in the run up to launch and in flight. With regular Tweets, we have over 2,200 followers and for example in March 2022 have had over 60,000 engagements with an engagement rate of over 2%. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020,2021,2022 |
URL | http://www.twitter.com/@solarorbitermag |
Description | Youth Takeover Day 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Local event for underserved young people to explore opportunities for further and higher education. Hands-on science events were offered to attendees, teachers and local youth leaders reported that the events were stimulating and generated interest. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |