Kinetic Simulation Studies of Plasma Measurements and Instabilities in the Polar Ionosphere(1/2)

  • Jao, Chun-Sung (PI)

Project Details

Description

The earth's ionosphere is a partially ionized plasma system, and its physics may vary with the latitudes. Specifically, the polar ionosphere is a complex system that is directly connected to the interplanetary space and often responds to solar activities due to the magnetic field configuration in the Sun-Earth system. Thus the understanding of the polar ionosphere is crucial in the development of space weather models. To investigate the problems of irregularities and plasma turbulence, the in-situ measurements, such as satellites and sounding rockets, and remote sensing measurements, such as radars and all-sky aurora cameras, have all been widely employed. In the theoretical model, the gradient drift instability and the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability are the primary candidates to be dominant mechanisms for the plasma irregularities and turbulence in the polar ionosphere. The fluid-based theoretical and numerical models have been developed to study the macro-instability processes, but, to understand the evolution from macro-instabilities to the micro-structures of irregularities and plasma turbulences, the development of the kinetic-based simulation models becomes indispensable. The main goals of this research are to use the self-developed kinetic-based models to study the plasma instabilities in the polar ionosphere and to investigate the plasma-instrument or plasma-object interactions in the space environment. The latter study will provide a reference for assessing the performance and future improvements in the in-situ measurements of space and ionospheric plasmas. The developed numerical models can also be directly employed in the design of future spacecraft missions of in-situ plasma measurements in Taiwan.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date1/08/2031/07/21

UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This project contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 13 - Climate Action
  • SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

  • Polar ionosphere
  • irregularity
  • plasma turbulence
  • plasma instability
  • kinetic simulation
  • plasma measurement

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