CAREER: Kinetic Theory and Simulation of Magnetospheric Plasmas

职业：磁层等离子体的动力学理论和模拟

• 批准号: 0447423
• 负责人: William Daughton
• 金额: $ 51.01万
• 依托单位: University of Iowa
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2005
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2005-03-01 至 2007-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0447423&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: CAREER; Kinetic; Theory; Simulation; Magnetospheric

The large-scale evolution of the magnetosphere is strongly influenced by fairly small transition regions such as the ion-scale current layers at the magnetopause and within the magnetotail. One of the major obstacles to developing models of the magnetosphere is that the plasma physics in these regions is not well understood. There is clear evidence that both ion and electron kinetic physics can play an important role within these current layers. Research on this subject has been hampered by the computational difficulty of performing realistic kinetic simulations and the theoretical challenge of accurately computing the linear stability of the plasma within these regions. This project will employ a variety of theoretical approaches and advanced kinetic simulations to overcome these limitations and arrive at an improved understanding of current sheets within the magnetosphere. The effort will use a balanced approach comprised of linear kinetic theory, parallel kinetic simulations using proven methods, and research into advanced simulation techniques that may offer significant advantages in solving these difficult problems. Particular applications of interest will include the onset and development of magnetic reconnection at the magnetopause and within the magnetotail, and the role of electron physics in the slow-mode shocks that are expected to form as part of the reconnection layer. The theoretical results will be compared with satellite observations. The scientific results will have broader impacts because the physics of current sheets and associated processes such as magnetic reconnection are of importance in a wide range of applications in space, astrophysical and laboratory plasmas. The project will also have a strong educational component and dissemination of new scientific knowledge and simulation codes to other researchers in space and laboratory plasmas. The research program is integrated with both undergraduate and graduate level education. This program will aid in the establishment of the Plasma Simulation Facility at the University of Iowa, which will be used for both teaching and research. The educational program is further enhanced by a student internship agreement with Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Students will have access to some of the most advanced computing facilities in the world and the opportunity to interact with leading experts in the area of plasma simulation.

磁层的大尺度演化强烈地受到相当小的过渡区的影响，如磁层顶和磁尾内的离子尺度电流层。发展磁层模型的主要障碍之一是这些区域的等离子体物理学还没有得到很好的理解。有明确的证据表明，离子和电子动力学物理可以在这些电流层中发挥重要作用。关于这个问题的研究一直阻碍了现实的动力学模拟和精确计算这些区域内的等离子体的线性稳定性的理论挑战的计算难度。该项目将采用各种理论方法和先进的动力学模拟来克服这些限制，并更好地了解磁层内的电流片。这项工作将使用一种平衡的方法，包括线性动力学理论，使用经过验证的方法进行并行动力学模拟，以及研究先进的模拟技术，这些技术可能在解决这些困难问题方面提供显着的优势。特别感兴趣的应用将包括磁层顶和磁尾内磁重联的开始和发展，以及电子物理学在预计将形成重联层一部分的慢模冲击中的作用。理论结果将与卫星观测结果进行比较。这些科学成果将产生更广泛的影响，因为电流片的物理学和磁重联等相关过程在空间、天体物理学和实验室等离子体的广泛应用中具有重要意义。该项目还将有一个强有力的教育组成部分，并向空间和实验室等离子体领域的其他研究人员传播新的科学知识和模拟代码。该研究计划与本科和研究生教育相结合。该计划将有助于在爱荷华州大学建立等离子体模拟设施，该设施将用于教学和研究。教育计划通过与洛斯阿拉莫斯国家实验室（LANL）的学生实习协议得到进一步加强。学生将有机会使用世界上最先进的计算设施，并有机会与等离子体模拟领域的领先专家进行互动。