A Profile of the Variability of the Geosynchronous Magnetic Field Strength and Its Response to the Solar Wind

了解地球磁层对太阳风参数变化的响应是空间物理学中最重要和最基本的问题之一。在磁层内，地球同步轨道的位置使其磁场和等离子体性质不仅对磁层顶的太阳风-磁层相互作用作出反应，而且对内部磁层和夜间等离子体层的变化作出反应。与磁暴有关的地球同步场的波动、超低频磁脉动和瞬变事件只是地球同步场如何作为太阳风影响的监测器的三个重要例子。该项目将侧重于地球同步磁场对不同类型的极低频脉动的响应的可变性。该响应将作为不同地磁条件下的磁当地时间(MLT)的函数进行研究。对于每个通带，将研究磁场变化与IMF取向和太阳风性质(如质子数密度、流速、动压和动压波动)的关系。这项调查的结果数据库和不同参数之间的统计关系将更好地了解太阳风如何影响磁层。该项目包括研究和本科教育的紧密结合。洛约拉·马里蒙特大学的本科生将有机会积极参与研究项目，从而丰富他们的教育经验，为他们的职业生涯提供更好的准备。洛约拉·马里蒙特的学生非常多样化，大约49%是非白人，58%是女性。基于这项研究的教材也将被开发用于课堂使用。这项研究将与大型研究机构的合作者一起进行，从而形成一种伙伴关系，这将加强洛约拉·马里蒙特学生科学家对空间物理研究的兴奋。

Understanding the response of Earth's magnetosphere to variations in solar wind parameters is one of the most important and fundamental problems in space physics. Within the magnetosphere, the location of the geosynchronous orbit is such that its magnetic field and plasma properties are responsive not only to solar wind-magnetosphere interactions at the magnetopause, but also to changes in the inner magnetosphere and the nightside plasmasheet. Fluctuations in the geosynchronous field associated with magnetic storms, Ultra-Low Frequency (ULF) magnetic pulsations, and transient events are just three important examples of how the geosynchronous field can act as a monitor of the effect of the solar wind. This project will focus on the variability of the geosynchronous magnetic field in response to the different types of ULF pulsations. The response will be examined as a function of magnetic local time (MLT) for different geomagnetic conditions. For each passband, the dependence of the variations in magnetic field on IMF orientation and solar wind properties such as proton number density, flow speed, dynamic pressure, and dynamic pressure fluctuations will be investigated. The resultant database of this survey and the statistical relationships among the different parameters will provide a better understanding of how the solar wind influences the magnetosphere. The project includes a tight integration of research and undergraduate education. Undergraduates at Loyola Marymount University will be provided the opportunity to participate actively in the research program, thus enriching their educational experience and providing them with greater preparation for their professional careers. The Loyola Marymount student population is very diverse with about 49% being non-white and 58% female. Educational materials based on this research will also be developed for classroom use. The study will be performed with collaborators at large research institutions, resulting in a partnership that will reinforce the excitement of space physics research among the Loyola Marymount student scientists.