Studies in theoretical space physics

这一提议解决了近地空间中被称为磁层的物理过程，磁层是地球周围的磁腔，由地球磁场在太阳风中产生。磁层对社会的重要性与日俱增。人类对近地空间的占用（例如，空间站）和使用（例如，通信卫星）的增加，以及我们对空间天气信息日益增长的需求，都表明有必要了解磁层的行为。为了了解带电粒子与观测到的磁层波如何相互作用，研究了微物理过程。一个特别的问题是在被称为磁暴的扰动条件下，在内磁层产生高能（“杀手”）电子。这些电子会导致卫星故障并扰乱地球上的电网。空间气象这门新科学试图描述空间环境的状况，并预测诸如地磁风暴之类的恶劣条件。利用计算机模拟和数学分析方法研究了空间等离子体中的波粒相互作用。利用星载仪器提供的粒子和能量数据构建模型，并根据观测数据对模型解进行验证。这一建议不仅旨在提高我们对磁层的基本科学知识，而且还旨在推动磁层物理学作为一门预测科学，从而在更广泛的意义上造福社会。

This proposal addresses physical processes in the region of near-Earth space called the magnetosphere, which is the magnetic cavity surrounding the Earth that is produced in the solar wind by the Earth's magnetic field.  The magnetosphere is of rising importance to society.  Increased occupation (e.g., space stations) and use (e.g., communications satellites) of near-Earth space by humans, and our increasing need for space weather information point to the necessity for understanding the behaviour of the magnetosphere.  Microphysical processes are studied with a view to understanding how charged particles interact with observed magnetosphere waves.  A particular problem addressed is the generation of energetic ('killer') electrons in the inner magnetosphere during disturbed conditions known as magnetic storms.  These electrons can cause satellite malfunctions and disrupt power grids on Earth.  The new science of space weather seeks to describe the state of the space environment and to forecast severe conditions such as geomagnetic storms.  Computer modeling and mathematical analysis are used to study wave-particle interactions in space plasmas.  Models are constructed using particle and energy data from satellite-borne instruments, and the model solutions are likewise tested against observational data.  The proposal is intended not only to advance our basic scientific knowledge of the magnetosphere, but also to advance magnetospheric physics as a predictive science and so benefit society in a broader sense.