Space, Plasma and Solar System Physics

Illustration on the studies of space weather

Illustration of space weather effects on Earth and human technology, from solar flares and CMEs to radiation impacts on spacecraft, aviation, and power grids. ESA/Science Office under CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO or ESA Standard Licence

The solar system is an excellent place to study a star, its effects on its surrounding planets, and the properties of different types of planets up close, since everything else in space is extremely far away. We study solar winds, collisionless shocks, magnetic reconnection, plasma turbulence, physics of planetary ionospheres and magnetospheres, plasma processes at comets, and space weather.

Studying the Solar System is essential to understanding both stars other than the Sun and extrasolar planets and planetary systems. It also teaches us about the impact that the Sun has on us on Earth and on the other planets in the Solar System. Combining the bulk physical properties of many extrasolar systems with the detailed information available for the planets in the Solar System will result in a better understanding of star and planet formation. Moreover, physical processes in space differ significantly from those on Earth, especially since most ordinary matter in the universe exists as plasma—a state where free charged particles play a critical role, governed by electromagnetic forces. Understanding these processes, both on macroscopic scales (like waves, shocks, and turbulence) and microscopic scales (such as particle interactions and dust formation), is essential for deciphering the behaviour of celestial bodies and their interactions in the cosmos.

In Uppsala, we investigate plasma phenomena in the gas and dust around comets, as well as the ionospheres and magnetospheres of planets like Earth, Mars, and Jupiter, and their moons. Further, we have researchers dedicated to exploring the fundamental physical processes in space in various astrophysical contexts. We have researchers working on collisionless shocks and particle acceleration in space plasmas, providing insights into how cosmic rays and other high-energy particles are generated and propagate. We also study dusty plasmas where the charged dust grains interact with plasma to influence the dynamics of planetary systems. Our research on magnetic reconnection and plasma turbulence, is useful for understanding phenomena such as solar flares and the interaction between the solar wind and planetary magnetospheres.