Table of Contents

PHY 424: Atmospheric and Space Physics

1. Content

Chapter # Topic Week
1. Introduction 1.1 Space physics 1
1.2 Solar system 1
1.3 Plasma 2
1.4 Solar wind 2
1.5 Magnetosphere 2
2. Single particle motion 2.1 Electromagnetic field equations 3
2.2 Electromagnetic gyration 4, 5
2.3 Electric drift 6
2.4 Magnetic drift 7
2.5 Adiabatic invariants 8
3. Trapped particles 3.1 Magnetic dipole field 9
3.2 Bounce motion 9
3.3 Drift motion 10
3.4 Ring current 10

2. Assessment

Type Assessment Marks Total
Continuous Attendance 10 45
Punctuality 10
Python assignments 10
Colloquium participation 15
Summative Midterm viva 20 55
Final viva 20
Keystone project 15

3. Textbooks

  1. W Baumjohann & RA Treumann, Basic Space Plasma Physics, Imperial College Press, 1997.
  2. MG Kivelson & CT Russell, Introduction to Space Physics, Cambridge University Press, 1995.