Space Physics is the branch of geophysics that deals with the study of the ionized layers of planetary atmospheres, magnetospheres, and the interplanetary environment. It is at the crossroads of geophysics and astrophysics. Space physics is to a large degree a form of applied plasma physics, that studies multi-component plasmas, plasma-neutral gas mixtures and dusty plasmas as they are encountered in the vicinity of the Earth and throughout the Solar System.
 

Research topics

Solar wind and  heliosphere 

• Large scale modeling
• Small scale modeling
• Kinetic models of the solar wind

Solar wind - magnetosphere interaction

• Magnetopause structure
• Impulsive penetration
• Energy transport by MHD waves

Magnetosphere

• MHD waves in the magnetotail
• Plasmapause formation
• Radiation belts

Magnetosphere - ionosphere interaction

• Polar wind
• Aurora
• Subauroral ion drifts

Plasma theory

• Magnetohydrodynamics
• Kinetic theory of plasma discontinuities
• Kinetic theory of double layers

Dusty plasmas

• Wave phenomena in dusty plasmas
• Meteoritic dust in the solar corona

Publications

Related projects 

Cluster II: a fleet of spacecraft exploring the magnetosphere

Interball-Tail: studying the magnetosphere from a highly inclined orbit

Staff

People we collaborate with

Author: J. De Keyser   Curator: J. De Keyser   Johan.DeKeyser@oma.be