Space Plasma
Welcome to the website of Swedish researchers in the field of space plasma physics.
Space plasma physics aims to understand the behavior of naturally occurring ionized gases (plasmas) in space, which can be measured in situ by spacecraft orbiting the Sun and other celestial bodies in the Solar system.
We study fundamental processes such as magnetic reconnection, plasma turbulence, plasma heating, and the energization of charged particles, from the solar corona to the outer reaches of the heliosphere.
We also explore the interaction of the solar wind with the plasma environments of planets, moons, and comets. On Earth, this interaction manifests as the beautiful auroras.
During solar storms, the energized solar wind causes space weather effects by disturbing the Earth’s magnetosphere and triggering myriad plasma processes. These processes can be hazardous to space-borne and ground-based technology and can endanger human activities in space.
We continuously develop space plasma detectors and instruments for measuring electromagnetic fields used in space missions, which are necessary to facilitate the monitoring and enhanced understanding of fundamental processes in the various space plasma environments.
Links to the researcher groups in Sweden:
IRF
KTH, Stockholm
Umeå University