FYS9610 – Magnetospheric processes
Course description
Schedule, syllabus and examination date
Course content
The content of the course is the physics of the interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosphere and upper atmosphere system, with emphasis placed on electrodynamic coupling processes in the active plasma regimes around the pole where the aurora borealis is located. Specific topics are (i) electrodynamic coupling mechanisms, (ii) electric field and current systems, and (iii) energy- and momentum transfer in connection with day- and nightside auroral activities.
Learning outcome
To obtain a good understanding of:
- physical phenomena in the Earth's upper atmosphere and the magnetosphere such as plasma convection, electric currents, particle precipitation and auroral activities as a function of solar activities, conditions in the solar wind, and electrodynamic coupling processes in the solar wind-magnetosphere-ionosphere system.
- the different categories of space weather (magnetic storms) appearing in association with high-speed streams from coronal holes on the Sun and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
- corresponding phenomena on the big gas planets Jupiter and Saturn.
Admission
PhD candidates from the University of Oslo should apply for classes and register for examinations through Studentweb.
If a course has limited intake capacity, priority will be given to PhD candidates who follow an individual education plan where this particular course is included. Some national researchers’ schools may have specific rules for ranking applicants for courses with limited intake capacity.
PhD candidates who have been admitted to another higher education institution must apply for a position as a visiting student within a given deadline.
Overlapping courses
10 credits overlap against FYS355.
10 credits with FYS4610 – Magnetospheric processes (discontinued)
Teaching
The course is given in the spring term and contains 4 hours of teaching (lectures and exercises) per week. Student will have to present new scientific articles during lectures.
Examination
Oral exam at the end of the semester.
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
This course offers both postponed and resit of examination. Read more:
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.
Evaluation
The course is subject to continuous evaluation. At regular intervals we also ask students to participate in a more comprehensive evaluation.