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Physique de la haute atmosphère et de l'espace [ LPHY2162 ]


4.0 crédits ECTS  22.5 h   2q 

Teacher(s) Pierrard Viviane ;
Language French
Place
of the course
Louvain-la-Neuve
Main themes The main topics are: *The Sun:* Stars (formation, destruction, groups) - Description of the inner Sun (fusion, abundance of the elements, radiative, convective zones) ­ The solar atmosphere solaire (photosphere, chromosphere, corona) - Sunspots, solar activity cycle ­ Solar eruptions (CME, flares, proeminences…)- Coronal holes *Physics of gas and plasmas:* Definitions and properties ­ Fundamental equations: kinetic and hydrodynamic approaches- Links and differences- Application: hydrostatic equilibrium *The solar wind*: Discovery ­ Solar magnetic field - Observations: slow-speed and high-speed solar wind - Application of the fundamental equations for plasmas: hydrodynamic and kinetic equations *The magnetosphere*: Origin of the geomagnetic field - Description of the different regions of plasmas, currents - Magnetopause, polar cusps, plasmasheet, plasmasphere, Van Allen belts … *Movement of the particles in a magnetic field*: Decomposition in 3 superposed movements ­ Drift forces - Application to the Van Allen belts *Sun-magnetosphere interactions*: Magnetic storms and substorms - Aurora ­ Space weather - Indexes of geomagnetic activity *Ionosphere*: Sources of ionization - Ionospheric layers - Propagation of radio waves- Refraction index - Perturbations due to the solar activity - Influence on satellites and GPS *Neutral atmosphere:* Temperature profile - Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, exosphere - Photodissociation, chemical reactions, ozone *Planetary atmospheres:* Mercury ­ Venus ­ Mars ­ Giant planets**
Aims The goal of this formation is to give to the students an overview of the physical properties of the planetary and stellar atmospheres. The influence of the Sun on the terrestrial atmosphere and the space environment of
Evaluation methods Evaluation: The evaluation is obtained by a written exam. In addition, volunteer students can make an oral personal presentation on a topic concerning the physics of high atmosphere and space that will be counted as ¼ for the global evaluation.
Teaching methods
Bibliography Course materials: - Pierrard V., L'environnement spatial de la Terre, Presses Universitaires de Louvain, 214 p., 2010.
Other information This formation is addressed to all physicists, engineers and geologists and is particularly useful for the students in physics of the Earth section. There are no specific preliminary needs. Support: notes are distributed at each lecture. Evaluation: the examination is prepared by written and is followed by an oral presentation.
Cycle et année
d'étude
> Master [120] in Physics
Faculty or entity
in charge
> PHYS


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