Lecture Notes (english)

Introduction (pdf, 816 kB)

Why space physics, some links and internet ressources, examples. An animated version (pdf, 33 MB) also contains movies of some examples.

Chapter 1: Basics (pdf, 733 kB)

Introduction, definition of a plasma, nt-diagram, Saha equation, Debye length. An animated version (pdf, 163 MB) also contains a movie traveing from the Sun outwards to the heliopause.

Chapter 2: Single particle motion (pdf, 1.3 MB)

Electromagnetic fields, gyration, drift, guiding center, adiabatic invariants, magnetic mirrors and bottles, particles trapped in the radiation belts.

Chapter 3: Magnetohydrodynamics (pdf, 1.7 MB)

Basic equations, Navier-Stokes equation, magnetic pressure and tension, frozen-in magnetic fields, dissipation of magnetic fields, reconnection, MHD dynamo. The animated version (pdf, 10.3 MB) also contains some movies for reconnection in the magnetosphere, field line convection and the MHD dynamo.

Chapter 4: Waves in plasmas (pdf, 818 kB)

Linearization of basic equations, Alfven waves, magnetosonic waves, magnetoacoustic waves, Langmuir oscillations, electron plasma waves, Whistlers.

Chapter 5: Kinetic Theory (pdf, 641 kB)

Distribution funktion, Boltzmann equation, Vlasov equation, Fokker-Planck equation, collissions.

Chapter 6: Sun and interplanetary space (pdf, 5 MB)

Sun as a magnetic star, solar wind, interplanetary medium, waves in interplanetary space, the three-dimensional heliosphere, solar activity, flares and coronal mass ejections, collissionless shocks. An animated version (pdf, 21.2 MB) also contains some movies.

Chapter 7: Energetic particles (pdf, 3.9 MB)

Particle populations in the inner heliosphere, solar energetic particles and classes of flares, interplanetary propagation (theoretical backgrouns and observations), particle acceleration at shocks (theory and observations), galactic cosmic rays.

Chapter 8: The magnetosphere (pdf, 5.9 MB)

Geomagnetic field, geomagnetic dynamo, topology of the magnetosphere, plasmas and currents in the magnetosphere, the open magnetosphere and reconnection, geomagnetic disturbances, aurora, energetic particles in the magnetosphere. An animated version (pdf, 10.6 MB) also contains some aurora movies.

Chapter 9: Planetary magnetospheres (pdf, 1.2 MB)

The planets, topology of planetary magnetospheres, planets without magnetic field, comparison between planetary magnetospheres.

Chapter 10: Solar terrestrial relationships (pdf, 1.7 MB)

Solar activity, climate and culture; electromagnetic radiation and climate; energetic particles and ozone; blocking patterns in the atmosphere.

Chapter 11: Measurement methods (pdf, 216 kB)

Magnetic field, electric field, plasma waves, plasma properties, energetic particles.

Chapter 12: Methodological problems (pdf, 32 kB)

Science in a complex environment, problem of measurement, problem of data interpretation, problem of modelling.