The Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere" (original) (raw)
Home Page
Home page of Spanish translation by Jesus Mendez
Quick Overview
INTRODUCTORY AND GENERAL:
Overview.... for those not sure how to use this site.
Introduction (former home page).... what to expect to find here.
A Teacher's Introduction to the Earth's Magnetosphere
Teaching about Magnetism
"Exploration" as a Classroom Resource
A basic chronology of key dates in the exploration of the magnetosphere.
An expanded chronology, placing the above list in historical context.
Glossary
Folding paper model of the Magnetosphere (new version, 202 Kb)
Folding paper model of the Magnetosphere (older version)
SUMMARY FILES <size=-2> .... Capsule descriptions of the different sections: </size=-2>
Magnetism.
Electrons, Ions and Plasmas.
Radiation Belts.
The Sun and the Solar Wind.
Exploring Earthspace.
The Dynamic Magnetosphere.
Close-Up of the Aurora.
Magnetospheres and the Universe.
"CONSTELLATION" MISSIONS AND FUTURE RESEARCH
Articles and thoughts (primarily for active researchers)
"Recollections of Space Research"
Talk presented 13 September 2006, in Anahuac, Mexico
Original text of comment submitted to Eos (3 Nov 2007) on "A Turning
Point in Auroral Physics" by Duncan Bryant (26 September 2006).
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TABLE OF CONTENTS<size=-1> .... The files themselves:</size=-1>
1. The Magnetosphere
1H. History: 1600--Gilbert's Terrella.
2. Magnetic Fields
2H. History: 1820: Oersted discovers electromagnetism.
3. The Polar Aurora
3H. History: Birkeland models the aurora in his laboratory
3a. Auroral Map of Loomis
3b. Auroral Map of Fritz
3c. The Terrella
4. Electrons
4H. History: 1896--J.J.Thomson discovers the electron
4a. Electricity as a Fluid
5. Magnetic Field Lines
5H. History: 1846--Faraday introduces the idea of fields.
5a-1. Electromagnetic Induction--1. New!!!
5a-2. Electromagnetic Induction--2.
6. Electromagnetic Waves
7. Plasma
7a. The Fluorescent Lamp: a plasma you can use
7H. History : 1927--Irving Langmuir has a new use for the word "plasma".
8. Positive Ions
8H. History: 1884--Svante Arrhenius proposes a theory of "ions".
9. Trapped Radiation
9H. History: 1896--Henri Poincare shows magnetic field lines guide ions.
10. Motion of Trapped Radiation
10H. History: 1910--Einstein introduces "adiabatic invariants".
10a. Particle Drift in Space (optional)
11. Explorers 1 and 3
11a. The Geiger Counter
12. The Radiation Belts
12H. History: 1958--Inner radiation belt is explained.
12a. Inner Radiation Belt
12b. Outer Radiation Belt
13. Energetic Particles
14. Synchronous Orbit
15. Energy
16. The Sun
16H. History: 1843--Heinrich Schwabe discovers the sunspot cycle.
16a. Discovery of Sunspot Cycle
16b. Discovery of Solar Flares
17. The Sun's Corona
18. The Solar Wind
18A. Drawing Interplanetary Magnetic Field Lines.
18H. History: 1959, 1961--First direct observations of the solar wind.
18B. The Heliosphere. New!!!
19. The Magnetopause
19H. History: 1930--the magnetic storm theory of Chapman and Ferraro.
20. Structure of the Earth's Magnetosphere
21. Lagrangian Points
22. The Wind Spacecraft
23. The Tail of the Magnetosphere
24. Substorms
25. Electric Currents from Space
25H. History: 1903--Birkeland observes the electric currents of the polar aurora.
25a. The Triad Spacecraft
25b. The Io Dynamo
25c. Space tether experiment
26. The Polar Caps
26H. History: 1895--Birkeland's terrella experiment.
27. Auroral Imaging
28. Auroral acceleration
28a. Flow direction of electric currents
29. Low Polar Orbit
30. Magnetic Storms
30a. Aurora above Chicago ... a somewhat personal account.
31. Space Weather
32. Magnetospheres other than Ours
33. Cosmic Rays
34 High Energy Particles in the Universe
34a. High Energy Astrophysics Missions
35. Solar Energetic Particles
ADDITIONAL MATERIAL:
Glossary
"The Birth of a Radiation Belt"
"Secrets of the Polar Aurora"
"Brief History of Magnetospheric Physics Before the Spaceflight Era"
"Brief History of Magnetospheric Physics during the Space Age"
"Developing a Strategy for Magnetospheric Research", 1996 article.
Talk on the Concepts and Ideas Underlying "Exploration."
"Get a Straight Answer" Many questions from users, by topic.
"Get a Straight Answer" Same questions, in order received.
References, links and resources about the magnetosphere