Project description
Innovative approaches to analysing weak shocks in unprecedented detail
Plasma shocks are ubiquitous in space, forming when fast-moving plasma flows, such as the solar wind, encounter obstacles like planetary magnetic fields or slower solar wind. The strength of these shocks depends on their Mach number, with strong shocks being well-studied, especially near Earth. However, weaker shocks remain poorly explored. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the SHOCKWAVE project plans to use advanced spacecraft data to study these weaker shocks, focusing on their wave activity, jets and instabilities. Using a three-step approach, namely comparing shocks at different Mach ranges near Earth, analysing interplanetary shocks and studying transitions between weak and strong shocks, the proposed research will enhance understanding of shock physics across the solar system and its role in geomagnetic storms.
Objective
Plasma shocks are ubiquitous phenomena in space plasmas, emerging when a supersonic and super-Alfvénic plasma flow encounters an obstacle. The solar wind is such a flow with usually high Mach numbers. Solar wind shocks occur due to two obstacles: magnetic fields of planets or much slower solar wind in front of it. The Mach number dictates the shock strength: from strong (roughly > 5) to weak (1-4).
Spacecraft in Earth’s environment allowed us to study the terrestrial shock as an example of a strong shock in increasing detail in the past decades. The availability of shock measurements from other planets is increasing as well. However, most astrophysical shocks are weak, in particular shocks that have little to no in-situ measurements. The lower range of Mach number shocks is underexplored, especially with high resolution data (resolution of several seconds to milliseconds).
Our main goal is to utilize state-of-the-art spacecraft data to explore the lower Mach number range of shocks (including wave activity, jets, instabilities) and crosscheck the universality of our results with available events in the solar system. To tackle this project, we propose a 3-step analysis: 1) Comparing low and high Mach number range at the terrestrial shock, 2) Investigate interplanetary shocks using high-resolution data, and 3) Providing a comprehensive study on the transition of characteristics from low to high Mach number values.
The proposed research will be carried out in a 24-month project at the Queen Mary University of London. This institution hosts well-known international experts on shock physics and space plasma physics, providing outstanding expertise that perfectly matches the proposed efforts. The generated knowledge will deepen our understanding of shock physics with application throughout the solar system as well as general astrophysics. In particular we will apply the knowledge on interplanetary shocks, which are the precursor of strong geomagnetic storms at Earth.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology mechanical engineering vehicle engineering aerospace engineering astronautical engineering spacecraft
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy astrophysics
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Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
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Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
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(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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E1 4NS LONDON
United Kingdom
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