Syllabus - ESS 415/515

Grading

4 to 5 homework assignments (~ 50%)
Two exams (~ 20%): November 5th and December 9th
Paper and presentation (~10%)

Topics Covered

Introductions to magnetospheres
Characterizing plasmas
Generation of the solar wind
Magnetohydrodynamics (and extensions to other methods)
Diamagnetism and boundaries
Diffusion of magnetic field in a plasma
Guiding center theory
Magnetic mirroring and radiation belts
Gradient and curvature drifts
Currents in the magnetosphere
Substorms, storms and aurora
Plasma processes at other planets and moons
Introduction to waves and instabilities in a plasma
Related topics (dynamo theory, lab plasmas)