B.S. SPACE PHYSICS-I [PHYS-684] SYLLABUS

Introduction to Space Science: Model of our solar system; old concept, Aristotle law, Ptolemy model, Copernicus model, Tycho Brahe’s objection on Copernicus model and Tycho Brahe’s model, Kepler’s lawe, Galeo Galile observations, Newton’s laws.

Fundamentals of Astronomy: Solar system: introduction, solar system formation, clues and theories, formation of sun, formation of planets, formation of satellites, formation of asteroids and comets. Solar physics: layers of sun, solar energy source, sunspots, coronal mass ejection, coronal holes, solar F 10.7 flux, comic rays, solar winds and interplanetary magnetic field, solar wind pressure pulses.

Planets: difference between terrestrial and jovian planets, mercury, venus, earth, mars, Jupiter, saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Magnetosphere: introduction, source of plasma, magnetosheath, magnetopause, ring current, radiation belts, geostationary orbit, cusp, magnetospheric boundary layer, low-latitude boundary layer, magnetospheric electric fields, steady mangnetospheric convection, motion of charged particles in earth’s magnetic field.

Ionosphere: introduction, ionospheric waveguide, ionospheric afven, resonator, plasma convection, frictional heating, ionospheric troughs, ionospheric-ion flow, field-aligned current, traveling convection vortices, isotropic boundaries, field aligned potential drops.

Recommended Text:
1-May-Britt Kallendrode “Space Physics: An Introduction to Plasmas and Particles in the Heliosphere and Magnetosphere” Springer Verlag, (2004).
2. J. N. Xanthakis “Solar Physics” London (1967).
3. M. G. Kivelson, “Introduction to Space Physics”, Cambridge University Press, (1995).