Homepage of PD. Dr. Elena Kronberg

• Prediction of the space plasma environment/Space Weather

  Space weather affects numerous aspects of our everyday life. It can be hazardous for satellites, navigation systems, avionics, air travel, telecommunications and others. The prediction of space weather is also crucial for manned space exploration and for keeping space observation technology safe. This research engages machine learning, data analysis and processing skills and high performance simulations.

• Plasma energization

  Many plasma objects in space are powerful accelerators of plasma particles capable to increase particle energies by many orders of their initial energies. Important impulsive energetic phenomena in the Universe are: gamma-ray bursts, astrophysical jets, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, magnetic reconnection and the associated high-speed plasma flows and beams. Basic processes of heating and energization in turbulent magnetized plasmas are of fundamental importance for understanding the evolution of the Universe as well as for predicting space weather.

• Influence of internal sources on magnetospheric dynamics

  Ionospheric ion outflow changes the magnetospheric dynamics. The presence of ionospheric ions affects the plasma properties by changing the plasma density, temperature and pressure. Modified plasma properties influence the development of plasma instabilities and wave generation. On the large scales, the ionospheric ion outflow changes the shape of the magnetosphere. Outflow affects substorm-like events, magnetic storms, dynamics of radiation belts and magnetosphere-ionosphere-ring current coupling. However, studies on many of these effects are still controversial.

• Magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling

  The solar wind inputs energy through the magnetosphere into the ionosphere and the thermosphere. This is the second energy source after the ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. The mechanisms of this transfer are not well yet understood. Ultimate goal of this project is to test a physical mechanism behind the energy transfer.