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Space Physics Observation (SSE) Lab
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The lab studies the solar wind and Earth's electromagnetic environment through observation.
AboutAbout the lab
Observing how the solar wind affects the Earth
The Division for Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Research studies how solar wind energy is transported to the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and how the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere interact with one another.
Some of the solar wind particles and energy that reach Earth are trapped in the magnetosphere. They are then absorbed as heat in the ionosphere, which lies in the upper atmosphere, or flow back out into space.
The aurora is a representative phenomenon showing how solar wind energy stored in the magnetosphere affects the electromagnetic environment.
Through three groups, the lab carries out observations with large radars in northern Europe, ground-based observation networks, and the development of instruments to be carried on space probes.
Key terms
- Solar wind
- A flow of ionized gas (plasma particles) that travels from the Sun to Earth.
- Magnetosphere
- The region over which Earth's magnetic field extends. The solar wind is blocked by the geomagnetic field and does not blow directly onto Earth.
- Ionosphere
- A region of Earth's upper atmosphere. It absorbs the energy of particles precipitating from the magnetosphere and energy coming from the lower atmosphere.
- Lidar
- An observation method in which laser light is sent up into the sky and the reflected light is received.
ResearchResearch themes
The main themes are to clarify how solar wind energy is transported to the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and how the magnetosphere, ionosphere, and thermosphere affect one another. The lab observes upper-atmosphere winds, Earth's magnetic field, and radio waves on a global scale, organized into three groups: EISCAT Site Observations, Ground Network Observations, and Space and Planetary Exploration.
*Illustrative imageBase Observations in Northern Europe
In northern Europe, the lab conducts large-scale base observations through international collaboration, using various radars including large radar systems, a sodium lidar, Fabry-Perot interferometers, and auroral imagers.
*Illustrative imageGround-Based International Network Observations
The lab runs international network observations using groups of visible-range spectroscopic instruments and radio instruments across a wide area, from the Arctic to Japan and the equatorial region.
*Illustrative imageSpace and Planetary Exploration
The lab develops particle analyzers for plasma in space and in planetary atmospheres, to be carried on Earth and planetary probes and sounding rockets. Exploration and observation projects are carried out in collaboration with partners in Japan and abroad.
MembersFaculty
- ProfessorMasafumi Hirahara
- ProfessorYuichi Otsuka
- Associate ProfessorSatonori Nozawa
- LecturerShin-ichiro Oyama
- Project Assistant ProfessorKAKOTI Geetashree
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Aurora Borealis over the Killarney Provincial Park Observatory” KillarneyDiscovery / CC0 (cropped)
- Base Observations in Northern Europe: “Ramfjordmoen forskningsstasjon winter 1” Scanmap / CC0 (cropped)
- Ground-Based International Network Observations: “Aurora and perseids” Stephan Sprinz / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Space and Planetary Exploration: “First NASA ISINGLASS rocket launch” NASA / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Solar-Terrestrial Environment Physics (SST) Lab): “First GOES-17 SUVI Images Capture Solar Flare ( )” NOAA Satellites / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Plasma Theory (P) Lab): “Cross-section of the Wendelstein 7-X plasma vessel” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Heliospheric Plasma Physics (SW) Lab): “Antenna array of URAN-2 radio teelscope” YeS (Serge Yerin) / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Complexity Science Theory (ΣT) Lab): “Experimental hall of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator at IPP Greifswald 03” Siarhei Besarab / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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