Space Sciences Focus

Focus Leader: Ed Fenimore efenimore@lanl.gov

Proposals are solicited that advance theoretical research, computational research, and/or observational research into the plasma environment of the Earth's atmosphere, the magnetosphere, and into processes that affect these environments. Research on the transport of plasma and energy from the Sun through interplanetary space to the Earth and other planets is also encouraged. These include the interaction of various plasma populations and the coupling of microscopic and macroscopic phenomena.

The following topics are covered:

• solar dynamics responsible for the solar wind
• magnetohydrodynamics of the magnetosphere and thermosphere
• magnetospheric substorms
• Ionosphere
• lightening
• magnetotail current sheet dynamics
• dusty plasmas
• physics affecting the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems
• physics governing satellite to ground communications
• solar wind interaction with planetary magnetosphere such as Jupiter or Saturn
• modeling of planetary atmospheres and magnetospheres