Space Plasma Physics
PI Heidi Nykyri
Space plasma physics research analyzes data from different space missions, e.g. Cluster and Themis, and develops numerical simulations of plasma processes.
Dr. Nykyri is a co-investigator for Flux Gate Magnetometer instrument onboard European Space Agency's 4 Cluster spacecraft. In 2005, she received European Space Agency Award: Outstanding Contribution to Cluster Exploration of the Geospace and she is currently in the steering committee of the NSF GEM program. Her role is the research coordination for Solar Wind-Magnetosphere Interactions. She was awarded a NSF career award in 2009.
Her main research interests are in space and magnetospheric physics: understanding the physical mechanisms that are responsible for plasma transport, heating and acceleration. Dr. Nykyri's current research involves understanding magnetosheath structure and fluctuation properties and how they impact magnetopause properties, e.g, magnetic reconnection and Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability. Her most recent research involves identifying the kinetic plasma wave modes at the boundary between solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere and address their generation mechanisms and importance for plasma heating.
Research Dates
10/01/2015 to 09/30/2017
Researchers
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- Department
- Physical Sciences Department
- Degrees
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Ph.D., M.S., University of Alaska Fairbanks
Categories: Faculty-Staff