Near-Earth space plasma eruptions. Through the utilization of the University of Helsinki’s Vlasiator model, it has been established that both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities play a role in causing plasma eruptions in the space near Earth. This information is essential to the progression of space technology and research. Credit: Jani Närhi
The Vlasiator, a high-powered computational model for simulating the space close to our planet, has shed light on the influence of both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities on plasma eruptions occurring in this region. Though various theories have contested the root cause, the six-dimensional modeling conducted by Vlasiator has illustrated that these theories are not mutually exclusive but rather function simultaneously. Such understanding is vital for developing spacecraft, advancing research, and refining predictions related to space weather.
What gives rise to plasma eruptions in the space near Earth? The Vlasiator model, crafted at the University of Helsinki for the simulation of this region, has shown that the two main theories explaining these eruptions are concurrently valid. In other words, the occurrences are accounted for by both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities.
Plasmoids, or swift plasma eruptions, happen on the magnetosphere’s nightside and are connected with the sudden illumination of the aurora. The space physics research group at the University of Helsinki utilizes the Vlasiator model to study and simulate these hard-to-forecast eruptions.
Professor of Computational Space Physics Minna Palmroth from the University of Helsinki states, “The events related to plasmoids are responsible for the most intense yet least foreseeable magnetic disturbances, which may lead to, for instance, disruptions in electrical grids.”
She adds, “These eruptions manifest daily in varying magnitudes in the magnetosphere’s ‘tail’.”
A Pursuit of Understanding
Recently honored with the Copernicus Medal, Palmroth is the director of the Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space and the primary researcher for the Vlasiator simulation.
According to Palmroth, “The sequence of events culminating in plasmoids has been an enduring, unsettled question in space physics, with answers being sought since the 1960s.”
Two opposing theories have been offered to elucidate these events. The first posits that magnetic reconnection cleaves a segment of the magnetotail into a plasmoid. Conversely, the other explanation asserts that kinetic instabilities disturb the current sheet (a broad, slender spread of electric current) sustaining the tail, ultimately leading to a plasmoid’s expulsion. Debates over which of these two phenomena takes precedence have been continuing for many years.
An Insight via the Vlasiator Simulation
Palmroth comments, “It now becomes apparent that the actual causal relationships are more intricate than previously comprehended.”
The Vlasiator simulation, demanding the capabilities of a supercomputer, has successfully modeled near-Earth space in six dimensions for the first time, proportionate to the magnetosphere’s size. This six-dimensional modeling accurately depicted the underlying physics of both theories.
Palmroth acknowledges, “It was a formidable technical hurdle that no one else managed to model.” This success is the culmination of over a decade of software development. As a result, the research confirmed that both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities are involved in the magnetotail’s operation. The phenomena linked to these seemingly conflicting theories in fact coexist and occur concurrently.
This discovery aids in comprehending how plasma eruptions transpire, which in turn contributes to the design of spacecraft and instruments, observation of these incidents for ongoing research, and enhancement of space weather predictability by deepening the understanding of near-Earth space.
The conclusions were lately published in the esteemed journal, Nature Geoscience.
Reference: “Magnetotail plasma eruptions driven by magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities” by Minna Palmroth, Tuija I. Pulkkinen, Urs Ganse, Yann Pfau-Kempf, Tuomas Koskela, Ivan Zaitsev, Markku Alho, Giulia Cozzani, Lucile Turc, Markus Battarbee, Maxime Dubart, Harriet George, Evgeniy Gordeev, Maxime Grandin, Konstantinos Horaites, Adnane Osmane, Konstantinos Papadakis, Jonas Suni, Vertti Tarvus, Hongyang Zhou, and Rumi Nakamura, 29 June 2023, Nature Geoscience.
DOI: 10.1038/s41561-023-01206-2
Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: Vlasiator
What is the Vlasiator model, and what has it revealed about plasma eruptions in near-Earth space?
The Vlasiator model is a supercomputer simulation designed at the University of Helsinki to study near-Earth space. It has revealed that plasma eruptions in this region are influenced by both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities. The model’s six-dimensional simulation showed that these two theories coexist and function concurrently, providing crucial insights for spacecraft design, further research, and space weather predictions.
What are plasmoids, and how are they investigated using the Vlasiator model?
Plasmoids are rapid plasma eruptions that occur on the nightside of the magnetosphere and are associated with the sudden brightening of the aurora. The space physics research group at the University of Helsinki uses the Vlasiator model to investigate and simulate these difficult-to-predict eruptions, contributing to the understanding of magnetic disturbances and their effects.
How do magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities contribute to the formation of plasmoids?
Magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities are two competing theories that have been proposed to explain plasmoids’ formation. Magnetic reconnection severs part of the magnetotail into a plasmoid, while kinetic instabilities disrupt the current sheet maintaining the tail, resulting in the ejection of a plasmoid. The Vlasiator simulation has demonstrated that both phenomena play a role, coexisting and occurring simultaneously.
Who is Professor Minna Palmroth, and what has been her contribution to this research?
Professor Minna Palmroth is a Professor of Computational Space Physics at the University of Helsinki. She has been instrumental in the Vlasiator simulation’s development and the subsequent research, leading to the understanding that both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities explain plasma eruptions’ functioning in the magnetotail. She is also the director of the Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space and was recently awarded the Copernicus Medal.
What are the practical implications of the findings related to plasma eruptions?
The findings from the Vlasiator model’s research are essential for understanding how plasma eruptions occur. This insight aids in designing spacecraft and equipment, observing these events for further research, and improving the predictability of space weather by enhancing the comprehension of near-Earth space. Such knowledge can also help prevent disruptions in electrical grids caused by magnetic disturbances.
Where were the findings of this research published?
The findings were recently published in the distinguished journal, Nature Geoscience, under the title “Magnetotail plasma eruptions driven by magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities” with the DOI: 10.1038/s41561-023-01206-2.
More about fokus keyword: Vlasiator
- University of Helsinki
- Nature Geoscience
- Copernicus Medal
- Centre of Excellence in Research of Sustainable Space
