Plasma Seismology: Fully Exploiting Velocity Distributions to Recover Spatial Electric Field Structure

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $449,999 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

This award supports development of a novel space plasma measurement methodology called plasma seismology that uses measurements of the velocity distribution function of particles at a single point in space to reconstruct the variation of the electric field over an extended spatial region. In space plasmas, the electric field plays a key role in collisionless wave-particle interactions that govern the acceleration of particles to high energy. Such a new capability may provide valuable information needed to understand the dynamics of space phenomena with significant societal impacts, such as severe space weather events that can impact our communication and navigation satellites as well as potentially cause severe damage to the electrical power grid. Further, by determining the electric field over an extended spatial range with fewer spacecraft, this innovative technique holds the promise to reduce the cost of future spacecraft missions. This project will also support the education and training of a graduate student in both the numerical and experimental investigation of kinetic plasma physics. This project will first validate the plasma seismology technique for electrostatic dynamics to determine the spatial variation of the electric field through single-point, time-series measurements of the electron velocity distribution function using kinetic electrostatic simulations. Second, the procedure for plasma seismology in electromagnetic plasmas relevant to space environments w

Key facts

NSF award ID
2510779
Awardee
University of Iowa (IA)
SAM.gov UEI
Z1H9VJS8NG16
PI
Gregory G Howes
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Space Weather Research, EXP PROG TO STIM COMP RES
Estimated total
$449,999
Funds obligated
$449,999
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
07/15/2025 → 06/30/2028