Research
My research interests are in the coupling between the solar wind (a 'plasma', or very hot gas, which is constantly being emitted by the Sun) and the magnetospheres of planets (particularly Earth). A magnetosphere is the region of space around a planet, occupied by the planet's magnetic field.When the planet has a significant atmosphere, this coupling process ultimately leads to displays of the aurora, or northern and southern lights. Primarily, my research centres on how a fundamental plasma process called 'magnetic reconnection' applies to magnetospheres.I do this by combining observations from spacecraft, ionospheric radars and auroral instruments.
For more information about some of my recent work, please see the following press releases issued by the University of Southampton, European Space Agency and NASA.