About the project
The aurora provides a unique natural laboratory for studying fundamental plasma physics and charged particle acceleration, and a stunning window on the energy flow from the solar wind into the Earth’s atmosphere. How is dynamic psychedelic kaleidoscope aurora formed, and what does it do to the upper atmosphere?
"Psychedelic kaleidoscope" aurora is a type of highly dynamic fine scale (<10 km) aurora, in which the shape remains approximately constant, but light flows through the structure in a pattern resembling phase fronts of a wave. The term was introduced in the Aurora Zoo citizen science project. So far little is known about this type of aurora, except that its dynamics have very small scale sizes which cannot be explained using existing theories, and the accelerated electrons producing the psychedelic kaleidoscope have high energies.
Evidence has also been found that psychedelic kaleidoscope aurora can affect signals from Global Navigation Satellite System spacecraft, such as GPS, potentially causing positioning errors or loss of lock. The few existing studies of psychedelic kaleidoscope have been done using Southampton's Auroral Structure and Kinetics (ASK) high- resolution imager, on Svalbard in the high Arctic. We have also recently installed a new high-resolution imager in mainland northern Norway, underneath the main auroral oval, and saw psychedelic kaleidoscope in the first data.
In this project you will perform a detailed study of psychedelic kaleidoscope aurora, with the aim of understanding how it is formed and how it might affect the atmosphere and ionosphere. In particular, we will use data from spacecraft to determine properties of the associated auroral electron precipitation and electrodynamics, and we will use the ground-based optical data to form a dispersion relation for the wave associated with the auroral dynamics. A thorough comparison of aurora seen on Svalbard and mainland Norway may provide useful insights.
The project may include the opportunity for fieldwork to the Arctic to calibrate the instrumentation, for which training will be provided.
The School of Physics & Astronomy is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break.
The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.