Throughout the Fall Semester Space Science and CSPAR will be conducting a Colloquium. We invite both faculty and students to join us! Refreshments for the audience are served before the talk. Check for dates, speakers, and topics below. For further information on the Colloquium, please contact space_science_colloquium@uah.edu.

Important

In-person Colloquium will be held Fridays at 12:30pm in Cramer Hall (CRH), room 2096 and on dates provided for each speaking engagement. Refreshments are served for the audience at 12:00pm in the lobby. View Campus Map.

Covid-19 may be weakening, but it has not come to an end. Attendees of the colloquium have the option of wearing masks. If you have tested positive for Covid-19 or have been exposed to the virus, please follow the guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Parking: Visitors need to sign in at the Cramer Hall (CRH) front desk and have their ID in order to get a parking pass.

Date: 9/1/2023
Speaker: Vladimir Florinski, Professor, UAH
Title: Magnetic trapping of galactic cosmic rays in the VLISM and their preferential entry into the heliosphere

Abstract:

The subject of my presentation is the region of interstellar space adjacent to the heliopause, which is the magnetic boundary of the solar system. The distinctive draping pattern of the interstellar magnetic field around the heliopause creates an usual cosmic ray transport environment. A region of weaker magnetic field of about 300 au in size exists in the northern hemisphere that acts as a giant magnetic trap affecting the propagation of galactic cosmic rays. It is expected that a ring current is established consisting of energetic ions drifting around the interior of the magnetic trap, similar to that in planetary magnetospheres. The magnetic trap region is also a preferred site where cosmic rays penetrate into the heliosphere. I will also discuss cosmic-ray scattering and diffusion in a weakly turbulent magnetic field that includes a compressive component. Despite its remoteness, the region of the magnetic trap holds promise of new discoveries, and could potentially become a target of future multi-spacecraft missions, especially those using nuclear propulsion.

 

Date: 9/15/2023
Speaker: Qiang Hu, Professor, UAH
Title: Topology and Formation of Magnetic Flux Ropes

Abstract:

Magnetic flux rope is a type of magnetic field structure in space plasmas, especially as manifested in large-scale solar eruptions of coronal mass ejections. We provide a brief report on our recent event studies of its magnetic field configuration based on in-situ spacecraft measurements. We illustrate the complexity in its field-line topology by presenting three event studies employing a unique analysis method. In particular, we demonstrate the feasibility and challenges for advanced modeling approaches to combine/comply with two or more in-situ spacecraft datasets and additional multiple observations. We discuss the implications of our study for the formation of magnetic flux ropes across space plasma regimes. 

 

Date: 10/6/2023
Speaker: Robert D. Preece, CSPAR Adjunct Professor, UAH
Title: The Spectroscopy of Gamma-Ray Bursts

 

Date: 10/13/2023
Speaker: Gary Webb, Principle Research Scientist, CSPAR, UAH
Title: Cosmic ray transport and acceleration in relativistic flows

 

Date: 11/17/2023
Speaker: Jiong Qiu, Professor, Montana State University
Host: Qiang Hu
Title: Three-dimensional properties of magnetic reconnection

 

Date: 12/15/2023
Speaker: Andreas Shalchi, Professor, University of Manitoba Japan
Host: Lingling Zhao, G. P. Zank
Title: Transport of Energetic Particles: Simulations, Heuristic Arguments, and Analytical Theories

 

 Spring 2023 colloquim schedule

 Fall 2022 colloquim schedule