This project combines the forefront space physics with top-tier high performance computing. Three phenomena are above others in importance in explaining plasma behaviour in the Solar–Terrestrial system, laboratories, fusion devices, and astrophysical domains: 1) magnetic reconnection enabling energy and mass transfer between magnetic domains, 2) collisionless shocks forming due to supersonic relative flow speeds between plasmas, and 3) particle acceleration associated with both. These processes are critical in understanding the scientific foundation of space weather, i.e. harmful effects caused by enhanced radiation and dynamical processes that endanger space- and ground-based technological systems or human life. Space weather forecasts require physics-based models; however, to date only simple plasma descriptions have been used in the global context. We have developed the first 6-dimensional global magnetospheric kinetic simulation in the world, Vlasiator, promising a grand leap both in understanding fundamental space plasma physics, and in improving the accuracy of present space weather models. Combining the unique Vlasiator with newest spacecraft data, local kinetic physics can be interpreted in global context in a ground-breaking fashion.
The overall objectives are to investigate
- Near-Earth reconnection, 2028
- Ion-scale phenomena in the near-Earth shocks, 2028
- Particle acceleration by shocks and reconnection, 2028
- Inner magnetospheric wave-particle processes, and the consequent particle precipitation into the ionosphere. 2028
The project includes four work packages (WP). The first package develops Vlasiator used in the other WPs. WP2 investigates local physics in small scales, and compares to individual in situ observations. WP2 leads to a better understanding of physical processes and scenarios in WP3, taking place in a larger area and requiring global modelling and observations from multiple spacecraft and measurement arrays. The detailed physical and system-level understanding in WP2 and WP3 allows a better description of space weather, better understanding of solar forcing on climate and plasma physics in universal setups, better requirements for instruments and missions, and better HPC techniques, leading to well-described impacts. In WP4 we also make it easy for others to multiply physical understanding in topics we cover but which are not our primary goals.
