Main navigation
- Programs
- Subjects
- Universities
- Destinations
- Advice
UCLA is globally renowned for its pioneering work in space plasma physics. The university's space physics research team engages in data interpretation, computational simulations, theoretical modeling, and fundamental plasma physics studies. Their investigations focus on solar wind behavior, planetary magnetospheres (including Earth's), and how solar wind interacts with various solar system objects such as asteroids, moons, non-magnetized planets, and planetary magnetic fields.
Current research explores atmospheric depletion mechanisms on planets and lightning phenomena in planetary atmospheres. Significant resources are dedicated to deciphering Earth's magnetospheric phenomena, particularly geomagnetic disturbances and substorms. UCLA advances knowledge of magnetized space plasmas by developing and deploying magnetometers on groundbreaking space missions. These UCLA-designed instruments have allowed researchers and students to make substantial breakthroughs in comprehending magnetic properties and dynamics of Earth, Venus, Jupiter, their moons, asteroids, and solar wind patterns.