PhD in Space Plasma at LPC2E, Orléans, France: Analysing solar type III radio bursts with Solar Orbiter and Parker Solar Probe

Submitted by mchane-y on Thu, 07/03/2024 - 18:40

Annonce transmise par Matthieu Kretzschmar (LPC2E)

 

The Laboratoire de Physique et Chimie de l'Environnement et de l'Espace (LPC2E) is hiring a PhD student to work in collaboration with the LESIA laboratory from Paris Observatory on the analysis of solar radio bursts observed by the Solar Orbiter (ESA) and Parker Solar Probe (NASA) space missions.

Solar type III radio burst are the signature of complex and energetic phenomena: sporadically, the Sun produces beams of energetic electrons that interact with the much slower ambient plasma of the solar wind. This interaction results in the production of Langmuir waves that will eventually produce radio emission at the local plasma frequency, or twice its value (harmonic emission). As the electron beam propagates, it interacts with less dense plasma and consequently the frequency of the emitted radio waves decreases with time, which allows to track the propagation of the energetic electrons. Eventually, the electron beam reaches the spacecrafts where its consequences can be observed locally.

The processes involved in the production of type III radio burst are complex and still poorly explained, despite being a very active field of research. The PhD project aims at putting strong observational constraints on the generation mechanisms of type III radio burst. The main parameters to be studied and that are measured by the two space missions are the properties of the electron beams, the level of the density fluctuations, the power and polarization of the Langmuir or z-mode wave, and the properties of the radio emission.

The hired student will benefit from the strong involvement of the LPC2E and LESIA teams in the the two space missions and their relevant instrumentations.  

Good skills in plasma physics and data analysis are required for the position

For further inquiries, please contact Dr. Matthieu Kretzschmar (matthieu.kretzschmar@cnrs-orleans.fr) and Dr. Milan Maksimovic (milan.maksimovic@obspm.fr)

 Applications should be submitted online as soon as possible and no later than 14 March 2024 on the CNES PhD program website:

https://recrutement.cnes.fr/en/annonce/2701659-24-283-type-iii-radio-bur...