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Planetary Auroras and Ionospheres
Image Credit: J. Szalay, A. Sulaiman, F. Bagenal
We investigate how charged particles are accelerated, powering auroras, and heating planetary atmospheres. Combining observations from NASA and ESA spacecraft missions with plasma theory and numerical simulations, we study the processes that produce the extraordinary auroras at giant planets and enable atmospheric particles to escape into space. This research connects microscopic interactions between plasma waves and particles to changes across an entire planet, advancing our understanding of how plasma electrodynamics shape the magnetospheres and atmospheres of giant planets and informing the study of worlds beyond our solar system.
Selected papers on this topic:
Jupiter's Brightest Auroras are powered by Locally Generated Alfvén waves, Sci. Adv. (2026)
Ion Cyclotron Waves Associated with Ionospheric Outflow at Jupiter, Geophys. Res. Lett. (2026)
Auroral Ionospheric Erosion at Jupiter, J. Geophys. Res. (2025)
Moons and Rings
Image Credit: J. Szalay, T. Smith, B. Smith
Moons and rings actively exchange matter and energy with their surrounding space environments. Using spacecraft observations, we investigate how dynamic bodies such as the Galilean moons, and Saturn’s rings, interact with planetary magnetic fields and charged particles. These interactions generate electrical currents, plasma waves, and distinctive auroral signatures. Our work reveals how distant parts of a planetary system are connected, explains how energy moves between planets and their satellites, and provides a physical foundation for interpreting observations from future missions, particularly on the question of habitability.
Selected papers on this topic:
Juno's Close Encounter with Ganymede — An Overview, Geophys. Res. Lett. (2022)
Planetary Interaction with the Solar Wind
We study how the solar wind — the stream of charged particles flowing from the Sun — interacts with the magnetic environments of giant planets. Uranus is a particular focus: its unusual rotation and strongly tilted magnetic field create a highly dynamic interaction unlike other planets. Through spacecraft observations and BATS-R-US magnethydrodynamic simulations, we investigate how these conditions control the entry and transport of energy. This research helps identify the measurement and orbital opportunities for a future Uranus orbiter.
Selected papers on this topic:
Large-Scale Solar Wind Flow Around Saturn's Nonaxisymmetric Magnetosphere, J. Geophys. Res. (2017)
Image Credit: F. Bagenal & S. Bartlett
Fundamental Plasma Physics in Extreme Regimes
Image Credit: ESA
We use planetary space environments as natural laboratories for plasma physics under conditions difficult to reproduce on Earth. We focus on extremely magnetized plasmas, where strong magnetic fields reshape wave propagation, plasma instabilities, and particle acceleration. Combining spacecraft measurements with theory and numerical simulations, we investigate how energy is transferred between electromagnetic fields and charged particles, testing the limits of established plasma theories. We also study high-Mach-number collisionless shocks, examining how fast plasma flows generate heat and energetic particles. Together, these investigations connect planetary exploration to fundamental processes operating throughout the universe.
Selected papers on this topic:
New Plasma Regime in Jupiter's Auroral Zones, Phys. Rev. Lett. (2025)
Quasiperpendicular High Mach Number Shocks, Phys. Rev. Lett. (2016)
Spacecraft Exploration of the Outer Solar System
We help shape spacecraft exploration by defining the scientific questions, measurements, and instrument capabilities needed to understand distant planetary systems. Building on discoveries from Cassini and Juno, our work contributes to the plasma science goals of ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) and a future flagship mission to Uranus.
Selected papers on this topic:
Magnetosphere and Plasma Science with the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Space Sci. Rev. (2025)
Enceladus and Titan: Emerging Worlds of the Solar System, Exp. Astron. (2022)
Image credit: NASA
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