Using AI to find the giant magnetospheric waves driving near-Earth space weather (Ref: NUDATA24-R/EE/MPEE/BENTLEY)

Overview of the CDT

This project is being offered as part of the STFC Centre for Doctoral Training in Data Intensive Science, called NUdata, which is a collaboration between Northumbria and Newcastle Universities, STFC, and a portfolio of over 40 industrial partners, including SMEs, large/multinational companies, Government and not-for profit organisations, and international humanitarian organisations. Please visit https://research.northumbria.ac.uk/nudata/ for full information.

About the Project

Near-Earth space is a dynamic region where electromagnetic waves couple to plasmas, driving global transport and energisation through the Earth’s magnetosphere. This project will use AI techniques to identify and characterise the different types of waves within the magnetosphere. These waves are fundamental components of radiation belt models. By understand their role in controlling this complex and dynamic system we can produce better space weather forecasts to protect spacecraft.

Background:

Earth’s magnetosphere is a region where the earth’s magnetic field protects us from the worst of the solar wind. Particles here are charged, and so affected by electromagnetic forces - a plasma. Without collisions, the only way to transfer energy from the buffeting solar wind is through a dynamic interplay of waves and their wave-particle interactions. This project focuses on waves on scales larger than the Earth: ultra-low frequency waves (ULF). These waves transmit energy across the magnetosphere and energise Earth’s radiation belts, endangering the satellites underpinning modern life. Understanding the when, where, and the type of waves that develop due to energy input from the solar wind is vital for our ability to predict near-Earth space and the highly charged particles in the radiation belts. This prediction is referred to as space weather forecasting and is a growing field which the UK is heavily investing in due to the hazards that space weather poses to modern technology.

With increasing numbers of spacecraft come more observations; too many to analyse using traditional techniques. Machine learning and artificial intelligence can aid in processing such large data sets and can also provide key insight into fundamental physics questions. This project will use cutting-edge techniques to study ULF waves throughout the magnetosphere.

The successful student will use AI techniques to find ULF waves throughout the magnetosphere. Once this technique has been developed, there are many potential research directions: investigating the space weather impacts (including during geomagnetic storms); preparing the results for forecast models; developing novel machine learning techniques to further study the wave classifications; determining the wave drivers and numerical modelling / case studies to validate machine learning results. Research directions will depend on the students’ initial results and their interests (with guidance from the Northumbria Space Physics group). We are also happy to discuss other potential projects with students; space weather is a field with many questions that artificial intelligence techniques can answer.

Student profile

Essential qualities:

• Strong numerate background, e.g. a degree in maths, physics or computer science;
• Motivation to explore challenging open questions;
• An ability to work both independently and with a team.

Skills for which we will provide training, but prior knowledge is desirable:

• Knowledge of electromagnetism, especially of plasma environments;
• Programming;
• Training AI models.

Training

In addition to regular supervisor meetings and the NUdata programme, students are encouraged to participate in group activities, including seminars with national and international experts. We offer Masters-level modules for any necessary subject-specific knowledge or skills. You are encouraged to attend national summer schools and apply to competitive international summer schools. We will help you choose conferences and workshops to discuss your results with the scientific community. The Solar and Space Physics group at Northumbria is now one of the largest groups in the UK. The supervisors (Dr Sarah Bentley, Prof Jonathan Rae, Dr Kyle Murphy) have extensive expertise understanding magnetospheric waves (including data analysis, observational techniques on Earth and in space, wave generation and their impact on Earth’s radiation belts) and in adapting machine learning techniques for physical understanding and for space weather forecasting. We are involved in multiple schemes to improve equal access to PhD studentships and the experience of underrepresented groups in academia; we try to embed these principles throughout our work and value the insight that comes with a diverse team.

Academic Enquiries

This project is supervised by Dr Bentley and Professor Rae. For informal queries, contact [Email Address Removed].

For enquiries relating to eligibility or application process contact [Email Address Removed]. 

You will join a strong and supportive research team. The very best way to get a taste of this is to come and visit the Research Group in person, meet your fellow PhD students, and meet the PhD supervisors. We have funding to support all UK National applicants who wish to visit the research group (with funding to fully cover reasonable travel and accommodation costs). Please contact Head of Group Professor James McLaughlin [Email Address Removed] if you are interested in visiting the Group. Also feel free to contact individual PhD supervisors if this is better for you.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Academic excellence i.e. 2:1 (or equivalent-GPA from non-UK universities with-preference-for-1st-class-honours); or Masters (preference-for-Merit-or-above);
• Appropriate IELTS score, if required.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must either:

• Be a UK National (meeting-residency-requirements),
• have settled-status,
• have pre-settled status (meeting-residency-requirements),
• have-indefinite-leave-to-remain-or-enter.

If a candidate does not meet the criteria above, they would be classed as an International student. 

For further details on how to apply see https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/research/postgraduate-research-degrees/how-to-apply/  

Please include advert reference in your application.

Deadline for applications: 2nd-June-2024

Start date of course:  23rd-September-2024

Northumbria University is committed to creating an inclusive culture where we take pride in, and value, the diversity of our postgraduate research students. We encourage and welcome applications from all members of the community. The University holds a bronze Athena Swan award in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality, we are a Disability Confident Leader, a member of the Race Equality Charter and are participating in the Stonewall Diversity Champion Programme. We also hold the HR Excellence in Research award for implementing the concordat supporting the career Development of Researchers and are members of the Euraxess initiative to deliver information and support to professional researchers.