PhD Studentship - Including the Aurora in Spacecraft Orbit PredictionAeronautical and Astronautical EngineeringLocation: Highfield Campus Supervisory Team: Hugh Lewis (SoE), Daniel Whiter (P&A), Robert Fear (P&A) Project description In this project you will investigate how variable heating of the upper atmosphere by the aurora affects the orbits and re-entry of spacecraft in low Earth orbit, with the aim of improving orbit prediction. The University of Southampton operates a high-resolution auroral spectrograph on the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard. Our previous work using the spectrograph has shown that the ratio of intensities of two auroral O+ emission lines does not match earlier theories for the ionisation-excitation of O+. The proposed explanation is that conservation of angular momentum limits the allowed change in quantum numbers as neutral O is ionised to O+ by electron impact, with the exciting implication that it would be possible to remotely measure neutral temperature at 250 km altitude throughout an auroral event. In this project you will validate the new technique for measuring temperature and use such measurements together with modelling to improve forecasts of drag on spacecraft. Polar orbit predictions, for example during spacecraft re-entry, will be tested. The project blends a diverse range of research fields, including space science, astronautics, computational modelling, atomic physics and observational physics. The project is part of the University of Southampton's . You will be a member of both the in the School of Engineering and the Space Environment Physics group in the School of Physics and Astronomy, with participation in both groups' meetings and seminar series. The PhD will include travel to national and international conferences, as well as the possibility to join fieldwork expeditions to Svalbard, for which training will be provided. Entry Requirements A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent) in Physics, Engineering or related subject. Closing date: 27 May 2022. Funding: For UK students, Tuition Fees and a stipend of £15,609 tax-free per annum for up to 3.5 years. How To Apply Apply online . Select programme type (Research), 2022/23, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “PhD Engineering & Environment (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Hugh Lewis Applications should include: Curriculum Vitae Two reference letters Degree Transcripts to date For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk
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