The Space Physics Research Group at Florida Institute of Technology conducts research in heliophysics and space plasma physics through the Geospace Physics Laboratory (GPL). The group investigates how energy and particles generated by the Sun propagate through the heliosphere and interact with planetary magnetospheres, ionospheres, and atmospheres, with particular emphasis on the near-Earth space environment.
Current research focuses on solar–terrestrial coupling processes, including the interaction between the solar wind and Earth’s magnetosphere and ionosphere, the dynamics of geospace currents, and the mechanisms that drive space weather variability. These studies are central to understanding geomagnetic storms, auroral processes, and the impact of solar activity on technological systems and human spaceflight.
The group also studies the transport of energetic charged particles across a wide range of spatial scales. This includes cosmic ray propagation from their astrophysical sources through the Galaxy and into the interplanetary medium, as well as the acceleration and transport of relativistic particles within planetary magnetospheres, such as those associated with Jupiter. These efforts connect heliophysics with astrophysics and planetary science and are supported by collaborations with NASA and other national and international partners.
On the observational and experimental side, the Space Physics Group is actively involved in the development and deployment of ground-based and space-based instrumentation. Ongoing efforts include the design and implementation of a meridional array of magnetometers along the east coast of the United States to monitor geomagnetic variability, as well as the development of particle detectors and high-energy radiation instruments for space and laboratory applications.
In addition, the group investigates the fundamental plasma processes that heat and accelerate the solar corona and solar wind, including turbulence, wave-particle interactions, and kinetic effects. These studies combine theoretical modeling, data analysis, and instrumentation to address long-standing questions in heliophysics and space plasma physics.
Through its integrated approach, combining theory, observation, and instrument development, the Space Physics Research Group at Florida Tech provides students with hands-on training in space science and contributes to advancing our understanding of the Sun–Earth system and the broader heliosphere.
Faculty: Jean-Carlos Perez, Sofiane Bourouaine, Konstantin Gamayunov, and Ming Zhang