Skip to main content

The Planeterrella, a pedagogic experiment in planetology and plasma physics

Acta Geophysica volume 57, pages 220–235 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

We present here a plasma physics experiment which makes it possible to simulate, in a naive yet useful way, the formation of polar lights. It involves shooting electrons at a magnetized sphere placed in a vacuum chamber. This experiment, inspired by K. Birkeland’s Terrella, built at the turn of 19th century, allows the visualization of very many geophysical and astrophysical situations. Although delicate, it is feasible at undergraduate level.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  • Balescu, R. (1988), Transport Processes in Plasmas. Vol. 1, North-Holland, Amsterdam.

  • Bertaux, J.-L., F. Leblanc, O. Witasse, E. Quemerais, J. Lilensten, S.A. Stern, B. Sandel, and O. Korablev (2005), Discovery of an aurora on Mars, Nature 435, 790–794, DOI: 10.1038/nature03603.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen, F.F. (1984), Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2nd ed., Plenum Press, New York - London.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dendy, R.O. (1995), Plasma Physics. An Introductory Course, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dortous de Mairan, J.J. (1733), Trait’e Physique et Historique de l’Aurore Bor’eale, De l’Imprimerie Royale, Paris, 281 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Egeland, A., and W.J. Burke (2005), Kristian Birkeland, the First Space Scientist, Springer, New York, DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-3294-3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivelson, M.G., and C.T. Russell (eds.), (1995), Introduction to Space Physics, Cambridge University Press, New York, 568 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivelson, M.G., K.K. Khurana, C.T. Russell, R.J. Walker, J. Warnecke, F.V. Coroniti, C. Polanskey, D.J. Southwood, and G. Schubert (1996), Discovery of Ganymede’s magnetic field by the Galileo spacecraft, Nature 384, 6609, 537–541, DOI: 10.1038/384537a0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lilensten, J., and J. Bornarel (2006), Space Weather, Environment and Societies, Springer, Dordrecht, 242 pp, DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-4332-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lummerzheim, D., and J. Lilensten (1994), Electron transport and energy degradation in the ionosphere: evaluation of the numerical solution, comparison with laboratory experiments and auroral observations, Ann. Geophys. 12, 1039–1051, DOI: 10.1007/s00585-994-1039-7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rees, M.H. (1989), Physics and Chemistry of the Upper Atmosphere, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge - New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shu, F.H. (1992), The Physics of Astrophysics. Vol. 2: Gas Dynamics, University Science Books, Sausalito, CA, 476 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern, D.P. (1996), A brief history of magnetospheric physics during the space age, Rev. Geophys. 34, 1, 1–32, DOI: 10.1029/95RG03508.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Planétologie de Grenoble, OSUG-CNRS-UJF, Grenoble, France

    Jean Lilensten, Mathieu Barthélemy & Guillaume Gronoff

  2. Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy and B.USOC, Brussels, Belgium

    Cyril Simon

  3. Lycée Charlie Chaplin, Décines, France

    Philippe Jeanjacquot

Authors
  1. Jean Lilensten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mathieu Barthélemy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cyril Simon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Philippe Jeanjacquot
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Guillaume Gronoff
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jean Lilensten.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lilensten, J., Barthélemy, M., Simon, C. et al. The Planeterrella, a pedagogic experiment in planetology and plasma physics. Acta Geophys. 57, 220–235 (2009). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-008-0079-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-008-0079-x

Key words

  • Aurora
  • planetary ionospheres
  • plasma
  • the Planeterrella experiment