Table of Contents ============================================================================ 1. GEM/SHINE Joint Session on "Perpendicular ion heating: observations on Earth and theory at the Sun" 2. Two GEM Breakout Sessions: "Solar wind-magnetosphere coupling: Theory and simulations" "How does the physics of magnetic reconnection scale up to reality?" ============================================================================ *************************** ** THE GEM MESSENGER ** *************************** Volume 18, Number 16 May 18, 2008 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. GEM/SHINE Joint Session on "Perpendicular ion heating: observations on Earth and theory at the Sun" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Bob Lysak Ion heating transverse to the magnetic field and the associated ion outflow are common processes in the polar and auroral regions of the Earth and the corona of the Sun. The intent of this joint session is to bring together researchers in these areas and explore the similarities and differences between the two regions. On Earth, these heating and outflow processes can be studied with in situ satellite and rocket data, as well as with energetic neutral atom imaging, while in the corona, remote observations from instruments such as the Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer on SOHO can be used to diagnose the properties of these ions. Theory and modeling efforts have been carried out in both regions. Despite the official title of the session, we solicit short contributions on observations, theory and modeling from either of these regions. The session will be held on Friday, June 27, from 10:30 am-12:15 pm. Please contact Ben Chandran (benjamin.chandran@unh.edu) or Bob Lysak (bob@aurora.space.umn.edu) if you are interested in making a short, informal presentation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Two GEM Breakout Sessions: "Solar wind-magnetosphere coupling: Theory and simulations" "How does the physics of magnetic reconnection scale up to reality?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: John Dorelli There will be two breakout sessions, both scheduled for Wednesday, at the 2008 GEM workshop: Wed, June 25, 10:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. "Solar wind-magnetosphere coupling: Theory and simulations" This session will focus on three questions: 1) Can we develop accurate physics based solar wind-magnetosphere coupling functions (perhaps using global MHD simulations for guidance)? 2) How does reconnection depend on local plasma parameters (e.g., local magnetic field, density, resistivity) in global MHD simulations? 3) What is the role of the Hall effect (and other kinetic scale physics) in magnetospheric reconnection? Wed, June 25, 1:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. "How does the physics of magnetic reconnection scale up to reality?" This session will focus on the question of whether the physics of magnetic reconnection observed in kinetic scale simulations is relevant on a larger scale (hundreds of ion inertial lengths). In particular, we would like to discuss the recent open boundary condition PIC simulation results, which seem to be at odds with the "standard model" of Hall-MHD reconnection. We are going for an informal group discussion, but short presentations on the topics listed above are welcome. Please email John Dorelli (john.dorelli@unh.edu) or Mike Shay (shay@udel.edu) if you would like to participate. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |To subscribe GEM Messengers, send an e-mail to | | with the following command in the body of your e-mail message: | | subscribe gem | |To remove yourself from the mailing list, the command is: | | unsubscribe gem | | | |To broadcast a message to the GEM community, please contact Peter Chi at | | | |Please use plain text as the format of your submission. | | | |Workshop Information: http://www.cpe.vt.edu/gem/index.html | |GEM Wiki Page: http://aten.igpp.ucla.edu/gemwiki | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+