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Solar Terrestrial Physics

By Prof. MV Sunil Krishna   |   IIT Roorkee
Learners enrolled: 42
ABOUT THE COURSE:

Solar Terrestrial Physics explores the dynamic interactions between the Sun and Earth's environment. This course offers an in-depth understanding of the Sun and its role in shaping interplanetary space, where solar winds and magnetic fields influence planetary systems. Students will delve into the physics of geospace, focusing on Earth's magnetosphere and its responses to solar activity. A critical component of the course will be the study of dynamo action, which underpins the generation of magnetic fields in celestial bodies. The ionosphere, a vital layer of Earth's atmosphere, will be analyzed for its structure, behavior, and role in radio communication. Finally, the phenomenon of whistlers, electromagnetic waves propagating through the magnetosphere, will be explored, shedding light on the intricate connections between space and terrestrial physics. This comprehensive course combines theoretical principles with observational insights to equip students with a robust foundation in this interdisciplinary domain

INTENDED AUDIENCE: B.Sc, B.Tech, M.Sc, PhD

PREREQUISITES: Elementary understanding of electrodynamics, plasma physics, electricity and magnetism
Summary
Course Status : Upcoming
Course Type : Elective
Language for course content : English
Duration : 12 weeks
Category :
  • Physics
Credit Points : 3
Level : Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date : 19 Jan 2026
End Date : 10 Apr 2026
Enrollment Ends : 26 Jan 2026
Exam Registration Ends : 13 Feb 2026
Exam Date : 25 Apr 2026 IST
NCrF Level   : 4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.


Page Visits



Course layout

Week 1:  The sun and interplanetary space: The sun as a star, solar atmosphere, solar electromagnetic radiations, variance in the solar spectra, solar wind

Week 2: solar and interplanetary magnetic field, solar cycle variations, cosmic rays in the interplanetary space, interaction of solar wind and other planets

Week 3: The Physics of Geospace: Properties of gases, Magnetoplasma, Gyrofrequency, plasma frequency, waves, radio wave propagation in ionized medium, waves propagation in plasma, Langmuir wave, ion-acoustic wave, electromagnetic wave in unmagnetized plasma, plasma instabilities

Week 4: Definition of a fluid, quick review of kinetic theory, equations of ideal hydrodynamics

Week 5: Plasma as a fluid, Idea of total derivative, Lagrangian and Eulerian formulation, Derivation of Governing Equations, Equation of continuity, Invariance of continuity equation

Week 6: Momentum equation, Ohm’s law and Energy equation, brief introduction to MHD, ideal induction equation,

Week 7: Alfven’s theorem, MHD Poynting power density, Equations of ideal MHD, vector potential and magnetic helicity, MHD waves

Week 8: Dynamo action: Equations of motion of terrestrial atmosphere, the atmospheric circulation, heating of upper atmosphere, tidal oscillations of the atmosphere, the lunar tide

Week 9: the solar tides, tides at the ionospheric level, motion of charged particles, conductivities, Layer conductivity

Week 10: Ionosphere: Physical aeronomy, chemical aeronomy, formation of D, E, F1 and F2 regions in low and mid latitudes, Ionospheric electric currents,

Week 11: F-region drifts, ion drag effects, storms, geomagnetic indices, irregularities in ionosphere, travelling ionospheric disturbances

Week 12: Whistlers: Whistlers and VLF emissions, Emission theories, dispersion relation for whistler mode wave, growth rate calculation, nonlinear effects, quasilinear theory, diffusion into loss cone.

Books and references

1.M.A Seeds, “Solar System”, Brooks/Cole Thomson Learning, 2007
2.A.C. Das, “Space Plasma Physics”, Narosa Publishing House, 2004
3.J. K. Hargreaves, “The Solar Terrestrial Environment”, Cambridge Atmospheric and Space Science Series, 2003
4.Syun-Ichi Akasofu, Sydney Chapman, Solar-Terrestrial Physics, Oxford University Press, 1972.
5.M.C. Kelley, “The Earth’s Ionosphere”, Academic Press, 2009

Instructor bio

Prof. MV Sunil Krishna

IIT Roorkee
1. M.Sc. (Physics) from Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
2. M.Phil (Theoretical High Energy Physics) from University of Hyderabad
3. Ph.D (Atmospheric and Space Physics), IIT Roorkee

Associate Professor in Physics at IIT Roorkee.

Prof. MV Sunil Krishna carry research in the area of atmospheric and space physics. With specific interest in understanding the space weather effects on the neutral atmosphere and ionosphere by combining satellite, ground based measurements and modeling techniques. His research group at IIT Roorkee tries to understand how intense solar prominences such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections effect the geospace in general and the mesosphere-thermosphere and ionosphere in particular. 

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.
The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).
Date and Time of Exams: April 25, 2026 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.
Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.
The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.
Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Roorkee .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team
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