Graduate Studies

Doctoral Concentrations: Space & Planetary Physics

Admission Eligibility:

Admission to the program is open to any student admitted to the graduate programs of either AOSS or the Physics Department with the consent of the two SPP Program Advisors. Admitted students must meet the admission standards of both Departments. The usual course of action for students is to enter the program at the beginning of their graduate career. However, students may enter the program at any time in their graduate program with consent of the two SPP Program Advisors, provided they have fulfilled the requirements for satisfactory progress in their home department.

Relevant Research in AOSS:

Building instruments and analyzing data from ground and space based optical observations of atmospheric emissions
Laboratory astrophysics experiments using high energy density plasmas
Numerical modeling of space plasmas using modern numerical methods and massively parallel computers
Ionospheric radar and magnetometer observations
In-situ detection of neutral and charged particles in the atmospheres of Earth and other planets
Theoretical and observational studies of the origin, evolution and present state of planetary atmospheres
Studies of planetary magnetospheres
Studies of the heliosphere, and investigations concerning the sources, acceleration and transport of solar and galactic cosmic rays

The AOSS Space Physics Research Laboratory (SPRL) is one of the leading institutions in the research of the atmospheres, ionospheres and plasma environments of Earth and other solar system bodies. It has more than 50 years of experience in experimental and theoretical investigations of the space environment.

AOSS research is supported by an annual sponsored research budget of about $15 million, with projects ranging from "small science" through intermediate size projects, to multimillion dollar per year endeavors.

Relevant Research in the Physics Department:

Theoretical astrophysics
Underground astrophysics
Cosmic-ray physics
Neutrino astrophysics
Searches for monopoles and dark matter

These projects engage the techniques of relativistic gas dynamics, particle physics, nuclear physics, atomic and optical physics, as exemplified in studies of cosmic TeV gamma rays detected from the air showers and from the optical Cherenkov radiation produced when the ultra-high energy photons interact with the atmosphere. U-M also conducts an extensive program of balloon-based particle counter experiments that search for antimatter (as well as less exotic species) of astrophysical interest. Studies of photoionization, atomic collisions, novel states of atoms, and laser-atmosphere interactions are underway. Theoretical physicists in the department have a highly productive effort in galactic and extragalactic astrophysics and nonlinear dynamics.

Department of Physics research is funded, in aggregate, on the order of $1.5 million annually.

Program Description/Course Requirements

The AOSS Ph.D. Program is an integrated study designed to give students first a broad base of study in atmospheric, space and planetary sciences followed by more in-depth, concentrated studies in specific areas. There are four levels of courses required of AOSS graduate students:

Departmental Core Courses: Required of all AOSS graduate students
Program Core Courses: Required courses in atmospheric or space and planetary sciences
Concentration Core Courses: Required courses in your specific area of study
Program Elective Courses: Courses designed to complement your program

AOSS Graduate Program Structure (PDF file)

Departmental Core Courses

AOSS 551: Geophysical Fluid Dynamics

AOSS 532: Radiative Transfer

AOSS 747, 749: Seminar

Space and Planetary Program Core Courses

AOSS 464: Space Environment

AOSS 565: Planetary Science

AOSS 495: Atmosphere and Ionospheres

Space Plasma Concentration Core Courses

AOSS 597: Space Plasma Physics

AOSS 595: Magnetospheres

AOSS 598: Sun and Heliosphere

Planetary Concentration Core Courses

AOSS 411: Clouds, Aerosols and Precipitation

AOSS 451: Atmospheric Dynamics

AOSS 479: Atmospheric Chemistry

Space Plasma Concentration Elective Courses

AERO 523: Computatinal Fluid Dynamics

Physics 505: Electricity and Magnetism — I

Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Sciences

AOSS 468: Data Analysis

Planetary Concentration Elective Courses

AOSS 510: Earth System Modeling

AOSS 578: Atmospheric Chemistry Modeling

Instrumentation for Atmospheric and Space Sciences

AOSS 468: Data Analysis

ASTRON 500: Theoretical Astrophysics

ASTRON 501: Modern Astronomica Technology

Qualifying Exams (PDF File)

Dissertation

Following the successful completion of the qualifying examinations, the student forms a dissertation committee composed of five faculty members. The committee must be chaired by a qualified faculty member from one of the departments and have at least two members from the other department. Students should set a date for their oral preliminary examination by the end of their third year. The dissertation committee will give the preliminary examination and it will be based on a written thesis research proposal.

M.S. Degree
A Masters of Science Degree will be awarded to those students who have enough credit hours and satisfy the formal M.Sc. requirements and request such a degree. We expect that the majority of students admitted to this program will earn a Ph.D., but we include this possibility especially for those students who cannot or do not want to go through the whole program.