Program Overview

---

Course Overview

The course EF2240 Space Physics is a 6.0 credit course that provides a broad survey of space physics and plasma phenomena from the Earth's vicinity to the Universe as a whole.

Information per Course Offering

The course is offered in the autumn semester of 2025 and 2026. Students can choose to start the course on August 24, 2026, as either single course students or programme students.

Course Syllabus

The course syllabus is available as a PDF and provides detailed information about the course, including its content, learning outcomes, and examination.

Content and Learning Outcomes

Course Contents

The course covers the following topics:

• The plasma state
• Typical properties of space plasmas
• The sun and the solar wind, and their effects on the Earth's space environment
• The magnetosphere and the ionosphere, their origin, structure, and dynamics
• The aurora and geomagnetic storms and substorms
• Space weather
• Space environment of other celestial bodies
• Interstellar and intergalactic plasma and cosmic radiation
• Current research topics within space physics

Intended Learning Outcomes

The goals of the course are that the student should be able to:

• Define what is meant by a plasma, and how different types of plasmas can be classified
• Describe the plasma environment in space, with focus on the near-earth environment
• Explain how certain important plasma populations in the solar system, e.g. the Earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere, get their basic properties, and how these properties may differ between the planets
• Make order of magnitude estimates of some properties in space plasmas and space phenomena, e.g. the power dissipated in the aurora, or the amount of current floating from Earth's magnetosphere to its ionosphere
• Model certain space physics phenomena by applying basic physical laws, using simple mathematics (e.g. model the form of the magnetosphere or estimate the temperature of a sunspot)
• Describe current research within space physics and explain it to an interested layman

Literature and Preparations

Specific Prerequisites

• Documented knowledge in general physics, 5 ECTS-credits
• The upper secondary course English B/6

Recommended Prerequisites

• For single course students: 60 hp and documented proficiency in English B or equivalent

Literature

Information about course literature can be found in the course memo for the course offering or in the course room in Canvas.

Examination and Completion

Grading Scale

The grading scale for the course is A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Examination

• TEN1 - Examination, 6.0 credits, grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F

Based on recommendation from KTH's coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.

The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.

If the course is discontinued, students may request to be examined during the following two academic years.

Other Requirements for Final Grade

• Written examination
• Continual examination will take place during the course, with some activities providing bonus points that will be added to the written examination

Examiner

Tomas Karlsson

Ethical Approach

• All members of a group are responsible for the group's work
• In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used
• In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution

Further Information

Course Room in Canvas

Registered students can find further information about the implementation of the course in the course room in Canvas.

Offered by

EECS/Electrical Engineering

Main Field of Study

Electrical Engineering, Physics, Engineering Physics

Education Cycle

Second cycle

Supplementary Information

In this course, the EECS code of honor applies.