Tromsø is in a unique geographical position to study the Aurora Borealis and the upper Polar atmosphere, and we have long traditions since the early 1900's within this field of research. The Auroral Observatory in Tromsø formed the original basis of the physics studies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Today, the activities have been extended to research on the solar corona, the Sun-Earth interaction, and the upper atmosphere. Researchers at the Department of Physics and Technology work with data from the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter) radars and other instruments at Ramfjordmoen, Svalbard, and Andøya, with numerical modelling, and with laboratory experiments (Aurolab).

The Northern (and Southern) Lights are manifestations of space weather that has its origin in the variability of the Sun's activity. Most auroras occur as a result of huge solar magnetic explosions (solar mass ejections and solar flares) that enhance the solar wind and solar radiation arriving at the Earth. The scales of the perturbations that follow (geomagnetic storms) vary from the size of the Earth's magnetotail (about 200 Earth radii) to the fine structure of the aurora (tens of meters) at 100-200 km height above the Earth's surface.

As a student on the Master's degree program in physics, you can choose one-year projects on a range of topics, for example:

• Observations with EISCAT of phenomena in the upper polar atmosphere, e.g. ion instabilities, fine structures in the aurora, and space weather (dynamics).
• Analysis and interpretation of EISCAT and other radar observations.
• Experimental, theoretical and numerical studies of dusty plasmas in the mesosphere with rockets, mesospheric and EISCAT radars.
• Theoretical and numerical analysis of turbulence and transport in space and laboratory plasma.
• Experimental studies of plasma phenomena in laboratory plasmas.

Compulsory courses in the Space Physics discipline:

• FYS-2009 Introduction to plasma physics
• FYS-3003 Space physics
• FYS-3900 Master's thesis in physics

Recommended optional courses approved in the Space Physics discipline:

• FYS-3000 Introduction to satellite and rocket techniques and space instrumentations
• FYS-3002 Techniques for investigating the near-earth space environment
• FYS-3017 Experimental methods in laboratory and space plasma

Other optional courses approved for Space Physics:

• FYS-3001 Physics of remote sensing
• FYS-3007 Microwave techniques
• FYS-3012 Pattern recognition
• FYS-3023 Applied remote sensing
• FYS-3026 Fusion plasma physics
• FYS-3030 Fluid dynamics of atmospheres and oceans
• FYS-3810 Individual special curriculum
• MAT-3113 Nonlinear partial differential equations
• MAT-3200 Mathematical methods

Optional courses should be determined in collaboration with your supervisor in connection with choice of research topic in the Master's thesis. Other optional courses may be approved on application or if recommended by your supervisor. An individual special curriculum or project paper may also be part of the degree.

If the Master's thesis involves work in a laboratory, in the field or on a research cruise, it is mandatory to conduct a course in safety education prior to commencing the thesis.

With a master in physics with specialization in space physics, you will be very sought after in fields such as:

• Rocket and space research
• Sensor and instrumental development
• Theoretical space and physics research
• Statistical analysis
• Technology and innovation companies
• Technical engineer