Minna Palmroth, University of Helsinki

Vlasiator: Present and some future challenges

Vlasiator is a global hybrid-Vlasov simulation of near-Earth space, resolving proton velocity distribution functions self-consistently while treating electrons as a charge-neutralising fluid. By combining ion-kinetic physics with global magnetospheric scales, it provides a unique framework for studying how kinetic processes shape the dynamics of the system as a whole. In this talk, I will present selected highlights from recent works. I will then introduce the new XC-global project, which aims to extend this framework towards electron-to-global scale coupling. The central idea is to use physics-informed, explainable machine learning to construct electron velocity distribution functions from the local electromagnetic field and plasma conditions, avoiding the prohibitive cost of a fully kinetic global simulation. This approach could make it possible to investigate how energy is transferred between electron, ion, and global scales.

Passcode: irfseminar