Seyler, Charles Eugene

Professor

research

research and scholarship focus

Our research interests are in the theory and simulation of nonlinear plasma phenomena, with a focus in the area of space-plasma-related research. Studies in terrestrial space plasma physics are concerned with the coupling of the earth's ionosphere and magnetosphere through electrodynamic processes involving waves that propagate between these regions. A primary goal is to understand certain aspects of the phenomenon known as the aurora. I am particularly interested in the electron acceleration process that produces the northern lights, and in the dynamical motion of the magnetospheric and ionospheric plasma that is responsible for the complex space and time structure in auroral displays.

research areas

affiliations

faculty appointment in

member of graduate field

other Cornell affiliations

background

educational background

Ph.D. Iowa 1975
M.A. University of South Florida 1972
B.A. University of South Florida 1970

professional background

Upon completing his Ph.D. in plasma physics, Seyler spent two years at the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, at New York University working in fusion-related plasma physics. He then went to Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he worked as a research scientist in the controlled-fusion theory group. In 1981 he accepted a position in the School of Electrical Engineering at Cornell.

publications

selected publications (listing in progress)

  • Kintner, P. M., and C. L. Seyler. 1985. The status of observations and theory of high latitude ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma turbulence. Space Science Reviews 41:91-129.
  • Zargham, Z., and C. E. Seyler. 1989. Collisional and inertial dynamics of the ionospheric interchange instability. Journal of Geophysical Research 95:9009-27.
  • Seyler, C. E. 1990. Mathematical model of the structure and evolution of small-scale discrete auroral arcs. Journal of Geophysical Research 95:17199-17215.
  • Hui, C.-H., and C. E. Seyler. 1992. Electron acceleration by Alfven waves in the magnetosphere. Journal of Geophysical Research 97:3953-63.
  • Seyler, C. E. 1994. Lower-hybrid wave phenomena associated with density depletions. Journal of Geophysical Research 99:19513-26.
  • Seyler, C. E. 1996. On the most probable states of two-dimensional plasmas. Journal of Plasma Physics 56:553-67.
  • Pincon, J. L., P. N. Kintner, P. W. Schuck, and C. E. Seyler. Observation and analysis of lower hybrid solitary structures as rotating eigenmodes. Journal of Geophysical Research 102(A8):17283-96.