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Scholarly Interest Report
         
Richard A. Wolf
Professor Emeritus
Professor Emeritus of Space Physics and Astronomy and Research Professor
 
e-mail:rawolf@rice.edu
 
  • B.Eng.Phys.(1962) Cornell University
  • Ph.D.(1966) California Institute of Technology
 
Primary Department
   Department of Physics and Astronomy
Picture
 
Websites
 Publications--R. A. Wolf
 Publications--Richard Wolf
 Wolf publications as of 2/23/16
 
Research Areas
 Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere
 
Selected Publications
 Refereed articles
 

C.-P. Wang, M. Gkioulidou, L. R. Lyons, X. Xing, and R. A. Wolf "Interchange Motion as a Transport Mechanism for Formation of a Cold-Dense Plasma Sheet." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 119: 8318-8337.

 
 

J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, and S. Sazykin "RCM-E Simulation of a Thin Arc Preceded by a North-South-Aligned Auroral Streamer." Geophysical Research Letters, 41: 2695-2701.

 
 

J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, S. Sazykin, and C,-P. Wang "RCM-E Simulation of Bimodal Transport in the Plasma Sheet." Geophysical Research Letters, 41: 1817-1822.

 
 

S. Califf, X. Li, L. Blum, A. Jaynes, Q. Schiller, H. Zhao, D. Malaspina, M. Hartinger, R. A. Wolf, D. E. Rowland, J. R. Wygant, and J. W. Bonnell "THEMIS Measurements of Quasi-Static Electric Fields in the Inner Magnetosphere." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 119 (2014) : 9939-9951.

 
 

J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, and S. Sazykin "RCM-E simulation of substorm growth phase arc associated with large-scale adiabatic convection." Geophysical Research Letters, 40 (2013) : 6017-6022.

 
 

J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, P. A. Ontiveros, and J. M. Weygand "Large-scale current systems and ground magnetic disturbances during deep substorm injctions." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics (2012) : A04223.

 
 

M. Gkioulidou, C.-P. Wang, L. Lyons, R. A. Wolf, and T.-S. Hsu "Effect of an MLT dependent electron loss rate on the magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physis, 117 (2012) : A11218.

 
 

R. A. Wolf, C. X. Chen, and F. R. Toffoletto "Thin filament simulations for Earth's plasma sheet: Tests of validity of the quasi-static approximation." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 117 (2012) : A02216.In Press

 
 

R. A. Wolf, C. X. Chen, and F. R. Toffoletto "Thin-filament simulations for Earth's plasma sheet: Interchange oscillations." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 117 (2012) In Press

 
 

B. Hu, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, J. Yang, and J.Raeder "Consequences of violation of frozen-in-flux: Evidence from OpenGGCM simulations." Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 116 (2011) : A06223.

 
 

C.-P. Wang, M. Gkioulidou, L. R. Lyons, R. A. Wolf, V. Angelopoulos, T. Nagai, J. M. Weygand, and A. T. Y. Lui "Spatial distributions of ions and electrons from the plasma sheet to the inner magnetosphere: Comparisons between THEMIS-Geotail statistical results and the Rice Convection Model." Journal of Geophysical Researh Space Physcs, 116 (2011) : A11216.

 
 

J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, and S. Sazykin "RCM-E simulation of ion acceleration during an idealized bubble injection." Journal of Geophysical Research, 116 (2011) : A05201.

 
 

J. Yang, R. A. Wolf, and F. R. Toffoletto "RCM-E simulation results of accelerated thinning of the near-Earth plasma sheet caused by a bubble-blob pair." Geophysical Research Letters, 38 (2011) : L01107.

 
 

B. Hu, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, J. Raeder, D. Larson, and A. Vapirev "One-way coupled OpenGGCM/RCM simulation of the March 23, 2007 substorm event", Journal of Geophysical Research 115 (2010), A12205.

 
 

X. Liu, T. W. Hill, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, and H. Wu "Numerical simulation of plasma transport in Saturn's inner magnetosphere using the Rice Convection Model", Joural of Geophysical Research (2010): A12254,

 
 

Y. Wan, S. Sazykin, R. A. Wolf, and M. K. Ozturk "Drift shell bifurcation near the dayside magnetopause in realistic magnetospheric magnetic fields", Journal of Geophysical Research, 115, (2010): A10205.

 
 

M. Gkioulidou, C.-P. Wang, L. R. Lyons, and R. A. Wolf "Formation of the Harang reversal and its dependence on plasma sheet conditions: RCM simulations." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A07204.

 
 

C.-P. Wang, L. R. Lyons, R. A. Wolf, T. Nagai, J. Weygand, and A. T. Y. Lui "The plasma sheet PV5/3 and nV and associated plasma and energy transport for different convection strengths and AE levels." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A00D02.

 
 

J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, G. M. Erickson, and R. A. Wolf "Superposed epoch study of PV^5/3 during substorms, pseudobreakups, and convection bays, Geophysical Research Letters, 37 (2010): L07102

 
 

J.-C. Zhang, R. A. Wolf, G. M. Erickson, R. W. Spiro, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang "Rice Convection Model simulation of the injection of an observed bubble into the inner magnetosphere: 1. Magnetic-field and other inputs." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A08218.

 
 

J.-C. Zhang, R. A. Wolf, R. W. Spiro, G. M. Erickson, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang "Rice Convection Model simulation of the injection of an observed bubble into the inner magnetosphere: 2. Simulation results." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A08219.

 
 

L. Wu, F. Toffoletto, and R. A. Wolf "Computing magnetospheric equilibria with anisotropic pressures." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A05213.

 
 

R. A. Wolf, Y. Wan, X. Xing, J.-C. Zhang, and S. Sazykin "Entropy and plasma sheet transport." Journal of Geophysical Research, 114 (2009) : A00D05.

 
 

J. C. Zhang, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, and F. R. Toffoletto "Injection of a bubble into the inner magnetosphere" Geophysical Research Letters, 35 (2008): L02110.

 
 

J. Yang, F. R. Toffoletto, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, P. C. Brandt, M. G. Henderson, and H. U. Frey "Rice Convection Model simulation of the 18 April 2002 sawtooth event and evidence for interchange instability" Journal of Geophysical Research, 113 (2008): A11214.

 
 

Y. Song, S. Sazykin, and R. A. Wolf "On the relationship between kinetic and fluid formalisms for convection in the inner magnetosphere" Journal of Geophysical Research, 113 (2008): A08216.

 
 

H. Wu, T. W. Hill, R. A. Wolf, and R. W. Spiro "Numerical simulation of fine structure in the Io plasma torus produced by centrifugal interchange instability" Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 112 (2007): A02206.

 
 

J. R. Kan, X. Xing, and R. A. Wolf "Intensity of geomagnetic storms depends on the X-line location in the plasma sheet" Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 112(2007): A04216.

 
 

J. Zhang, M. W. Liemohn, D. L. DeZeeuw, J. E. Borovsky, A. J. Ridley, G. Toth, S. Sazykin, M. F. Thomsen, J. U. Kozyra, T. I. Gombosi, and R. A. Wolf "Understanding storm-time ring current development through data-model comparisons of a moderate storm" Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007): A04208.

 
 

M. K. Ozturk and R. A. Wolf (2007), Bifurcation of drift shells near the dayside magnetopause, Journal of Geophysical Research, 112 (2007): A07207.

 
 

N. Maruyama, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, B. G. Fejer, R. Wolf, D. Anderson, A. Anghel, F. R. Toffoletto, T. J. Fuller-Rowell, M. Codrescu, A. D. Richmond, and G. H. Millward "Modeling storm-time electrodynamics of the low-latitude ionosphere-thermosphere system: Can long lasting disturbance electric fields be accounted for?"Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 69 (2007): 1182-1199.

 
 

T. W. Garner, G. Crowley, and R. A. Wolf "The impact of stormtime changes in the non-auroral conductance upon the low- and mid-latitude electric field", Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics., 69: (2007): 1200-1212.

 
 

X. Xing and R. A. Wolf "Criterion for interchange instability in a plasma connected to a conducting ionosphere" Journal of Geophysical Research 112 (2007), A12209.

 
 

R. A. Wolf, R. A., R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, P. L. Sager, and T. S. Huang "Use of Euler potentials for describing magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling" Journal of Geophysical Research 111 (2006): A07315.

 
 

R. A. Wolf, V. Kumar, F. R. Toffoletto, G. M. Erickson, A. M. Savoie, C. X. Chen, and C. L. Lemon "Estimating local plasma sheet PV5/3 from single-spacecraft measurements" Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 111 (2006): A1221.

 
 

G. Toth, I. V. Sokolov, T. I. Gombosi, D. R. Chesney, C. R. Clauer, D. L. De Zeeuw, K. C. Hansen, K. J. Kane, W. B. Machester, R. C. Oehmke, K. G. Powell, A. J. Ridley, I. I. Roussev, Q. F. Stout, O. Volberg, R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, B. Yu, and J. Kota  "Space Weather Modeling Framework: A new tool for the space science community" Journal of Geophysical Research 110 (2005): A12226.

 
 

J. D. Huba, G. Joyce, S. Sazykin, R. Wolf, and R. Spiro "Simulation study of penetration electric field effects on the low- to mid-latitude ionosphere", Geophysical Research Letters, 32 (2005): L23101.

 
 

Y. Ebihara, M.-C. Fok, R. A. Wolf, M. F. Thomsen, and T. E. Moore "Nonlinear impact of plasma sheet density on the storm-time ring current" Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics, 110 (2005): A02208.

 
 

C. Lemon, R. A. Wolf, T. W. Hill, S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, F. R. Toffoletto, J. Birn, and M. Hesse "Magnetic storm ring current injection modeled with the Rice Convection Model and a self-consistent magnetic field" Geophysical Research Letters 31 (2004), L21801.

 
 

D. L. De Zeeuw, S. Sazykin, R. A. Wolf, T. I. Gombosi, A. J. Ridley, and G. Toth "Coupling of a global MHD code and an inner magnetospheric model: Initial results", Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 109, (2004): A12219.

 
 

F. Toffoletto, J. Lyon, S. Sazykin, R. Spiro, and D. Wolf "RCM meets LFM: Initial results of one-way coupling" Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics 66 (2004): 1361-1370.

 
 

J. Birn, J. J. Raeder, Y. L. Wang, R. A. Wolf, and M. Hesse, "On the propagation of bubbles in the geomagnetic tail", Annales Geophysicae, 22 (2004): 1773-1786.

 
 

J. Goldstein, J., R. A. Wolf, B. R. Sandel, and P. H. Reiff "Electric fields deduced from plasmapause motion in IMAGE EUV images", Geophysical Research Letters. 31 (2004), L01801,

 
 

T. W. Garner, R. A. Wolf, R. W. Spiro, W. J. Burke, B. G. Fejer, S. Sazykin, J. L. Roeder, and M. R. Hairston "Magnetospheric electric fields and plasma sheet injection to low L-shells during the 4–5 June 1991 magnetic storm: Comparison between the Rice Convection Model and observations", Journal of Geophysical Research, 109 (2004): A02214.

 
 

Y. Ebihara, M. C. Fok, R. A. Wolf, T. J. Immel, and T. E. Moore "Influence of ionosphere conductivity on the ring current", Journal of Geophysical Research-Space Physics, 109 (2004): A08205.

 
 

C.-P. Wang, L. R. Lyons, M. W. Chen, R. A. Wolf, and F. R. Toffoletto "Modeling the inner plasma sheet protons and magnetic field under enhanced convection" Journal of Geophysical Research Space Physics 108 (2003): 1074.

 
 

F. Toffoletto, S. Sazykin, R. Spiro, and R. Wolf "Inner magnetospheric modeling with the Rice Convection Model", Space Science Reviews, 107 (2003): 175-196.

 
 

J. Goldstein, R. W. Spiro, B. R. Sandel, R. A. Wolf, S.-Y. Su, and P. H. Reiff "Overshielding event of 28-29 July 2000", Geophysical Research Letters, 30( (2003).

 
 

M.-C. Fok, T. E. Moore, G. R. Wilson, J. D. Perez, X. X. Zhang, P. C:son Brandt, D. G. Mitchell, E. C. Roelof, J.-M. Jahn, C. J. Pollock, and R. A. Wolf "Global ENA IMAGE simulations", Space Science Reviews 109, (2003): 77-103.

 
 

S. Ji and R. A. Wolf "Double-adiabatic-MHD theory for motion of a thin magnetic filament and possible implications for bursty bulk flows", Journal of Geophysical Research 108 (2003), 1191.

 
 

S. Ji and R. A. Wolf (2003) "Firehose instability near substorm expansion phase onset?" Geophysical Research Letters 30((2003)): 2242.

 
 

C.-P. Wang, L. R. Lyons, M. W. Chen, and R. A. Wolf "Two-dimensional quiet time equilibrium for the inner plasma sheet protons and magnetic field" Geophysical Research Letters 29 (2002).

 
 

J. Goldstein, R. W. Spiro, P. H. Reiff, R. A. Wolf, B. R. Sandel, J. W. Freeman, and R. L. Lambour "IMF-driven overshielding electric field and the origin of the plasmaspheric shoulder of May 24, 2000", Geophysical Research Letters, 29 (2002).

 
 

R. A. Wolf, R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, and F. R. Toffoletto "How the Earth's inner magnetosphere works: An evolving picture" Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics, 69 (2002): 288-302.

 
 

S. Sazykin, R. A. Wolf, R. W. Spiro, T. I. Gombosi, D. L. DeZeeuw, and M. F. Thomsen "Interchange instability in the inner magnetosphere associated with geosynchronous particle flux decreases" Geophysical Research Letters 29, (2002)

 
 Refereed conference papers
 

T. W. Garner, G. Crowley, and R. A. Wolf "Impact of the neutral wind dynamo on the development of the region 2 dynamo" in Midlatitude Ionospheric Dynamics and Disturbances, edited by P. M. Kintner, et al., Am. Geophys. Un., Washington, D. C.(2008).

 
 

R. A. Wolf, S. Sazykin, X. Xing, R. W. Spiro, F. R. Toffoletto, D. L. D. Zeeuw, T. I. Gombosi, and J. Goldstein "Direct Effects of the IMF on the Inner Magnetosphere" in Inner Magnetospheric Interactions: New Perspectives from Imaging, edited by J. Burch, et al., Am. Geophys. Un., Washington, D. C. (2005): 127-140.

 
 

S. Sazykin, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, F. R. Toffoletto, N. Tsyganenko, J. Goldstein, and M. R. Hairston "Modeling inner magnetospheric electric fields: Latest self-consistent results", in Physics and Modeling of the Inner Magnetosphere, edited by T. I. Pulkkinen, et al., AGU, Washington, D. C.(2005): 263-269.

 
 

C. R. Clauer, T. I. Gombosi, K. G. Powell, Q. F. Stout, G. Toth, D. DeZeeuw, A. J. Ridley, R. A. Wolf, R. G. Roble, and T. E. Holzer "Development of an integrated predictive MHD space weather model from the solar surface to the Earth's upper atmosphere", in Space Weather Study Using Multipoint Techniques, edited by L. H. Lyu, Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, England, (2002) 149-161

 
 Conference papers
 

N. Maruyama, T. J. Fuller-Rowell, M. V. Codrescu, D. Anderson, A. D. Richmond, A. Maute, S.Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, and G. H. Milward "Modeling the storm time electrodynamics ." Aeronomy of the Earth's Atmosphere and Ionosphere (2011) : 455-464.

 
 

R. A. Wolf "Theories and simulations in substorm research: A review." Chinese Journal of Space Science, 31 (2011) : 125-149.

 
 

F. R. Toffoletto, R. W. Spiro, R. A. Wolf, J. Birn, and M. Hesse "Computer experiments on substorm growth and expansion", paper presented at Fifth International Conference on Substorms, ESA, St. Petersburg, Russia (2000): 351-355.

 
Presentations
 Conference Paper
 

"Auroral Arcs in a Rice Convection Model Context." Fall AGU Meeting, San Francisco. (December 15, 2014) With A. Jaggi, S. Sazykin, J. Yang, and F. R. Toffoletto

 
 Invited Papers
 

"Modeling dynamic effects of changes in plasma sheet entropy in substorms." IUGG meeting, Melbourne, Austalia. (July 4, 2011) With J. Yang, B. Hu, F. R. Toffoletto, and S. Sazykin

 
 

"Physics of Region-2 Currents." International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy, Sopron, Hungary. (August 25, 2009)

 
 Invited Talks
 

"45 years of the Rice Convection Model." Workshop on Magnetosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in the Solar System, Yosemite National Park. (2/12/14) With R. W. Spiro, S. Sazykin, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang

 
 

"The role of bubbles in the transport of particles from the plasma sheet to the inner magnetosphere." Fall Meeting of American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA. (December 12, 2013) With J. Yang, F. Toffoletto, and S. Sazykin

 
 

"What controls the thickness of region-2 Birkeland currents?." THEMIS/ARTEMIS Science Working Group Meeting, Fairbanks, AK. (3/26/13) With J. Yang and F. R. Toffoletto

 
 

"Transport from the tail to the inner magnetosphere." GEM Workshop, Snowmass Village, Colorado. (June 21, 2012)

 
 

"Cross-region coupling as represented in the Rice Convection Model." Western Pacific Geophysical Meeting, Taipei, Taiwan. (June 23, 2010) With Y. Song, S. Sazykin, C. X. Chen, F. R. Toffoletto, J. Yang, and J. Zhang

 
 

"Theories and simualtions in substorm research: A review." ICS-10 Conference, Pismo Beach, California. (March 25, 2010)

 
 

"Entropy and Earthward Transport in the Plasma Sheet." GEM Workshop, Snowmass Village, CO. (June 26, 2009)

 
 

"Some Thoughts About the Progress of CWMM." CCHM/CWMM Workshop, Lahaina, HI. (February 24, 2009) With S. Sazykin

 
 Other
 

"Interchange oscillations." AGU Meeting, San Francisco. (December 17, 2010) With C. X. Chen and F. R. Toffoletto

 
 Posters
 

"Effects of field-aligned potential drops on region-2 currents, shielding, and the decoupling of magnetospheric and ionospheric flows." Fall Meeting of American Geophysical Union, San Francisco, CA. (December 13, 2013) With S. Sazykin

 
 

"Interchange oscillations of thin filaments in the plasma sheet." ICS-10 Workshop, Pismo Beach, California. (March 25, 2010) With C. X. Chen and F. R. Toffoletto

 
 Seminar Speaker
 

"Advice to the young scientist." Space Physics Seminar, Rice Univerity. (January 24, 2011)

 
 

"Entropy and earthward transport in the plasma sheet." Aerospace Corporation, Los Angeles. (May 26, 2011)

 
 

"Modelling transport from the plasma sheet to the inner magnetosphere: Learning physics from lousy models." IGPP Seminar, UCLA. (May 27, 2011)

 
 

"Bubbles, Blobs, and Reconnection." Space Physics Seminar, Rice University. (September 27, 2010) With B. Hu, F. R. Toffoletto, and J. Yang

 
 

"On Field-Aligned Currents and Bubbles." Space Physics Seminar, Rice University, Houston, TX. (September 21, 2009)

 
Awards, Prizes, & Fellowships
 Elected Fellow, American Geophysical Union (1999)