His research interests focus on understanding the physical processes controlling energetic charged particle motion in planetary magnetospheres, including Earth. He writes and uses space plasma physics numerical models, especially kinetic modeling that resolves velocity space distributions but also large-scale magnetohydrodynamic models. Prof. Liemohn is especially interested in the nonlinear coupling within planetary magnetospheres during strong solar wind driving intervals (i.e., system-level feedback during space storms).
![Simulation results of near-Earth space during a magnetic storm event, showing electric current traces overlaid on the plasma pressure distribution in the noon-midnight plane and radial current density on the inner boundary sphere of the simulation domain (radius of 2.5 R_E). The three colors of the current traces correspond to different current systems: symmetric ring current (pink), partial ring current (green), and tail current (blue). Magnetic field lines in the midnight plane are shown in black, revealing that these three current systems coexist on the same magnetic field line. From Liemohn et al. [GRL, 2011].](https://live-umor-micde.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/liemohnimage.jpg)
Simulation results of near-Earth space during a magnetic storm event, showing electric current traces overlaid on the plasma pressure distribution in the noon-midnight plane and radial current density on the inner boundary sphere of the simulation domain (radius of 2.5 R_E). The three colors of the current traces correspond to different current systems: symmetric ring current (pink), partial ring current (green), and tail current (blue). Magnetic field lines in the midnight plane are shown in black, revealing that these three current systems coexist on the same magnetic field line. From Liemohn et al. [GRL, 2011].