Solar and Magnetospheric Plasma Theory
Lead Research Organisation:
University of St Andrews
Department Name: Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
In the present Rolling Grant application the Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group (SMTG) of the University of St Andrews asks for funding to investigate fundamental physical processes occurring in the solar atmosphere and the magnetosphere. The research topics we want to investigate using plasma theory are: i) the emergence of new magnetic flux through the solar surface into the solar atmosphere, ii) the use of MHD waves to deduce properties of the coronal plasma and magnetic field (coronal seismology), iii) the physical mechanisms which keep the corona much hotter than the lower parts of the solar atmosphere (coronal heating), iv) magnetic reconnection, a process of extreme importance for energy release of magnetised plasmas, v) solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which are the most powerful manifestations of solar magnetic activity and vi) the physics of ultra-low frequency waves in the Earth's magnetosphere and how they contribute to the acceleration of electrons causing the aurora.
Organisations
- University of St Andrews (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) (Collaboration)
- Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (Collaboration)
- University of Copenhagen (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- University of Oslo (Collaboration)
- Université Catholique de Louvain (Collaboration)
- University of Dundee (Collaboration)
- Montana State University (Collaboration)
- Fluid Gravity Engineering (Collaboration)
- Max Planck Society (Collaboration)
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- Eotvos Lorand University (Collaboration)
- University of Catania (Collaboration)
- Ruhr University Bochum (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (Collaboration)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
Publications
McDougall A
(2007)
A New Look at Mode Conversion in a Stratified Isothermal Atmosphere
in Solar Physics
Haynes A
(2007)
Magnetohydrodynamic evolution of magnetic skeletons
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Díaz A
(2007)
Effect of coronal structure on loop oscillations: exponential profiles
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Moortel I
(2007)
An Estimate of P-Mode Damping by Wave Leakage
in Solar Physics
Archontis V
(2007)
Nonlinear MHD dynamo operating at equipartition
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Wilmot-Smith A
(2007)
Magnetic reconnection in flux-tubes undergoing spinning footpoint motions
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Maclean R
(2007)
Topological Aspects of Global Magnetic Field Reversal in the Solar Corona
in Solar Physics
Longcope D
(2007)
Fast magnetosonic waves launched by transient, current sheet reconnection
in Physics of Plasmas
Galsgaard K.
(2007)
The effect of the relative orientation between the coronal field and new emerging flux. I. Global properties
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Archontis V
(2007)
Emergence and interaction of twisted flux tubes in the Sun
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Régnier S
(2007)
Nonlinear force-free models for the solar corona I. Two active regions with very different structure
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Cran-McGreehin A
(2007)
Ionospheric depletion in auroral downward currents
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
McEwan M
(2007)
Effect of Gravity on the Fast Modes of a Horizontal Coronal Slab
in Solar Physics
Haynes A
(2007)
A trilinear method for finding null points in a three-dimensional vector space
in Physics of Plasmas
Holzwarth V
(2007)
Formation of polar starspots through meridional circulation
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Yeates A
(2007)
Modelling the Global Solar Corona II: Coronal Evolution and Filament Chirality Comparison
in Solar Physics
Donnelly G
(2007)
Effect of longitudinal density structure on a straight magnetic field modelling coronal arcade oscillations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fundamenski W
(2007)
On the relationship between ELM filaments and solar flares
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Canfield Richard C.
(2007)
Yohkoh sxt full-resolution observations of sigmoids: Structure, formation, and eruption
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Wilmot-Smith A
(2007)
Flux tube disconnection: An example of three-dimensional reconnection
in Physics of Plasmas
McEwan M
(2007)
Analytical determination of coronal parameters using the period ratio P $\mathsf{_{1}}$/2 P $\mathsf{_{2}}$
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Moortel I.
(2007)
Observation of higher harmonic coronal loop oscillations
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Yeates A
(2007)
Modelling the Global Solar Corona: Filament Chirality Observations and Surface Simulations
in Solar Physics
Wiegelmann T
(2007)
Optimization approach for the computation of magnetohydrostatic coronal equilibria in spherical geometry
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Murray M
(2007)
Emerging flux tubes from the solar interior into the atmosphere: effects of non-constant twist
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Damiano P
(2007)
Energy dissipation via electron energization in standing shear Alfvén waves
in Physics of Plasmas
Murray M
(2007)
Simple emergence structures from complex magnetic fields
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
DeForest C. E.
(2007)
Solar magnetic tracking. I. Software comparison and recommended practices
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Regnier S.
(2007)
Free magnetic energy in solar active regions above the minimum-energy relaxed state
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Parnell C
(2007)
Multiply Connected Source and Null Pairs
in Solar Physics
Scoffield H
(2007)
An investigation of the field-aligned currents associated with a large-scale ULF wave in the morning sector
in Planetary and Space Science
Van Ballegooijen A. A.
(2007)
Model for the coupled evolution of subsurface and coronal magnetic fields in solar active regions
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Browning P
(2008)
Heating the corona by nanoflares: simulations of energy release triggered by a kink instability
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Von Rekowski B
(2008)
Photospheric cancelling magnetic features and associated phenomena in a stratified solar atmosphere
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Ruan P
(2008)
A first step in reconstructing the solar corona self-consistently with a magnetohydrostatic model during solar activity minimum
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Damiano P
(2008)
Electron thermal effects in standing shear Alfvén waves
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
McLaughlin J. A.
(2008)
Three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic wave behavior in active regions: Individual loop density structure
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Régnier S
(2008)
A new view of quiet-Sun topology from Hinode/SOT
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V.
(2008)
A flux emergence model for solar eruptions
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Lamb D. A.
(2008)
Solar magnetic tracking. II. The apparent unipolar origin of quiet-sun flux
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
McLaughlin J
(2008)
3D MHD Coronal Oscillations about a Magnetic Null Point: Application of WKB Theory
in Solar Physics
Wright A
(2008)
Simulations of Alfvén waves in the geomagnetic tail and their auroral signatures
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Pérez-Suárez D
(2008)
The structure and dynamics of a bright point as seen with Hinode, SoHO and TRACE
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
De Moortel I
(2008)
Forward Modelling of Coronal Intensity Perturbations
in Solar Physics
Archontis V
(2008)
Eruption of magnetic flux ropes during flux emergence
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Appourchaux T
(2008)
POLAR investigation of the Sun-POLARIS
in Experimental Astronomy
Archontis V
(2008)
Magnetic flux emergence in the Sun
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Régnier S
(2008)
Coronal Alfvén speeds in an isothermal atmosphere I. Global properties
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mackay D
(2008)
Where Do Solar Filaments Form?: Consequences for Theoretical Models
in Solar Physics
Owen N
(2008)
Forward modelling to determine the observational signatures of propagating slow waves for TRACE, SoHO/CDS, and Hinode/EIS
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | EU FP7 Project |
Amount | £88,160 (GBP) |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 02/2011 |
End | 01/2014 |
Description | Research Project Grant |
Amount | £109,109 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Leverhulme Trust |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2010 |
End | 05/2013 |
Description | Rolling Grant Continuation |
Amount | £2,072,581 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2010 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | Collisionless Reconnection |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We provided calculations of initial states and carried out first simulations of collisionless reconnection in force-free current sheets (Harrison, PhD thesis, St. Andrews, 2010). |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of numerical codes and expertise, apart from general research collaboration |
Impact | PhD thesis Mike Harrison, 2010 (funded by PPARC/STFC Quota award) Leverhulme Project Grant awarded 2010 Hesse et al., Space Science Reviews 2011 (published online already) |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Dundee |
Organisation | University of Dundee |
Department | Division of Mathematics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provision of expertise and codes, joint supervision of PhD students, joint seminars, exchange of ideas |
Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of ideas, joint seminars, joint supervision of PhD students, provision of expertise and codes |
Impact | Numerous joint papers |
Description | Global Coronal Modelling |
Organisation | Harvard University |
Department | Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is a longstanding collaboration on numerical models of the global coronal magnetic field. Our research group has made numerous contributions to the development of the codes and to the scientific output of this collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in solar physics and code development |
Impact | This collaboration has resulted in more than 10 refereed research papers since its start. The collaboration has also had a very positive impact on the thesis work of several of our groups PhD students. |
Description | MSU Collaboration |
Organisation | Montana State University |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Research expertise, numerical codes |
Collaborator Contribution | Numerous collaborations on solar physics, in particular coronal heating, magnetic reconnection, but also other areas such as dynamo theory and global coronal magnetic fields |
Impact | Numerous joint publications, visits of PhD students |
Description | Max-Planck Lindau |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Numerous contributions to joint papers and conference contributions, provision of codes and expertise |
Collaborator Contribution | Provision of codes and expertis |
Impact | Joint papers on coronal magnetic field models and on magnetic reconnection and topology |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Catholic University of Louvain |
Department | Institute of Mathematics and Physics |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Eotvos Lorand University |
Department | Faculty of Science |
Country | Hungary |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Fluid Gravity Engineering |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands |
Country | Spain |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Max Planck Society |
Department | Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Observatory of Paris |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Ruhr University Bochum |
Department | Faculty of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | University of Catania |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | University of Copenhagen |
Department | Niels Bohr Institute |
Country | Denmark |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | Physics and Astronomy Department |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | University of Oslo |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | Norway |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | SOLAIRE |
Organisation | Utrecht University |
Department | Department of Physics and Astronomy |
Country | Netherlands |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | SOLAIRE is an EU Research Training Network and we have made numerous contributions to the research carried out within the network. We were also involved in the joint supervision f three SOLAIRE funded PhD students. |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration on code development |
Impact | Two PhDs completed, one thesis to be submitted A large number of research papers and conference contributions |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Solar Flare Particle Acceleration |
Organisation | Los Alamos National Laboratory |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provided expertise on theory of solar flare particle acceleration |
Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of expertise, one refereed publication so far |
Impact | One refereed publication |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Solar Flare Particle Acceleration |
Organisation | National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) |
Department | Goddard Space Flight Center |
Country | United States |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | Provided expertise on theory of solar flare particle acceleration |
Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of expertise, one refereed publication so far |
Impact | One refereed publication |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Solar Flare Particle Acceleration |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Department | Physics and Astronomy Department |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided expertise on theory of solar flare particle acceleration |
Collaborator Contribution | Exchange of expertise, one refereed publication so far |
Impact | One refereed publication |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Careers Scotland Space School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | About 100 secondary school pupils (S4) attended the three talks, which where followed by discussions and questions NA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |
Description | Edinburgh International Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Several talks and demonstration were held, which were attended by more than 100 hundred pupils of various age groups and members of the general public NA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | International Heiiospheric Year Lecture Series |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Over a hundred members of the public attended the series of three lectures, which where organised in St. Andrews, Glasgow and Dundee. NA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007,2008 |
Description | Press Releases |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | The group regularly issues press releases on interesting research through the University of St. Andrews Press Office. Press releases are often followed by invitations to public talks, to schools etc |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |
Description | Space School |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 60 Primary 6 pupils attended the talk (plus a few teachers). The talk was followed by a quiz and we handed out materials (posters, stickers CD Roms, DVDs) Many teachers asked about possibilities for incorporating materials provided into their curriculum |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2008,2009,2010,2011 |
Description | Sun-Trek |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Sun|trek is an educational website about the Sun, our star, and its effect on the Earth's environment. It has been produced by a team of solar research scientists, working with teachers and educators. It is closely linked to the UK school curriculum. Stalls at Edinburgh Science Festival and Moray Science Festival |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2006,2007,2008,2009,2010 |
Description | Talk Probus Club Tayport |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | About 30 retired business people attended the talk, followed by questions and discussion. NA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |