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)
- University of Oslo (Collaboration)
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- Utrecht University (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)
- Observatory of Paris (Collaboration)
Publications
Al-Salti N
(2010)
Three-dimensional solutions of the magnetohydrostatic equations: Rigidly rotating magnetized coronae in spherical geometry
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Al-Salti N
(2010)
Three-dimensional solutions of the magnetohydrostatic equations: rigidly rotating magnetized coronae in cylindrical geometry
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Alexander C
(2011)
Hinode observations and 3D magnetic structure of an X-ray bright point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Andries J
(2009)
Coronal Seismology by Means of Kink Oscillation Overtones
in Space Science Reviews
Appourchaux T
(2008)
POLAR investigation of the Sun-POLARIS
in Experimental Astronomy
Archontis V
(2009)
ON THE STRUCTURE AND EVOLUTION OF COMPLEXITY IN SIGMOIDS: A FLUX EMERGENCE MODEL
in The Astrophysical Journal
Archontis V
(2007)
Emergence and interaction of twisted flux tubes in the Sun
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2008)
Eruption of magnetic flux ropes during flux emergence
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2010)
Recurrent solar jets in active regions
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2010)
Flux emergence and coronal eruption
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2007)
Nonlinear MHD dynamo operating at equipartition
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2009)
Formation of Ellerman bombs due to 3D flux emergence
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Archontis V
(2008)
Magnetic flux emergence in the Sun
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Archontis V.
(2008)
A flux emergence model for solar eruptions
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Baty H
(2009)
Petschek-like reconnection with uniform resistivity
in Physics of Plasmas
Baty H
(2009)
Petschek reconnection with a nonlocalized resistivity
in Physics of Plasmas
Birn J
(2009)
ENERGY RELEASE AND TRANSFER IN SOLAR FLARES: SIMULATIONS OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONNECTION
in The Astrophysical Journal
Browning P
(2008)
Heating the corona by nanoflares: simulations of energy release triggered by a kink instability
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Canfield Richard C.
(2007)
Yohkoh sxt full-resolution observations of sigmoids: Structure, formation, and eruption
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL LETTERS
Cook G
(2009)
SOLAR CYCLE VARIATIONS OF CORONAL NULL POINTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE MAGNETIC BREAKOUT MODEL OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cran-McGreehin A
(2007)
Ionospheric depletion in auroral downward currents
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Damiano P
(2007)
Energy dissipation via electron energization in standing shear Alfvén waves
in Physics of Plasmas
Damiano P
(2009)
Properties of Hall magnetohydrodynamic waves modified by electron inertia and finite Larmor radius effects
in Physics of Plasmas
Damiano P
(2008)
Electron thermal effects in standing shear Alfvén waves
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
De Moortel I
(2008)
Forward Modelling of Coronal Intensity Perturbations
in Solar Physics
De Moortel I
(2009)
Longitudinal Waves in Coronal Loops
in Space Science Reviews
De Moortel I
(2009)
PUTTING CORONAL SEISMOLOGY ESTIMATES OF THE MAGNETIC FIELD STRENGTH TO THE TEST
in The Astrophysical Journal
De Moortel I
(2007)
An Estimate of P-Mode Damping by Wave Leakage
in Solar Physics
De Moortel I.
(2007)
Observation of higher harmonic coronal loop oscillations
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
DeForest C. E.
(2007)
Solar magnetic tracking. I. Software comparison and recommended practices
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
DeRosa M
(2009)
A CRITICAL ASSESSMENT OF NONLINEAR FORCE-FREE FIELD MODELING OF THE SOLAR CORONA FOR ACTIVE REGION 10953
in The Astrophysical Journal
Diver D
(2010)
On the surface extraction of electrons in a pulsar
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Donnelly G
(2007)
Effect of longitudinal density structure on a straight magnetic field modelling coronal arcade oscillations
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Díaz A
(2007)
Effect of coronal structure on loop oscillations: exponential profiles
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Fuentes-Fernández J
(2010)
Magnetohydrodynamics dynamical relaxation of coronal magnetic fields I. Parallel untwisted magnetic fields in 2D
in Astronomy and Astrophysics
Fundamenski W
(2007)
On the relationship between ELM filaments and solar flares
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Galsgaard K.
(2007)
The effect of the relative orientation between the coronal field and new emerging flux. I. Global properties
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
Gontikakis C
(2009)
Observations and 3D MHD simulations of a solar active region jet
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Grady K
(2009)
An extension of the theory of kinematic MHD models of collapsing magnetic traps to 2.5D with shear flow and to 3D
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Harrison M
(2009)
Some remarks on one-dimensional force-free Vlasov-Maxwell equilibria
in Physics of Plasmas
Harrison MG
(2009)
One-dimensional Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium for the force-free Harris sheet.
in Physical review letters
Haynes A
(2007)
A trilinear method for finding null points in a three-dimensional vector space
in Physics of Plasmas
Haynes A
(2010)
A method for finding three-dimensional magnetic skeletons
in Physics of Plasmas
Haynes A
(2007)
Magnetohydrodynamic evolution of magnetic skeletons
in Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
Holzwarth V
(2007)
Formation of polar starspots through meridional circulation
in Astronomische Nachrichten
Hood A
(2009)
Coronal heating by magnetic reconnection in loops with zero net current
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hood A
(2009)
The emergence of toroidal flux tubes from beneath the solar photosphere
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Johnstone C
(2010)
Modelling stellar coronae from surface magnetograms: the role of missing magnetic flux
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Lamb D
(2010)
SOLAR MAGNETIC TRACKING. III. APPARENT UNIPOLAR FLUX EMERGENCE IN HIGH-RESOLUTION OBSERVATIONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Lamb D. A.
(2008)
Solar magnetic tracking. II. The apparent unipolar origin of quiet-sun flux
in ASTROPHYSICAL JOURNAL
| 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 |