Fundamental Plasma Physics of the Solar System: Warwick CFSA Rolling Grant Application
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
We request support for a programme of research within three themes: (i) coronal dynamics (ii) solar wind turbulence and (iii) plasma phenomena for astrophysics. A quantitative understanding of the fundamental physical processes acting in the corona, in particular processes responsible for the energy release in flares, heating the corona and accelerating the solar wind, is essential not only to the physics of the Sun and its connection to the Earth's environment, but it also enhances our knowledge of astrophysical plasmas processes in general. For instance, the corona is a laboratory for studying magnetic reconnection in three dimensions. Coronal MHD waves are of direct relevance to much of the dynamics such as solar flares and eruptions; coronal waves are capable of transferring energy and mechanical momentum from the convection zone into the corona and heliosphere and are associated with the development of plasma instabilities. The solar wind, with magnetic Reynolds number estimated as ~ 10^5 is in principle an MHD turbulence laboratory so that quantifying its fluctuations has direct implications for our understanding of MHD turbulence; it is also highly relevant to our understanding of coronal heating (of which we see a remnant signature in the solar wind), of the propagation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere, and magnetospheric dynamics for which the solar wind is the driver. Particle acceleration by collisionless shocks, and the physics of warm dense matter, are at two extreme boundaries of our knowledge of plasma physics relevant to astrophysics. A quantitative understanding of these processes, closely coupled to observations, can again be seen as either the means to understanding observed phenomena, namely cosmic rays, and the structure of gas giants, or as using the observed phenomena as a strong drive to understanding new fundamental plasma physics.
Publications
Kiyani K
(2015)
Dissipation and heating in solar wind turbulence: from the macro to the micro and back again
in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences
KIYANI K
(2009)
Pseudononstationarity in the scaling exponents of finite-interval time series.
in Phys Rev E Stat Nonlin Soft Matter Phys
KIYANI K
(2009)
Global scale-invariant dissipation in collisionless plasma turbulence.
in Phys Rev Lett
Kluy N
(2009)
Linear gyrokinetic calculations of toroidal momentum transport in the presence of trapped electron modes in tokamak plasmas
in Physics of Plasmas
Kobanov N
(2010)
Height distribution of the power of 3-min oscillations over sunspots
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kolotkov D
(2020)
Seismological constraints on the solar coronal heating function
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kupriyanova E
(2010)
Types of Microwave Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Single Flaring Loops
in Solar Physics
Lai W
(2013)
Self-consistent nonlinear kinetic simulations of the anomalous Doppler instability of suprathermal electrons in plasmas
in Physics of Plasmas
Lai W
(2013)
Investigating the anomalous Doppler effect for suprathermal electrons in tokamak plasmas using self-consistent kinetic simulations
in 40th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics, EPS 2013
Lavraud B
(2009)
Observation of a Complex Solar Wind Reconnection Exhaust from Spacecraft Separated by over 1800 R E
in Solar Physics
Lavraud B
(2010)
Statistics of counter-streaming solar wind suprathermal electrons at solar minimum: STEREO observations
in Annales Geophysicae
Leamon R
(2020)
Timing Terminators: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Onset
in Solar Physics
Leamon R
(2021)
Response to "Limitations in the Hilbert Transform Approach to Locating Solar Cycle Terminators" by R. Booth
in Solar Physics
Leonardis E
(2013)
Identification of intermittent multifractal turbulence in fully kinetic simulations of magnetic reconnection.
in Physical review letters
Lloyd B
(2011)
Overview of physics results from MAST
in Nuclear Fusion
Magyar N
(2020)
Standing Kink Waves in Sigmoid Solar Coronal Loops: Implications for Coronal Seismology
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Mantica P
(2009)
Experimental study of the ion critical-gradient length and stiffness level and the impact of rotation in the JET tokamak.
in Physical review letters
Matthaeus W
(2014)
NONLINEAR AND LINEAR TIMESCALES NEAR KINETIC SCALES IN SOLAR WIND TURBULENCE
in The Astrophysical Journal
Matthews S
(2011)
Solar Particle Acceleration Radiation and Kinetics (SPARK) A mission to understand the nature of particle acceleration
in Experimental Astronomy
Mazzitelli G
(2011)
FTU results with a liquid lithium limiter
in Nuclear Fusion
McClements K
(2015)
Fast particle-driven ion cyclotron emission (ICE) in tokamak plasmas and the case for an ICE diagnostic in ITER
in Nuclear Fusion
McClements K
(2018)
Particle acceleration during merging-compression plasma start-up in the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
McIntosh S
(2020)
Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude
in Solar Physics
McLaughlin J
(2008)
Nonlinear fast magnetoacoustic wave propagation in the neighbourhood of a 2D magnetic X-point: oscillatory reconnection
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | please see the relevant research papers |
Exploitation Route | please see the relevant research papers |
Sectors | Energy,Environment |
Description | please see the relevant research papers on climate change |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
Description | Chapman- RS International Travel Grant |
Amount | £3,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2011 |
End | 03/2011 |
Description | Chapman-Cross Disciplinary Feasibility Account |
Amount | £249,851 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2009 |
End | 03/2011 |
Description | Connectivity of the Sun's atmosphere by MHD waves |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2008 |
End | 09/2010 |
Description | Fundamental astroplasma physics of the sun and heliosphere, Warwick CFSA Rolling Grant |
Amount | £1,243,453 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ST/I000720/1 |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2011 |
End | 03/2015 |
Description | Nakariakov - Newton International Fellowship for Dr M Gruszecki |
Amount | £60,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2009 |
End | 10/2011 |
Description | Nakariakov - Royal Society International Project with the Space Research Institute, Moscow, Russia |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2010 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | PPRP Detector Development for the Advanced Technology Solar Telescope |
Amount | £3,000,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 12/2019 |
Description | Parallel Computing Resources for the UK MHD Community |
Amount | £914,278 (GBP) |
Organisation | Science and Technologies Facilities Council (STFC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 12/2009 |
End | 12/2012 |
Description | Verwichte - International Travel Grant " MHD Waves and oscillations in solar magnetic structures" |
Amount | £740 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2006 |
End | 07/2006 |
Description | Verwichte - International Travel Grant for AOGS 2010, Hyderabad, India |
Amount | £1,670 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2010 |
End | 07/2010 |
Description | MOU Warwick-Kyushu |
Organisation | Research Institute for Applied Mechanics (RIAM) |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaborative work and graduate lectures at Kyushu |
Collaborator Contribution | Collaboration at space plasma- fusion plasma interface. |
Impact | Formal MOU between Kyushu University and Warwick University |
Start Year | 2009 |
Description | Memorandum of Understanding between the Lebedev Physical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences and the University of Warwick for the Co-operation of Scientific Investigations |
Organisation | Russian Academy of Sciences |
Department | Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI RAS) |
Country | Russian Federation |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Experience in MHD wave theory, analysis of EUV solar data, MHD coronal seismology. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to the data of the CORONAS-PHOTON space mission. Participation in the proposal of the ARKA/CSI space mission. |
Impact | Proposal of NASA/RKA-funded space mission ARKA/CSI. |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | The Royal Society International Joint Project |
Organisation | Russian Academy of Sciences |
Department | Space Research Institute |
Country | Russian Federation |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Expertise in the analysis of quasi-periodic pulsations in astrophysical energy releases. |
Collaborator Contribution | Access to the data of Integral/SPI. |
Impact | Nakariakov, V.M., Zimovets, I.V., Slow Magnetoacoustic Waves in Two-Ribbon Flares, Astrophys. J. 730, L27, 2011 Nakariakov, V. M., Inglis, A. R., Zimovets, I. V., Foullon, C., Verwichte, E., Sych, R., Myagkova, I.N., Oscillatory processes in solar flares, Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion 52 124009, 2010, doi:10.1088/0741-3335/52/12/124009 |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | Discussion in local 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 | 20 students attend talk which lead to 30 minutes of discussion. School stated this helps maintain commitment of students to study science in higher education. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Foullon - University press release "Kelvin-Helmholtz instability at the Sun" |
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 | Extensive media coverage online and in press University of Warwick used the picture of the press release on their front page for a few weeks, recognising its potential for attracting students into studying science at Warwick. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Nakariakov - Lecture at Priorsfield Primary School, Kenilworth |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | 120 pupils attended the lecture and took part in the discussion after it. The pupils were very interested in the topic and asked a number of questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Press release on solar wind turbulence |
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 | Numerous mentions in print and web based media Interviews with media |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
Description | Verwichte - Knowle Astronomical Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Verwichte - 30-40 amateur astronomers attended a lecture on "Space Weather: Solar-Terrestrial Relations" Increased public awareness of solar system plasma physics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2007 |