Fundamental astroplasma physics of the sun and heliosphere: Warwick Centre for Fusion Space and Astrophysics Rolling Grant Application
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
A quantitative understanding of the fundamental physical processes acting in the Sun's corona and 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 plasma processes in general. For instance, the chromosphere is a natural laboratory for studying the MHD of partially ionised plasmas. Coronal magnetohydrodynamic (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 is accelerated to such an extent that it is in principle an MHD turbulence laboratory so that quantifying its fluctuations has direct implications for our understanding of MHD turbulence. Recently, the solar wind has also been found to be a laboratory for a kinetic range of turbulence on scales below the ion gyrofrequency on which MHD no longer holds. Understanding this kinetic range physics is also highly relevant to our understanding of how the corona is heated. Quantifying and understanding the fluctuating solar wind provides an important input into models for the propagation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere, and for magnetospheric dynamics for which the solar wind is the driver. The physics of warm dense matter is at an extreme boundary of our knowledge of plasma physics relevant to astrophysics. A quantitative understanding of these processes, closely coupled to observations, can be seen as either the means to understanding observed phenomena, such as cosmic rays, and the structure of gas giants, or as using the observed phenomena as a strong drive to understanding new fundamental plasma physics. These ideas, techniques and expertise that underpin this programme are thus of impact beyond plasma astrophysics.
Organisations
- University of Warwick (Lead Research Organisation)
- Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- International Space Science Institute (ISSI) (Collaboration)
- University of St Andrews (Collaboration)
- University of Warwick (Collaboration)
- Université Catholique de Louvain (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS (Collaboration)
- University of Kyoto (Collaboration)
- Russian Academy of Sciences (Collaboration)
- Kyunghee University (Collaboration)
Publications
Gruszecki M
(2011)
Magnetoacoustic shock formation near a magnetic null point
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hershaw J
(2011)
Damped large amplitude transverse oscillations in an EUV solar prominence, triggered by large-scale transient coronal waves
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hill P
(2012)
Perpendicular wavenumber dependence of the linear stability of global ion temperature gradient modes on E × B flows
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Hnat B
(2016)
STATISTICALLY DETERMINED DISPERSION RELATIONS OF MAGNETIC FIELD FLUCTUATIONS IN THE TERRESTRIAL FORESHOCK
in The Astrophysical Journal
Hnat B
(2011)
Scale-free texture of the fast solar wind.
in Physical review. E, Statistical, nonlinear, and soft matter physics
Hnat B
(2021)
Magnetic Topology of Actively Evolving and Passively Convecting Structures in the Turbulent Solar Wind.
in Physical review letters
Hornsey C
(2014)
Sausage oscillations of coronal plasma slabs
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Hush P
(2015)
Robust statistical properties of the size of large burst events in AE
in Geophysical Research Letters
Inglis A
(2011)
Instrumental oscillations in RHESSI count rates during solar flares
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | please see the relevant research papers |
Exploitation Route | please see the relevant research papers in climate change |
Sectors | Energy Environment |
Description | please see the relevant research papers in climate change and space weather |
First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
Sector | Energy,Environment |
Impact Types | Economic |
Description | AFOSR |
Amount | $100,000 (USD) |
Funding ID | FA9550-17-1-0054 |
Organisation | Airforce Office of Scientific Research |
Sector | Public |
Country | United States |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | Fulbright-Lloyd's of London Scholarship 2017/18 |
Amount | $60,000 (USD) |
Organisation | US-UK Fulbright Commission |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2017 |
End | 09/2018 |
Description | H2020-PROTEC-2014 |
Amount | € 386,531 (EUR) |
Funding ID | 637302 - PROGRESS |
Organisation | European Commission |
Sector | Public |
Country | European Union (EU) |
Start | 01/2015 |
End | 12/2017 |
Description | Nakariakov- ERC Advanced Grant "Magnetohydrodynamic Wave Diagnostics of the Solar Atmosphere in the Era of Transformative High-Resolution Observations" |
Amount | £1,300,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | 321141 |
Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | Belgium |
Start | 03/2013 |
End | 03/2018 |
Description | Newton-CONICYT |
Amount | $1,438,000 (CLP) |
Organisation | Newton Fund |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2015 |
End | 10/2016 |
Description | ODIN |
Amount | £255,110 (GBP) |
Funding ID | EP/I029117/1 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2011 |
End | 09/2013 |
Description | ERC Advanced Investigator, University of Warwick, UK |
Organisation | University of Warwick |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Honorary Leading Scientist, Main Astronomical Observatory at Pulkovo, Russia |
Organisation | Ukrainian National Academy of Sciences |
Department | Main Astronomical Observatory |
Country | Ukraine |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2011 |
Description | International Scholar, Kyung Hee University, Korea |
Organisation | Kyunghee University |
Country | Korea, Republic of |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2013 |
Description | Invited PI of the Russian Academy of Sciences' and Russian Ministry of Education and Science's project "Non-stationary processes in the solar atmosphere" |
Organisation | Russian Academy of Sciences |
Country | Russian Federation |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | JSPS Invitation Fellowship for Research, University of Kyoto, Japan |
Organisation | University of Kyoto |
Country | Japan |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Leader of the ISSI International Team "MHD Oscillations in the Solar Corona and Earth's Magnetosphere. |
Organisation | International Space Science Institute (ISSI) |
Country | Switzerland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | . |
Collaborator Contribution | . |
Impact | . |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | Special Guest Professor at Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium |
Organisation | Catholic University of Louvain |
Department | Institute of Mathematics and Physics |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Collaboration during 4 month visit in Leuven on topic directly related to STFC Rolling Grant work, i.e. magnetohydrodynamic waves in solar coronal structures. To date, two refereed articles published. |
Collaborator Contribution | Host of collaboration and active partners in work. |
Impact | Two refereed articles published to date: Verwichte, E., Van Doorsselaere, T., White, R.S. & Antolin, P.: 2013, Statistical seismology of transverse waves in the solar corona, A&A 552, A138 Verwichte, E., Van Doorsselaere, T., Foullon, C. & White R.S.: 2013, Coronal Alfven speed determination: consistency between seismology using AIA/SDO transverse loop oscillations and magnetic extrapolation, ApJ 767, 16 |
Start Year | 2012 |
Description | UKMHD Consortium |
Organisation | University of Leeds |
Department | School of Mathematics Leeds |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Warwick was a host site for one of three HPC clusters bought for the UKMHD Consortium. The Consortium is UK wide and has over 40 members in University academic groups. Warwick managed a compute resource available for the whole consortium. |
Collaborator Contribution | Two additional HPC clusters were procured and managed for the UKMHD Consortium by the Universities of Leeds and St Andrews. |
Impact | In total across the three HPC sites procured under this grant there have been around 200 publications resulting from work done on the UKMHD Consortium clusters. |
Description | UKMHD Consortium |
Organisation | University of St Andrews |
Department | School of Mathematics and Statistics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Warwick was a host site for one of three HPC clusters bought for the UKMHD Consortium. The Consortium is UK wide and has over 40 members in University academic groups. Warwick managed a compute resource available for the whole consortium. |
Collaborator Contribution | Two additional HPC clusters were procured and managed for the UKMHD Consortium by the Universities of Leeds and St Andrews. |
Impact | In total across the three HPC sites procured under this grant there have been around 200 publications resulting from work done on the UKMHD Consortium clusters. |
Description | Key Speaker at SolarFest, University of Warwick on topic of Space Weather |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Key speaker as part SolarFest, a multi-disciplinary outreach activity hosted by the University of Warwick |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://warwick.ac.uk/about/community/publicengagement/solar/ |
Description | Space Weather seminar at IAU Conference Series 335 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | One-hour seminar on the topic of 'Space Weather' given in Sidmouth as part of the Outreach programme of the IAU Symposium 335 "Space Weather of the Heliosphere" organised at the University of Exeter, 17-21 July 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://blogs.exeter.ac.uk/iaus335/education-program/lectures/ |