Fundamental plasma physics of the sun and heliosphere: CFSA Warwick
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 magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) of partially ionised plasmas. Coronal MHD waves are of direct relevance to much of the dynamics such as solar flares and eruptions and carry unique information about the plasma parameters and physical processes operating in it; 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 plasma flowing out from the sun generates a solar wind. The texture and dynamics of the solar wind is intimately connected to that of the solar corona and this highly variable plasma flow can lead to local heating which in turn accelerates the solar wind. The solar wind is accelerated to such an extent that it is in principle a turbulence laboratory so that quantifying its fluctuations has direct implications for our understanding of turbulence.
Quantifying and understanding the fluctuating solar wind also provides an important input into models for the propagation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere, and for magnetospheric dynamics including space weather for which the solar wind is the driver. The Sun's magnetic field is generated and maintained by a dynamo in the solar interior. Helioseismology offers a means by which we can probe beneath the visible surface of the Sun, constraining uncertain dynamo models and providing vital insights into the internal magnetic field that is ultimately responsible for the more readily observable manifestations in the solar atmosphere and beyond. 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.
Quantifying and understanding the fluctuating solar wind also provides an important input into models for the propagation of cosmic rays in the heliosphere, and for magnetospheric dynamics including space weather for which the solar wind is the driver. The Sun's magnetic field is generated and maintained by a dynamo in the solar interior. Helioseismology offers a means by which we can probe beneath the visible surface of the Sun, constraining uncertain dynamo models and providing vital insights into the internal magnetic field that is ultimately responsible for the more readily observable manifestations in the solar atmosphere and beyond. 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.
Planned Impact
The CFSA provides a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange between the fusion plasma physics community and that of solar system plasma physics. The techniques that we propose to develop for data analysis of nonlinear phenomena and extraction of dynamics from multi-channel complex signals, and in HPC, are of generic application and are at the forefront of grand challenges to both laboratory and astrophysical plasmas. The structure of the CFSA is specifically designed to foster the exchange of ideas between the STFC supported plasma astrophysics programme proposed here, and the EPSRC supported programme in plasma physics for fusion in its widest sense. This follows from our extensive track record of joint projects. By maintaining strong research links with industry, e.g. AWE, Culham and Fluid Gravity, we will continue to facilitate movement of our highly trained PhD students into the industrial sector. Our former graduates have positions in UK industrial R&D (Fluid Gravity, First Light Fusion, Littlestick) and in national facilities (QinetiQ, AWE, Proudham Oceanology, CCFE Culham, Financial and Defence Consultancy) as well as in the medical physics and financial sectors. The capacity building role of graduate and postgraduate training in its broadest sense is widely recognised in that effective and efficient high technology knowledge exchange and transfer is often best delivered through the movement of skilled people within and between research establishments and industrial sectors. The framework for direct knowledge exchange and transfer and capacity building is in place. The graduate student and PDRAs for which we request support here would have direct exposure to training and ideas in plasma physics for both space and fusion, and the relevant generic techniques in data analysis and HPC. Thus we anticipate a free flow of ideas, and highly trained and motivated young scientists between the two sectors. We will use our findings to present new methodologies to doctoral students at Warwick and to other graduate schools at which the Investigators give courses.
The proposers have a broad and innovative approach to outreach, spanning formal presentations to interest groups (local astronomical societies), active engagement with TV, radio, print media and larger projects (e.g. NESTA, Arts Council). The CFSA generates by far the most media mentions in the Physics Department (source, Communications Office, University of Warwick).
The proposers have a broad and innovative approach to outreach, spanning formal presentations to interest groups (local astronomical societies), active engagement with TV, radio, print media and larger projects (e.g. NESTA, Arts Council). The CFSA generates by far the most media mentions in the Physics Department (source, Communications Office, University of Warwick).
Organisations
Publications
Anfinogentov S
(2019)
Magnetohydrodynamic Seismology of Quiet Solar Active Regions
Anfinogentov S
(2019)
Magnetohydrodynamic Seismology of Quiet Solar Active Regions
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Bergin A
(2020)
A E , D S T , and Their SuperMAG Counterparts: The Effect of Improved Spatial Resolution in Geomagnetic Indices
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Bergin A
(2022)
Variation of Geomagnetic Index Empirical Distribution and Burst Statistics Across Successive Solar Cycles
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Broomhall A
(2019)
A Blueprint of State-of-the-art Techniques for Detecting Quasi-periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Broomhall A
(2020)
Empirical relations for the sensitivities of solar-like oscillations to magnetic perturbations
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Calel R
(2020)
Temperature variability implies greater economic damages from climate change.
in Nature communications
Carbajal L
(2017)
Quantifying Fusion Born Ion Populations in Magnetically Confined Plasmas using Ion Cyclotron Emission.
in Physical review letters
Chapman B
(2017)
Sub-microsecond temporal evolution of edge density during edge localized modes in KSTAR tokamak plasmas inferred from ion cyclotron emission
in Nuclear Fusion
Chapman S
(2019)
Warming Trends in Summer Heatwaves
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chapman S
(2020)
Using the Index Over the Last 14 Solar Cycles to Characterize Extreme Geomagnetic Activity
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chapman S
(2018)
Reproducible Aspects of the Climate of Space Weather Over the Last Five Solar Cycles
in Space Weather
Chapman S
(2020)
A clock for solar and geomagnetic activity
Chapman S
(2020)
Trends in Winter Warm Spells in the Central England Temperature Record
in Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Chapman S
(2017)
The global build-up to intrinsic ELM bursts and comparison with pellet triggered ELMs seen in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Chapman S
(2020)
Quantifying the Solar Cycle Modulation of Extreme Space Weather
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chapman S
(2018)
Intrinsic ELMing in ASDEX Upgrade and global control system-plasma self-entrainment
in Nuclear Fusion
Chapman S
(2021)
The Sun's Magnetic (Hale) Cycle and 27 Day Recurrences in the aa Geomagnetic Index
in The Astrophysical Journal
Cho I
(2019)
A New Type of Jet in a Polar Limb of the Solar Coronal Hole
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Cho IH
(2018)
Two-Dimensional Solar Wind Speeds from 6 to 26 Solar Radii in Solar Cycle 24 by Using Fourier Filtering.
in Physical review letters
Cho K
(2019)
Oscillation of a Small Ha Surge in a Solar Polar Coronal Hole
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Cook JWS
(2017)
Stimulated Emission of Fast Alfvén Waves within Magnetically Confined Fusion Plasmas.
in Physical review letters
Dods J
(2017)
Characterizing the ionospheric current pattern response to southward and northward IMF turnings with dynamical SuperMAG correlation networks
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Doyle J
(2018)
Stellar flare oscillations: evidence for oscillatory reconnection and evolution of MHD modes
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Hnat B
(2021)
Magnetic Topology of Actively Evolving and Passively Convecting Structures in the Turbulent Solar Wind.
in Physical review letters
Jackman J
(2018)
Ground-based detection of G star superflares with NGTS
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Jackman J
(2019)
Detection of a giant flare displaying quasi-periodic pulsations from a pre-main-sequence M star by the Next Generation Transit Survey
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kang J
(2019)
The Physical Nature of Spiral Wave Patterns in Sunspots
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Kang J
(2019)
The Physical Nature of Spiral Wave Patterns in Sunspots
Kashapova L
(2020)
The origin of quasi-periodicities during circular ribbon flares
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kashapova L
(2020)
The origin of quasi-periodicities during circular ribbon flares
Kazakov Y
(2017)
Efficient generation of energetic ions in multi-ion plasmas by radio-frequency heating
in Nature Physics
Kiefer R
(2021)
They do change after all: 25 yr of GONG data reveal variation of p-mode energy supply rates
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kiefer R
(2019)
Seismic Signatures of Stellar Magnetic Activity-What Can We Expect From TESS?
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Kiefer R
(2018)
GONG p-Mode Parameters Through Two Solar Cycles.
in Solar physics
Kirk A
(2017)
Overview of recent physics results from MAST
in Nuclear Fusion
Kolotkov D
(2020)
Seismological constraints on the solar coronal heating function
Kolotkov D
(2018)
Quasi-periodic pulsations in the most powerful solar flare of Cycle 24
Kolotkov D
(2020)
Seismological constraints on the solar coronal heating function
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Description | Fundamental insights in to the physics of the solar corona |
Exploitation Route | Fundamental research. |
Sectors | Other |
Description | NORKLIMA |
Amount | krĀ 900,000 (NOK) |
Organisation | Research Council of Norway |
Sector | Public |
Country | Norway |
Start | 01/2014 |
End | 01/2016 |