Fundamental plasma physics of the sun and heliosphere: Warwick CFSA Consolidated Grant Application
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Warwick
Department Name: Physics
Abstract
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. 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. Solar wind variability is thus a subtle interplay between variability originating in the corona, and turbulent evolution in-situ. 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 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 analytics 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, data analytics 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 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.
Organisations
Publications
Anfinogentov S
(2021)
Solar Bayesian Analysis Toolkit-A New Markov Chain Monte Carlo IDL Code for Bayesian Parameter Inference
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Anfinogentov S
(2022)
Novel Data Analysis Techniques in Coronal Seismology
in Space Science Reviews
Bate W
(2022)
High-frequency Waves in Chromospheric Spicules
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
(2023)
Extreme Event Statistics in Dst, SYM-H, and SMR Geomagnetic Indices
in Space Weather
Bergin A
(2022)
Variation of Geomagnetic Index Empirical Distribution and Burst Statistics Across Successive Solar Cycles
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics
Calel R
(2020)
Temperature variability implies greater economic damages from climate change.
in Nature communications
Chae J
(2021)
Spectroscopic Detection of Alfvénic Waves in the Chromosphere of Sunspot Regions
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Chapman B
(2020)
Origin of ion cyclotron emission at the proton cyclotron frequency from the core of deuterium plasmas in the ASDEX-Upgrade tokamak
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Chapman B
(2020)
Comparing theory and simulation of ion cyclotron emission from energetic ion populations with spherical shell and ring-beam distributions in velocity-space
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Chapman S
(2021)
The Sun's Magnetic (Hale) Cycle and 27 Day Recurrences in the aa Geomagnetic Index
in The Astrophysical Journal
Chapman S
(2020)
Quantifying the Solar Cycle Modulation of Extreme Space Weather
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chapman S
(2020)
A clock for solar and geomagnetic activity
Chapman S
(2020)
Using the Index Over the Last 14 Solar Cycles to Characterize Extreme Geomagnetic Activity
in Geophysical Research Letters
Chapman S
(2020)
Trends in Winter Warm Spells in the Central England Temperature Record
in Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology
Doyle J
(2022)
Doubling of minute-long quasi-periodic pulsations from super-flares on a low-mass star
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Dubinov A
(2021)
The separation of ions and fluxes in nonlinear ion-acoustic waves
in Physics of Plasmas
Duckenfield T
(2021)
The effect of the magnetic field on the damping of slow waves in the solar corona
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Farnir M
(2023)
Study with WhoSGlAd of the acoustic depth of the helium glitch across the seismic HR diagram and its impact on the inferred helium abundance
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
Joshi S
(2022)
Study of chemically peculiar stars - I. High-resolution spectroscopy and K2 photometry of Am stars in the region of M44
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kashapova L
(2021)
Common Origin of Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Microwave and Decimetric Solar Radio Bursts
in Solar 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
Kolotkov D
(2021)
The solar corona as an active medium for magnetoacoustic waves
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Kolotkov D
(2023)
Stability of Slow Magnetoacoustic and Entropy Waves in the Solar Coronal Plasma with Thermal Misbalance
in Physics
Kolotkov D
(2021)
Multiwavelength Quasi-periodic Pulsations in a Stellar Superflare
in The Astrophysical Journal Letters
Kolotkov D
(2022)
Coronal seismology by slow waves in non-adiabatic conditions
in Frontiers in Astronomy and Space Sciences
Kolotkov D
(2021)
Fast magnetoacoustic wave trains: from tadpoles to boomerangs
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kolotkov D
(2020)
Seismological constraints on the solar coronal heating function
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Kosak K
(2022)
A multi-instrument investigation of the frequency stability of oscillations above the acoustic cut-off frequency with solar activity
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Kuznetsov A
(2021)
Stellar Superflares Observed Simultaneously with Kepler and XMM-Newton
in The Astrophysical Journal
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
Magyar N
(2020)
Standing Kink Waves in Sigmoid Solar Coronal Loops: Implications for Coronal Seismology
in The Astrophysical Journal
Magyar N
(2021)
Could Switchbacks Originate in the Lower Solar Atmosphere? I. Formation Mechanisms of Switchbacks
in The Astrophysical Journal
Magyar N
(2022)
The dynamics and observability of circularly polarized kink waves
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
Magyar N
(2021)
Could Switchbacks Originate in the Lower Solar Atmosphere? II. Propagation of Switchbacks in the Solar Corona
in The Astrophysical Journal
Mathur S
(2021)
Detections of solar-like oscillations in dwarfs and subgiants with Kepler DR25 short-cadence data
in Astronomy & Astrophysics
McIntosh S
(2020)
Overlapping Magnetic Activity Cycles and the Sunspot Number: Forecasting Sunspot Cycle 25 Amplitude
in Solar Physics
Mehta T
(2022)
Cycle dependence of a quasi-biennial variability in the solar interior
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Mehta T
(2023)
Prevalence of non-stationarity in quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) associated with M- and X-class solar flares
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society
Description | Physics Cafe Seminar on Tornados on the Sun |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
Results and Impact | A show case of my research in solar physics to the undergraduate cohort at our Physics Department, enthusing a new generation of potential researchers in the field of Solar Physics |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.warwicksu.com/societies-sports/societies/physoc/ |