Improving Solar Physics Content In Astronomy Courses

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9351279 Pasachoff This project is increasing the solar-physics content of both upper-class and freshman undergraduate courses by incorporating into the courses preparation for, observation of, and data reduction from solar eclipse studies at the 3 November 1994 total solar eclipse. The equipment, comprising CCD cameras with suitable filters and digitizing and associated computer equipment, is also being incorporated into use with the on- campus solar telescope in white light and in hydrogen-alpha. The eclipse work is in the framework of a study of the cause of coronal heating, following predictions that surface Alfven waves would lead to oscillations in coronal loops with periods of 1-10 s. Earlier versions of this experiment have been carried out at two eclipses, with extensive student participation at home and on site, and found indications of excess power at these periods in our Fourier analysis. There was an improved version on site for the 1991 total solar eclipse, with even more extensive student participation, but cloudy weather prevented observation. There is a complementary research grant to perform this experiment at the 3 November 1994 eclipse in South America, Observations will be made with intensified CCD cameras, frame grabbers, and computer digitizing and recording, instead of the fiber-optics strands and photomultipliers in the existing experimental setup. Student participation with the equipment requested here includes students in the Freshman Seminar and the junior/senior solar-physics seminar as well as students participating in the expedition on site. The data and equipment will remain useful on campus, with the telescopes and in the courses, for years to follow. ***