CAREER: Comprehensive Study of Initiation and Evolution of Solar Energetic Phenomena

首席研究员（PI）将研究日冕物质抛射（CME）和耀斑的物理机制。 特别是，他将研究局限耀斑（那些耀斑没有相关的CME）和爆发耀斑（耀斑与CME）。 PI计划统计分析CME在其主要能量释放阶段和后期传播阶段的加速度和速度分布。 PI将使用来自各种航天器的数据，包括SOHO，STEREO，Hinode和SDO。 他将开发先进的图像处理技术，以量化太阳活动区域的物理参数，包括面积大小，总通量和中性线的长度。 基于视线磁场数据的势场源表面模型（PFSS）和基于矢量磁场数据的非线性无力模型（NLFF）将用于表征日冕磁场。PI将使用从本研究中获得的经验结果来评估、约束和改进现有的理论模型。 该项目将提供对许多基本物理过程的更好理解，这些过程也发生在整个宇宙中，例如磁重联，等离子体不稳定性和粒子加速。 由于日冕物质抛射和耀斑是地球空间环境严重扰动的主要驱动因素，这项工作将提高我们对可能影响宇航员安全的空间天气事件以及卫星通信和导航操作进行定性和预测的能力。PI致力于在空间天气和太阳物理学领域培养下一代科学家。 他将继续为大学课程开发太阳物理学和空间气象的研究生课程，并将扩大他在GMU的空间气象实验室的教育和研究。 该项目还将促进乔治梅森大学和海军研究实验室之间的持续伙伴关系，以及国际合作。

The Principal Investigator (PI) will investigate the physical mechanisms of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and flares. In particular, he will study confined flares (those flares without associated CMEs) and eruptive flares (flares associated with CMEs). The PI plans to statistically analyze distributions of CME acceleration and velocity in their main energy release phase and the later propagation phase. The PI will use data from various spacecraft, including SOHO, STEREO, Hinode, and SDO. He will develop advanced image processing techniques to quantify the physical parameters of solar active regions, including area size, total flux, and length of neutral lines. Potential Field Source Surface models (PFSS), based on line-of-sight magnetic field data, and Non-linear Force Free models (NLFF), based on vector magnetic field data, will be used to characterize the coronal magnetic field. The PI will use the empirical results obtained from this study to evaluate, constrain, and improve existing theoretical models. This project will provide a better understanding of many fundamental physical processes that also happen throughout the universe, such as magnetic reconnection, plasma instability, and particle acceleration. Since CMEs and flares are the main drivers of severe disturbances in the geospace environment, this work will enhance our capabilities for characterizing and predicting the space weather events that may affect the safety of astronauts, as well as satellite operations for communication and navigation. The PI is committed to training the next generation of scientists in the fields of space weather and solar physics. He will continue developing graduate courses in solar physics and space weather for the university curriculum, and will expand his space weather lab for education and research at GMU. The project will also foster an ongoing partnership between George Mason University and the Naval Research Laboratory, as well as international collaborations.