NSWP: Magnetic Reconnection and Distribution of Accelerated Electrons in Solar Flares

NSWP：太阳耀斑中加速电子的磁重联和分布

• 批准号: 0819662
• 负责人: Chang Liu
• 金额: $ 14.22万
• 依托单位: New Jersey Institute of Technology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-01-01 至 2011-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0819662&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSWP; Magnetic; Reconnection; Distribution; Accelerated

The Principal Investigator will study magnetic reconnection and the associated flare energy release in the form of accelerated electrons, particularly in sigmoidal solar active regions. The proposing team will carry out a comprehensive investigation of solar flare and CME events using newly improved hard X-ray (HXR) imaging and spectroscopy techniques. They will further examine the association of ribbon-like HXR sources with sigmoid eruptions, while quantitatively analyzing the spatial distribution of accelerated electrons and its evolution in the flaring process, in order to establish the most realistic 3D magnetic reconnection scenario.The PI plans to investigate flare ribbon dynamics, paying special attention to the early phase of solar flare and CME eruptions. Using multi-wavelength data, the proposers will examine the physics of interrelated flaring phenomena, such as contracting-to-separation development and strong-to-weak shear change in H-alpha and EUV/UV, footpoint-to-ribbon evolution in HXR, and sigmoid-to-arcade transformation in EUV and soft X-ray (SXR). The PI will also use the HXR spectral index as a probe to diagnose electron acceleration during flares. The team will study the temporal and spatial relationship between the electric field in reconnecting current sheets and the spectral index of detected HXRs, in order to better understand the electron acceleration mechanism.Given that sigmoidal structures are among the most important signatures for impending space weather events, this study will contribute significantly to the National Space Weather Program (NSWP) goal of mitigating the adverse effects of space weather on society's technological infrastructure. The PI's status as a beginning postdoctoral researcher constitutes this project's education and training component.

首席研究员将研究磁场重联和相关的耀斑能量以加速电子的形式释放，特别是在S形太阳活动区。提议的团队将使用新改进的硬X射线（HXR）成像和光谱技术对太阳耀斑和CME事件进行全面调查。他们将进一步研究带状HXR源与S型爆发的关联，同时定量分析加速电子的空间分布及其在耀斑过程中的演化，以建立最真实的3D磁重联场景。PI计划研究耀斑带状动力学，特别关注太阳耀斑和CME爆发的早期阶段。利用多波长数据，提议者将研究相互关联的耀斑现象的物理学，例如H-alpha和EUV/UV中的收缩到分离的发展和强到弱的剪切变化，HXR中的足点到带的演变，以及EUV和软X射线（SXR）中的S形到拱形的转变。PI还将使用HXR光谱指数作为探测器来诊断耀斑期间的电子加速。该团队将研究重新连接电流片的电场与探测到的HXR光谱指数之间的时空关系，以更好地理解电子加速机制。鉴于S形结构是即将发生的空间天气事件的最重要特征之一，这项研究将大大有助于国家空间天气计划（NSWP）减轻空间天气对社会技术基础设施的不利影响的目标。作为一名博士后研究员，主要研究者的身份构成了该项目的教育和培训部分。