SHINE: Electron Pitch-Angle Scattering during Solar Electron Bursts

PI计划对WIND、ACE和Genesis航天器在太阳周期23期间观测到的太阳电子爆发进行全面分析。在这项研究中，PI和他的合作者将把现场测量结果与公布的模拟结果进行比较。PI将计算各种电子能量在爆发前、期间和之后的电子俯仰角分布(PAD)的宽度。PI还将描述电子爆发之前、期间和之后的太阳风等离子体和行星际磁场(IMF)。然后，他将确定这些PAD、太阳风等离子体和IMF信号是否与电子/电子不稳定性引起的俯仰角散射一致。在非加宽爆发中，PI将确定PAD、太阳风等离子体和IMF特征是否与宽带哨声湍流的俯仰角散射一致。由于电子/电子不稳定性可以产生III型射电爆发，PI和他的合作者将确定加宽的太阳电子爆发和III型射电爆发之间的相关性。PI指出，对太阳爆发期间电子传播的更好理解解决了关于日冕中电子的加速和电子注入行星际介质的持续争议。爆发期间的电子俯仰角散射也可以作为包括日冕物质抛射在内的其他形式太阳活动期间电子散射的指标，这在解决太阳磁通量预算方面可能很重要。在这项研究项目中，PI计划指导暑期学生，并让他们参与对风、ACE和Genesis航天器观测的分析。这些学生将成为博尔德本科生研究体验项目的参与者，该项目由科罗拉多大学和NOAA霍林斯本科生奖学金项目联合管理。

The PI plans a comprehensive analysis of solar electron bursts observed during solar cycle 23 by the WIND, ACE, and Genesis spacecraft. In this investigation, the PI and his collaborators will compare in situ measurements with published simulation results. The PI will calculate the widths of electron pitch angle distributions (PADs) before, during, and after bursts for a wide variety of electron energies. The PI will also characterize the solar wind plasma and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) before, during, and after the electron bursts. He will then determine if these PAD, solar wind plasma, and IMF signatures are consistent with pitch-angle scattering by the electron/electron instability. In non-broadened bursts, the PI will determine if the PAD, solar wind plasma, and IMF characteristics are consistent with pitch-angle scattering by broadband whistler turbulence. Since the electron/electron instability can generate Type III radio bursts, the PI and his collaborators will determine the correlation between broadened solar electron bursts and Type III radio bursts.The PI notes that an improved understanding of electron propagation during solar bursts addresses the ongoing controversy concerning the acceleration of electrons in the solar corona and their injection into the interplanetary medium. Electron pitch-angle scattering during bursts can also serve as a proxy for electron scattering during other forms of solar activity, including CMEs, and it may be important in resolving the solar magnetic flux budget.During this research project, the PI plans to mentor summer students and involve them in the analysis of the WIND, ACE, and Genesis spacecraft observations. The students will be participants in the Boulder Research Experience for Undergraduates program, which is jointly managed by the University of Colorado and NOAA's Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship program.