High Resolution Studies of the Sun Using the New Solar Telescope (NST)

使用新型太阳望远镜 (NST) 对太阳进行高分辨率研究

• 批准号: 1250818
• 负责人: Dale Gary
• 金额: $ 173.29万
• 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: 2013
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2013-04-01 至 2018-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1250818&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Resolution; Studies; Sun; Using; New

The Principal Investigator (PI) and his team note that the New Solar Telescope (NST) of Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO), with its advanced adaptive optics system, will be the primary US observing facility for ground-based high-resolution studies of the Sun for most of the next decade. This BBSO team will utilize NST photometric and polarimetric data collected across the spectrum from 0.4-5.0 microns, as well as diffraction limited imaging and vector magnetograms (VMGs) in visible and near-infrared light, to accomplish cutting-edge research in solar physics. Among other science topics, the PI's team will study the origin of ultrafine magnetic loops in the solar atmosphere, as well as plasma eruptions along these loops, using high-resolution NST observations of plasma flows and vector magnetic fields as a function of altitude. The team will compare line profile data to simulation output to probe the physical origin of the dynamics of these loops. The PI will also perform sub-arcsecond resolution studies of the quiet solar atmosphere to probe small-scale emerging flux, the Sun's "magnetic carpet," and the local dynamo while exploiting NST VMGs and velocity maps along with simulations. The team's science objectives also include the investigation of the small-scale structure and dynamics of sunspots, using VMGs and velocity fields as a function of altitude, to clarify the formation and evolution of sunspot elements, such as "umbral dots," Evershed flows, and penumbral structures. The PI will also probe solar photospheric and chromospheric dynamics, such as the magnetic network, spicules, and cool chromospheric areas, using the NST's fully cryogenic solar spectrograph known as CYRA. CYRA will observe in the 1-5 micron spectral regime, which heretofore has not been well explored.The PI's team also plans to use the NST as a unique test bed for the hardware, instrumentation, and data analysis destined for use with the new off-axis, 4-meter Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) expected to come online at decade's end. BBSO will develop the next generation of solar instrumentation for the NST, which will serve as important pathfinders for the ATST project. As a community facility, BBSO will help train the next generation of scientists for building instruments and developing modern data analysis techniques, in an integrated approach to research and education. BBSO's high-resolution data, coupled with analytical tools, will help increase our understanding of the origins of space weather events and improve space weather forecasts. NST data will be made publicly available online and through the solar physics community's Virtual Solar Observatory infrastructure in near real-time.

首席研究员（PI）和他的团队指出，大熊太阳天文台（BBSO）的新太阳望远镜（NST）及其先进的自适应光学系统将成为美国未来十年大部分时间地面高分辨率太阳研究的主要观测设施。该BBSO团队将利用NST在0.4-5.0微米光谱范围内收集的光度和偏振数据，以及可见光和近红外光中的衍射极限成像和矢量磁图（VMG），以完成太阳物理学的前沿研究。在其他科学课题中，PI的团队将研究太阳大气中超细磁环的起源，以及沿着沿着这些环的等离子体爆发，使用等离子体流和矢量磁场的高分辨率NST观测作为高度的函数。该团队将比较线路剖面数据与模拟输出，以探测这些环路动态的物理起源。PI还将对安静的太阳大气进行亚弧秒分辨率的研究，以探测小尺度的新兴通量、太阳的“磁地毯”和当地发电机，同时利用NST VMG和速度图沿着进行模拟。该团队的科学目标还包括调查太阳黑子的小尺度结构和动力学，使用VMG和速度场作为高度的函数，以澄清太阳黑子元素的形成和演变，如“本影点”，Evershed流和半影结构。 PI还将探测太阳光球和色球动力学，如磁网络，针状体和冷色球区域，使用NST的完全低温太阳光谱仪CYRA。CYRA将在1-5微米的光谱范围内进行观测，这一领域迄今为止还没有得到很好的探索。PI的团队还计划将NST作为一个独特的测试平台，用于硬件、仪器和数据分析，这些测试平台将与新的离轴4米先进技术太阳望远镜（ATST）一起使用，该望远镜预计将在10年后上线。BBSO将为NST开发下一代太阳能仪器，这将成为ATST项目的重要探路者。作为一个社区设施，BBSO将帮助培养下一代科学家，以综合研究和教育的方式建造仪器和开发现代数据分析技术。BBSO的高分辨率数据加上分析工具，将有助于增进我们对空间气象事件起源的了解，并改进空间气象预报。NST的数据将在网上公开，并通过太阳物理界的虚拟太阳观测站基础设施近实时提供。