Predicting the Heliosphere

这个为期3年的研究项目的主旨是提高目前对太阳和日球层物理学的两个基本问题的认识，即：(1)在许多不同情况下具有共同光谱形状的太阳风中超热尾的起源；(2)整个太阳活动周期的日球层磁场和太阳风的行为。通过理论研究，项目团队的目标是应用泵浦加速机制来解释太阳附近超热粒子的光谱特性。该研究的另一个方面包括使用原位和光谱观测，对PI在当前太阳极大期开发的太阳-日球层磁场理论模型的基本原理进行测试。研究工作的目的是为建立太阳风的预测模型提供基础。这个研究项目涉及空间等离子体的基本特性，因此它的潜在影响远远超出了日球层物理学的学科；例如，泵加速机制已被应用于加速星际介质中的银河宇宙射线。该项目还具有重要的更广泛的影响，即正在开发的新概念被纳入密歇根大学的研究生教育计划，从而鼓励下一代考虑不同的想法，以及推进太阳和日球层物理学的新方法。该项目还旨在支持一名女性博士后继续她作为空间科学家的发展。总之，该项目的研究和EPO议程支持AGS部门在发现、学习、多样性和跨学科研究方面的战略目标。

The thrust of this 3-year research program is to improve present understanding on two topics of fundamental importance for solar and heliospheric physics, namely: (1) the origin of suprathermal tails in the solar wind that have a common spectral shape in many different circumstances; and, (2) the behavior of the heliospheric magnetic field and the solar wind throughout the solar cycle. By means of theoretical investigations, the project team aims to apply the Pump Acceleration mechanism to explain the spectral properties of suprathermal particles near the Sun. Another aspect of the research includes tests of the basic principles of a theoretical model of the solar-heliospheric magnetic field developed by the PI during the current solar maximum, using both in-situ and spectroscopic observations. The purpose of the research work is to provide a foundation for a predictive model of the solar wind.This research project deals with fundamental properties of space plasmas, thus it has the potential for impact well beyond the discipline of heliospheric physics; e.g., the Pump Acceleration mechanism has been applied to accelerate galactic cosmic rays in the interstellar medium. This project also has the important broader impact that the new concepts being developed are incorporated into the graduate education program at the University of Michigan, so that the next generation is encouraged to consider different ideas, and new ways to advance solar and heliospheric physics. This project is also intended to support a female postdoctoral fellow to continue her development as a space scientist. To summarize, the research and EPO agenda of this project supports the Strategic Goals of the AGS Division in discovery, learning, diversity, and interdisciplinary research.