Collaborative Research: DKIST Critical Science: Study of Flare Producing Active Regions with Highest Resolution Observations and Data-based Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) Modeling

来自新泽西理工学院和阿拉巴马大学亨茨维尔分校的一个研究小组试图通过丹尼尔·K·井上太阳望远镜(DKIST)的关键科学项目来研究引发太阳耀斑的机制。他们将利用3D计算机模型以及地面和天基望远镜来研究耀斑爆发前太阳光球层中的能量是如何积累的。这项关于太阳的基础研究在两个方面与美国国家科学基金会的任务有关。首先，它促进了对恒星的基本理解，并可用于模拟其他恒星上的耀斑。第二，它关系到更好地了解空间天气的国家优先事项。这项研究的结果可以用来改进预测太阳耀斑的模型。该项目的更广泛影响还包括支持两名博士生，并将涉及高中生和REU(NSF/本科生研究经验)学生。研究小组将研究小规模磁场重联在引发太阳耀斑中的作用及其与耀斑前兆的关系，以及光球流如何为爆发建立能量。该项目包括一项结合使用空间和地面数据产品的观测研究计划。具体地说，来自NASA的太阳动力学天文台(HMI-日震和磁成像仪)、Hinode(SOT-太阳光学望远镜-光谱偏振仪)、大熊太阳天文台的Goode太阳望远镜(GST)和NSF的Daniel K.Inouye太阳望远镜(DKIST)。非线性无力场外推方法将被用来获得产生耀斑活动区的三维磁结构。这些外推将受到GST和DKIST数据的约束，然后与导出的光球流一起用作自适应网格精化磁流体程序的输入。MHD代码的结果将与耀斑带结构和运动以及耀斑后磁性拓扑的观测结果进行比较。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

A research team from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and the University of Alabama, Huntsville seeks examine the mechanisms that trigger solar flares through a Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) Critical Science project. They will make use of 3D computer models and ground-based and space-based telescopes to examine how energy builds up in the solar photosphere before a flare erupts. This fundamental study of the Sun is relevant to NSF's mission in two ways. First, it advances fundamental understanding of a star and can be of use for modeling flares on other stars. Second, it relates to the national priority to better understand space weather. The results of this research could be used to improve modeling for predicting solar flares. The broader impacts of this project also include support for two PhD students and will involve high school and REU (NSF/Research Experience for Undergraduates) students. The research team will address the role of small-scale magnetic reconnection in triggering solar flares and their relationships to flare precursors, as well as how photospheric flows build up energy for onset of eruptions. The project includes a plan for observational studies using a combination of space and ground-based data products. Specifically, from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (HMI - Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager), Hinode (SOT - Solar Optical Telescope-SpectroPolarimeter), Big Bear Solar Observatory’s Goode Solar Telescope (GST), and NSF’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). Non-Linear Force Free Field extrapolation methods will be used to obtain 3D magnetic structures for flare producing active regions. These extrapolations would be constrained with GST and DKIST data and then be used, along with derived photospheric flows, as input into an adaptive mesh refinement magnetohydrodynamic code. Results of the MHD code would then be compared with observations of flare ribbons structures and motions and post-flare magnetic topology.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.