Collaborative Research: SHINE: Investigation of Mini-filament Eruptions and Their Relationship with Small Scale Magnetic Flux Ropes in Solar Wind

众所周知，在太阳表面和行星际空间中，磁通绳（MFRs）无处不在。MFRs通常被定义为一束相互扭曲并围绕一个共同轴缠绕的磁场。大尺度的MFRs通常与太阳灯丝喷发、随后的日冕物质抛射（cme）在太阳风中的传播以及向地球的行星际cme （ICMs）有关。近年来，太阳表面和太阳风中的小尺度MFRs （SMFRs）受到越来越多的关注。从美国国家科学基金会资助的大熊太阳天文台（BBSO）的160米古德太阳望远镜（GST）和美国宇航局的帕克太阳探测器（PSP）的高分辨率观测中，初步证据表明它们数量众多，无处不在。该项目解决了太阳、日光层和行星际环境（SHINE）的目标，即将SMFRs的产生和传播从太阳表面连接到太阳风。将支持两名女性早期职业研究人员，以及本科生、研究生和高中生。该团队将在新泽西理工学院（NJIT）和阿拉巴马大学亨茨维尔分校（UAH）的NSF REU站点指导学生。利用GST的高分辨率、高偏振和光谱数据、PSP的原位观测数据以及其他地面和空间观测数据，NJIT和UAH共同努力，对太阳表面和太阳风的smfr进行全面的案例和统计研究。该小组将研究它们的运动学、热学和磁性，以及与微型细丝喷发有关的可能的光球磁场演变。此外，他们还将发现太阳微丝爆发与太阳风中探测到的smfr之间的联系。该项目使用的数据来自美国国家科学基金会资助的BBSO地面观测。结合GST/BBSO和PSP最先进的数据，该团队将揭示SMFRs的详细特性，并解决以下关键科学问题。(1)微丝喷发的动态特性（速度、温度、密度、能量）是什么？(2)与微丝喷发相关的光球磁结构和演化是什么？(3)日冕洞和规则安静太阳微丝喷发的统计分布是怎样的？(4)从统计上看，太阳风中的微丝喷发与SMFRs之间是否存在可能的联系？这些问题的重要性体现在两个方面：(1)揭示SMFRs的基本等离子体特性；(2)推进对太阳风瞬态形成的认识。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

It is well known that magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) exist ubiquitously in the solar surface and in the interplanetary space. MFRs are generally defined as a bundle of magnetic fields that are twisted about each other and wrap around a common axis. The large scale MFRs are often associated with solar filament eruptions, subsequent propagation of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) in solar wind, and furthermore, the Interplanetary CMEs (ICMs) towards Earth. In recent years, small-scale MFRs (SMFRs) in both solar surface and solar wind are receiving significant attention. Initial evidences show that they are numerous and ubiquitous from high resolution observations from the NSF-funded 1.6m Goode Solar Telescope (GST) of Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) and from NASA’s Parker Solar Probe (PSP). This project addresses the Solar, Heliospheric, and Interplanetary Environment (SHINE) goal of linking the generation and propagation of SMFRs from the solar surface to the solar wind. Two female early career researchers will be supported, as well as undergraduate, graduate, and high school students. The team will mentor students at the NSF REU sites of New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) and the University of Alabama Huntsville (UAH).Using high-resolution, high-polarimetric and spectroscopic data from GST, in-situ observations from PSP as well as other ground-based and space observations, NJIT and UAH join an effort to carry out comprehensive case and statistical studies of SMFRs in solar surface and solar wind. The team will investigate the kinematic, thermal and magnetic properties of them, as well as possible photospheric magnetic field evolution associated with eruption of mini-filaments. In addition, they will find the connection between solar mini-filament eruptions and detected SMFRs in solar wind. The project uses data from NSF funded ground-based observations of BBSO. Combining the most advanced data from GST/BBSO and PSP, the team will disclose detailed properties of SMFRs and address the following key science questions. (1) What are the dynamic properties of mini-filament eruptions (velocity, temperature, density, energy)? (2) What is the photospheric magnetic structure and evolution associated with mini-filament eruptions? (3) What are the statistical distributions of mini-filament eruption in coronal holes and regular quiet sun? (4) Statistically, is there a possible connection between mini-filament eruptions and the SMFRs in the solar wind? These questions are of importance from two aspects: (1) to disclose the basic plasma properties of SMFRs and (2) to advance understanding of the formation of transients in the solar wind.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.