Investigation of Small-scale Jets In and Near Sunspot Penumbrae: Early DKIST Science

该项目由海湾地区环境研究所（BAERI）和亨茨维尔阿拉巴马大学合作，旨在分析美国国家科学基金会（NSF）丹尼尔·井上太阳望远镜（DKIST）对太阳黑子的观测结果。这些不同波长的最高分辨率数据为探索太阳黑子中的喷流和点的动力学提供了一个独特的机会。提高对离我们最近的恒星太阳上最强磁场区域的精细动力学的理解，具有广泛的社会影响。大尺度的特征，如日冕射流和日冕物质抛射，它们是造成太空天气的原因。小规模的特征，例如在这项研究中检查的那些，与大规模结构有一些相似之处，但也有助于太阳环境的复杂性。这个项目更广泛的影响包括培训REU的学生和高中实习生，他们不仅将被介绍到太阳物理研究中，而且可以激励他们在任何科学领域从事职业。拟议的工作还将增加BAERI、阿拉巴马大学、亨茨维尔大学和国家太阳天文台这三个机构之间的伙伴关系。具体而言，该项目旨在利用日出太阳光学望远镜、美国宇航局界面区域成像光谱仪（IRIS）和DKIST的数据，结合MHD对太阳黑子半影的模拟，以(i)了解在太阳黑子半影内和周围产生喷流和亮点的机制，（ii）研究半影射流在多大程度上有助于过渡区和日冕加热，以及（iii）研究半影射流在其底部是否具有混合极性场。以及它们是否旋转，类似于x射线射流。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。

This project from the Bay Area Environmental Research Institute (BAERI) and the University of Alabama, Huntsville seeks analyze observations of sunspots from National Science Foundation’s (NSF’s) Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST). This highest ever-resolution data in different wavelengths offers a unique opportunity to explore dynamics of jets and dots in sunspots. Improving understanding of fine-scale dynamics in the strongest magnetic field regions on our nearest star, the Sun, has broad social impact. Large scale features such as coronal jets and coronal mass ejections, which are responsible for space weather. Small-scale features, such as those examined in this study, have some similarities to large scale structures, but also contribute to the complexity of the solar environment. The broader impacts of this project include training REU students, and high school interns, who will not only be introduced to solar physics research but can also get motivated to pursue a career in any science. The proposed work will also increase the partnership between three institutions, BAERI, University of Alabama, Huntsville, and the National Solar Observatory.Specifically, this project seeks to utilize data from Hinode’s Solar Optical Telescope, NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS), and DKIST in combination with MHD simulations of sunspot penubrae to (i) understand the mechanisms that generate jets and bright dots in and around sunspot penumbrae, (ii) investigate to what extent penumbral jets contribute to transition region and coronal heating, and (iii) investigate whether penumbral jets have mixed-polarity field at their base, and whether they spin, similar to X-ray jets.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.