RUI: A Study of the Sources of Solar Total and Spectral Variability

加州州立大学北岭分校（CSUN）的圣费尔南多天文台（SFO）拥有现有最长的光度测量全圆盘太阳图像数据集，现已覆盖17年以上。这些图像可以精确测量太阳黑子和光斑等太阳特征的相对亮度。在拟议的研究中，PI将使用SFO的存档和未来的光度图像来解决以下关于太阳变化的开放性问题：观测到的太阳磁场特征是否足以解释总太阳辐照度和光谱太阳辐照度的短期和长期变化？各种太阳特征对这些辐照度变化的相对贡献是什么？太阳活动区的统计特性是什么？它们在太阳活动周期中或从一个周期到下一个周期是否发生变化？太阳活动极小期的太阳辐照度有系统的变化吗？太阳特征的测量能否用于重建当前和历史的太阳总辐照度和光谱辐照度值？将向科学界提供SFO光度图像、关于太阳活动区的精确信息以及太阳辐照度总模型和光谱模型等次级数据。这个SFO研究计划也将产生超越太阳物理学的更广泛的影响。这项研究将通过向学生传授研究的价值并培训他们使用计算机和分析技术来加强CSUN的教育使命。拟议的研究还将扩大代表性不足的群体对科学的参与。关于这项研究结果的公开讲座将在CSUN天文馆举行，向更广泛的受众提供信息和教育。

The San Fernando Observatory (SFO) of California State University Northridge (CSUN) has the longest existing data set of photometric full disk solar images, now covering more than 17 years. These images allow precise measurement of the relative brightness of solar features such as sunspots and faculae. In the proposed research, the PI will use SFO's archived and future photometric images to address the following open questions about solar variability: Are observed solar magnetic features sufficient to explain both the short and long term variations in total and spectral solar irradiance? What are the relative contributions of various solar features to changes in these irradiances? What are the statistical properties of solar active regions, and do they change either during the solar cycle or from one cycle to the next? Does the solar irradiance at solar minimum change in a systematic way? Can measurements of solar features be used to reconstruct current and historic values of total and spectral solar irradiance? SFO photometric images, precision information on solar active regions, and secondary data such as total and spectral solar irradiance models will be made available to the scientific community. This SFO research program will also have broader impacts extending beyond solar physics. This research will bolster the CSUN educational mission by teaching students the value of research and by training them in the use of computers and analytical techniques. The proposed research will also broaden the participation of underrepresented groups in science. Public talks on the results of this research will be presented in the CSUN planetarium, informing and educating a wider audience.