Solar and Planetary Research at Queen Mary 2017-2020

我们建议进行以下研究项目：i）我们将使用超级计算机模拟研究太阳风的演变-太阳风是不断从太阳流入太阳系的带电粒子流。特别是，我们将研究为什么这种风在流经行星际空间时会产生湍流，以及这种湍流是如何加热太阳风的。ii）我们将使用超级计算机模拟来检查位于太阳表面上方的低密度但温度非常高的气体-日冕。特别是，我们想了解磁力线如何改变它们的拓扑结构，并通过称为重连的过程将能量释放到周围的等离子体中。iii）我们将分析目前正在土星轨道上运行的卡西尼号航天器的图像，以研究土星的卫星如何与土星环系统相互作用并干扰土星环系统。我们特别感兴趣的是F环，它位于环系统的外缘附近，经常受到两颗卫星的干扰，普罗米修斯和潘多拉。我们对A环也很感兴趣，它似乎形成了长寿的团块或小卫星，能够在系统中迁移。最后，利用土星卫星的精确图像，我们将跟踪它们的运动，并测量潮汐能在土星内耗散的速率。iv）我们将试图更多地了解火星的形成。据信，我们太阳系的四颗内行星是由构成行星的较小天体之间的碰撞形成的，我们将使用计算机模拟来研究这一过程。我们将探讨碰撞是否可以解释为什么火星南半球的地壳比北半球厚，我们将研究火星卫星的形成。

We propose to undertake the following research projects.i) We will use supercomputer simulations to examine the evolution of the solar wind - thestream of charged particles that is constantly flowing from the Sun into our solar system.In particular, we will examine why this wind develops turbulence as it flows through interplanetaryspace, and how this turbulence heats the solar wind.ii) We will use supercomputer simulations to examine the low density but very high temperaturegas that lies above the Sun's surface - the solar corona. In particular, we want to understand howmagnetic field lines change their topology and release energy into the surrounding plasma by the process known as reconnection.iii) We will analyse images from the Cassini spacecraft that is currently orbiting Saturn, to examine how Saturn's moons interact with and disturb Saturn's system of rings. We are particularly interested in the F ring which lies near the outer edge of the ring system, and is regularly disturbed by two satellites, Prometheus and Pandora. We are also interestedin the A-ring, which appears to form long-lived clumps or moon-lets that are able to migratethrough the system. Finally, using accurate images of the Saturnian satellites, we will track theirmotion and measure the rate at which tidal energy is dissipated within Saturn.iv) We will attempt to understand more about the formation of the planet Mars. It is believedthat the four inner planets of our solar system formed from collisions between smaller bodiesthat built the planets, and we will use computer simulations to examine this process. We willexamine whether a collision can explain why Mars has a crust that is thicker in the southern hemisphere than in the north, and we will examine the formation of the satellites of Mars.