Understanding the coupling of the solar photosphere and low atmosphere through high-resolution analysis of sunspot dynamics

太阳黑子为理解太阳内部和大气之间的耦合机制提供了一种独特的方式。最近在观测方面的改进使我们能够以前所未有的时间和空间分辨率跟踪和探测太阳黑子。尽管如此，大多数太阳黑子动力学分析仅限于少数案例研究，太阳黑子在其生命周期中如何演变的问题仍然没有答案。该项目开发了一种监测太阳黑子的综合方法，并将对单个、成对和成组的太阳黑子的平移和扭转运动进行详细分析。我们的主要目标是（1）了解导致太阳黑子形成的磁通量管的三维动力学，（2）找到与耀斑或其他高能事件的相关性，以及相关活动区域中其他较慢变化（包括环路冷却或加热）的特征。该项目为利用太阳光球层的高分辨率数据提供了一种新的、有效的和可靠的方法，并对计划中的未来任务，如太阳轨道器和DKIST，产生了影响。

Sunspots provide a unique way of understanding the coupling mechanisms between the solar interior and atmosphere. Recent improvements in observations allow us to track and characterise sunspots with unprecedented temporal and spatial resolution. Despite this, most sunspot dynamics analyses are limited to a few case studies, and the question of how sunspots evolve during their lifetime is still unanswered. This project develops a comprehensive method to monitor sunspots, and will make detailed analysis of translational and torsional motions of single, paired, and grouped sunspots. Our main aims are to (1) understand the three-dimensional dynamics of magnetic flux tubes that are responsible for the formation of sunspots and (2) find correlation with flares or other energetic events, and signatures of other, slower, changes (including loop cooling or heating) in the associated active regions. This project provides a new, efficient and robust method for exploiting high-resolution data of the solar photosphere with implications for planned future missions such as Solar Orbiter and DKIST.