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NASA NTRS1990

Astrophysics from the moon; Proceedings of the Workshop, Annapolis, MD, Feb. 5-7, 1990

The present conference on astrophysics from the moon encompasses the study of the Galaxy, external planetary systems, solar physics, stars and stellar evolution, the frontiers of Galactic, extragalactic, and cosmological astronomy, an introduction to lunar-based astronomy, concepts for lunar observatories including high-energy observatories, solar observatories, and observatories for particle astrophysics and gravitational studies. Specific issues addressed include the dynamics of Jovian atmospheres, planetary magnetospheres, flare physics, exobiology and SETI from the lunar farside, and the study of interactive stars, star formation, H II regions in absorption at low frequencies, and normal galaxies. Also addressed are the potential lunar investigation of quasars, the formation epoch, and the large-scale structure of the universe, and observational issues related to X-ray large arrays, optical interferometers, VLF radio astronomy, a UV-solar reflecting coronagraph, and a heavy-nucleus detector.

Mumma, Michael J.↗

NASA NTRS2013

The Solar Spectrum: An Atmospheric Remote Sensing Perspective

The solar spectrum not only contains information about the composition and structure of the sun, it also provides a bright and stable continuum source for earth remote sensing (atmosphere and surface). Many types of remote sensors use solar radiation. While high-resolution spaceborne sensors (e.g. ACE) can largely remove the effects of the solar spectrum by exo-atmospheric calibration, this isn't an option for sub-orbital sensors, such as the FTIR spectrometers used in the NDACC and TCCON networks. In this case the solar contribution must be explicitly included in the spectral analysis. In this talk the methods used to derive the solar spectrum are presented, and the underlying solar physics are discussed. Implication for remote sensing are described.

sunlight↗

NASA NTRS2006

The Virtual Space Physics Observatory: Quick Access to Data and Tools

The Virtual Space Physics Observatory (VSPO; see http://vspo.gsfc.nasa.gov) has grown to provide a way to find and access about 375 data products and services from over 100 spacecraft/observatories in space and solar physics. The datasets are mainly chosen to be the most requested, and include most of the publicly available data products from operating NASA Heliophysics spacecraft as well as from solar observatories measuring across the frequency spectrum. Service links include a "quick orbits" page that uses SSCWeb Web Services to provide a rapid answer to questions such as "What spacecraft were in orbit in July 1992?" and "Where were Geotail, Cluster, and Polar on 2 June 2001?" These queries are linked back to the data search page. The VSPO interface provides many ways of looking for data based on terms used in a registry of resources using the SPASE Data Model that will be the standard for Heliophysics Virtual Observatories. VSPO itself is accessible via an API that allows other applications to use it as a Web Service; this has been implemented in one instance using the ViSBARD visualization program. The VSPO will become part of the Space Physics Data Facility, and will continue to expand its access to data. A challenge for all VOs will be to provide uniform access to data at the variable level, and we will be addressing this question in a number of ways.

Cornwell, Carl↗

NASA NTRS1989

Force-free magnetic fields - Is there a 'loss of equilibrium'?

This paper examines concept in solar physics that is known as loss of equilibrium in which a sequence of force-free magnetic fields, said to represent a possible quasi-static evolution of solar magnetic fields, reaches a critical configuration beyond which no acceptable solution of the prescribed form exists. This concept is used to explain eruptive phenomena ranging from solar flares to coronal mass ejections. Certain sequences of force-free configurations are discussed that exhibit a loss of equilibrium, and it is argued that the concept is devoid of physical significance since each sequence is defined a way that does not represent an acceptable thought experiment. For example, the sequence may be defined in terms of a global constraint on the boundary conditions, or the evolution of the sequence may require the creation of mgnetic flux that is not connected to the photosphere and is not present in the original configuration. The global constraints typically occur in using the so-called generating function method. An acceptance thought experiment is proposed to specify the field configuration in terms of photospheric boundary conditions comprising the normal component of the field and the field-line connectivity. Consider a magnetic-field sequence that, when described in terms of a generating function, exhibits a loss of equilibrium and show that, when one instead defines the sequence in terms of the corresponding boundary conditions, the sequence is well behaved.

Klimchuk, J. A.↗

NASA NTRS1982

Sun, Earth and man: The need to know. The quest for knowledge of Sun-Earth relations

Solar physics and the effects of emanations from the Sun on communications and Earth's weather and climate are discussed. Scientific interest in the solar system from the old Stone Age to the present is reviewed with particular emphasis on the objectives sought and information obtained by Explorer satellites, Pioneer satellites, Skylab, Helios, ISEE, the solar maximum mission, and the Dynamics Explorer. The goals of missions planned for the 1980's are discussed including those using space shuttle, Spacelab, the Solar Mesosphere Explorer, the solar optical telescope, the upper atmosphere research satellite, and the solar probe. The objectives of the international solar polar mission and of the Origin of Plasma in Earth's Neighborhood mission are also delineated. Other missions being considered are reviewed and the prospect of taming the fusion process to provide clean, harmless electrical energy like that obtained from the Sun is entertained.

Stafford, E. P.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Spartan - Space at low-cost

Mission profiles and objectives of the Spartan Shuttle payload are described. Spartan was designed to provide extended observations normally carried out for only a few minutes using sounding rockets. The payload will be placed in co-orbit with the Orbiter by the RMS arm and controlled by a ground-based researcher or by an on-board program. Spartan features minimal battery power, batteries, and control systems and no redundancy. Thermal control is added because the flights last 100-1000 times as long as those on sounding rockets. Data are recorded by an on-board tape recorder and operations are controlled by an on-board microprocessor. Spartan 1 will carry a star-pointer and X-ray detectors for high energy astrophysics experiments. Spartan 2 will gather solar physics data in the form of temperatures of hydrogen gas and ions and electrons. Particle densities will also be monitored and a 43 cm solar telescope will produce UV and white light solar coronagraphs. UV spectroscopy of stars, clouds and galaxies will be performed by the Spartan 3 payload.

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NASA NTRS1993

Scientific study in solar and plasma physics relative to rocket and balloon projects

The goals of this research are to provide scientific and technical capabilities in the areas of solar and plasma physics contained in research programs and instrumentation development relative to current rocket and balloon projects; to develop flight instrumentation design, flight hardware, and flight program objectives and participate in peer reviews as appropriate; and to participate in solar-terrestrial physics modeling studies and analysis of flight data and provide theoretical investigations as required by these studies.

Wu, S. T.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Apollo Telescope Mount experiments technology

The Skylab Apollo Telescope Mount (ATM) experiments, consisting of a white light coronagraph, four ultraviolet instruments, two X-ray telescopes and two hydrogen-alpha telescopes, observed the sun daily for nine solar rotations. The results have only begun to be evaluated, but is is already apparent that many theories of solar physics will undergo significant revisions as results are further developed. The ATM instruments were individually larger, more complex, and provided better spatial resolution than previous solar satellite instruments. An additional major advantage of the telescope complex was its ability to simultaneously collect multispectral data for specific experiments. A description of the Skylab, the ATM and the ATM experiments will be given. The daily process of flight planning and execution will be described. Examples of scientific data and some preliminary findings will be presented.

Keathley, W. C.↗

NASA NTRS1999

A Simulation to Study Speed Distributions in a Solar Plasma

We have carried out a numerical simulation of a plasma with characteristics similar to those found in the core of the Sun. Particular emphasis is placed on the Coulomb interaction between the ions and electrons, which could result in a relative velocity distribution different from the Maxwell-Boltzmann (MB) distribution generally assumed for a plasma. The fact that the distribution may not exactly follow the MB distribution could have very important consequences for a variety of problems in solar physics, especially the neutrino problem. Very briefly, the neutrino problem is that the observed neutrino detections from the Sun are smaller than what the standard solar theory predicts. In Section I we introduce the problem and in section II we discuss the approach to try to solve the problem: i.e., a molecular dynamics approach. In section III we provide details about the integration method, and any simplifications that can be applied to the problem. In section IV (the core of this report) we state our results. First for the specific case of 1000 particles and then for other cases with different number of particles. In section V we summarize our findings and state our conclusions. Sections VI VII and VIII provide the list of figures, reference material and acknowledgements respectively.

Cheeseman, Peter↗

NASA NTRS1989

Physical mechanisms of solar activity effects in the middle atmosphere

A great variety of physical mechanisms of possibly solar induced variations in the middle atmosphere has been discussed in the literature during the last decades. The views which have been put forward are often controversial in their physical consequences. The reason may be the complexity and non-linearity of the atmospheric response to comparatively weak forcing resulting from solar activity. Therefore this review focuses on aspects which seem to indicate nonlinear processes in the development of solar induced variations. Results from observations and numerical simulations are discussed.

Ebel, A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Photoelectric array detectors for use at XUV wavelengths

The characteristics of photoelectric detector systems for use at visible-light, ultraviolet, and X-ray wavelengths are briefly reviewed in the context of the needs of the Spacelab solar-physics facilities. Photoelectric array detectors for use at XUV wavelengths between 90 and 1500 A are described, and their use in the ESA Grazing-Incidence Solar Telescope (GRIST) facility is discussed.

Timothy, J. G.↗

NASA NTRS2007

Forecast of the Amplitude of Solar Cycle 24 Based on the Disturbed Days Precursor

R. J. Thompson (1993, Solar Physics 148, 383) exhibited a significant linear relationship between the number of geomagnetically disturbed days (those that exceed some threshold value of the Ap or nu index) in a solar cycle and the sum of the peak sunspot number in that cycle and the next cycle. Thus, the number of disturbed days during a full cycle, together with the peak sunspot number in that cycle, is a predictor of the amplitude of the next cycle. The work reported here applies Thompson's method to the current cycle. Linear relationships as described above are derived both for the pure aa record (1868-2006) and for a composite of aa (1868-1931) and Ap (1932-2006). For the composite record, the relationship between aa and Ap is determined cycle-by-cycle during the period of overlap. The method is tested for sensitivity to the adopted Ap (or equivalent aa) threshold. The highest smoothed monthly sunspot number for Cycle 24 is forecasted to be R(sub z) = 115 plus or minus 30, where the uncertainty is conservatively based on the full spread of the data around the fitted line in the sunspot number direction. In terms of smoothed monthly 10.7-cm radio flux, the forecast is F10.7 = 164 plus or minus 28.

Rabin, Douglas M.↗

NASA NTRS2003

The Sun to the Earth - and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy in Solar and Space Physics

The sun is the source of energy for life on earth and is the strongest modulator of the human physical environment. In fact, the Sun's influence extends throughout the solar system, both through photons, which provide heat, light, and ionization, and through the continuous outflow of a magnetized, supersonic ionized gas known as the solar wind. While the accomplishments of the past decade have answered important questions about the physics of the Sun, the interplanetary medium, and the space environments of Earth and other solar system bodies, they have also highlighted other questions, some of which are long-standing and fundamental. The Sun to the Earth--and Beyond organizes these questions in terms of five challenges that are expected to be the focus of scientific investigations in solar and space physics during the coming decade and beyond. While the accomplishments of the past decades have answered important questions about the physics of the Sun, the interplanetary medium, and the space environments of Earth and other solar system bodies, they have also highlighted other questions, some of which are long-standing and fundamental. This report organizes these questions in terms of five challenges that are expected to be the focus of scientific investigations in solar and space physics during the coming decade and beyond: Challenge 1: Understanding the structure and dynamics of the Sun's interior, the generation of solar magnetic fields, the origin of the solar cycle, the causes of solar activity, and the structure and dynamics of the corona. Challenge 2: Understanding heliospheric structure, the distribution of magnetic fields and matter throughout the solar system, and the interaction of the solar atmosphere with the local interstellar medium. Challenge 3: Understanding the space environments of Earth and other solar system bodies and their dynamical response to external and internal influences. Challenge 4: Understanding the basic physical principles manifest in processes observed in solar and space plasmas. Challenge 5: Developing a near-real-time predictive capability for understanding and quantifying the impact on human activities of dynamical processes at the Sun, in the interplanetary medium, and in Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere. This report summarizes the state of knowledge about the total heliospheric system, poses key scientific questions for further research, and presents an integrated research strategy, with prioritized initiatives, for the next decade. The recommended strategy embraces both basic research programs and targeted basic research activities that will enhance knowledge and prediction of space weather effects on Earth. The report emphasizes the importance of understanding the Sun, the heliosphere, and planetary magnetospheres and ionospheres as astrophysical objects and as laboratories for the investigation of fundamental plasma physics phenomena.

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NASA NTRS2007

Heliophysics Science and the Moon: Potential Solar and Space Physics Science for Lunar Exploration

This report addresses both these features new science enabled by NASAs exploration initiative and enabling science that is critical to ensuring a safe return to the Moon and onward to Mars. The areas of interest are structured into four main themes: Theme 1: Heliophysics Science of the Moon Studies of the Moons unique magnetodynamic plasma environment. Theme 2: Space Weather, Safeguarding the Journey Studies aimed at developing a predictive capability for space weather hazards. Theme 3: The Moon as a Historical Record Studies of the variation of the lunar regolith to uncover the history of the Sun, solar system, local interstellar medium, galaxy, and universe. Theme 4: The Moon as a Heliophysics Science Platform Using the unique environment of the lunar surface as a platform to provide observations beneficial to advancing heliophysics science.

Lunar exploration↗

NASA NTRS1988

Measurement of the Solar Constant (SOLCON)

Measurement of the Solar Constant (SOLCON) is a solar physics experiment of the Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS 1) NASA mission scheduled for late 1990. The objectives of this investigation are: (1) to measure the absolute value of the solar constant with improved accuracy, and (2) to detect and measure long-term variations that may exist in the absolute value of the solar constant. The solar constant is the total irradiance of the sun at a distance of one astronomical unit. This will be measured directly in space by an absolute self-calibrating radiometer with an absolute accuracy estimated to be of the order of + or - 0.1 percent and a sensitivity better than 0.05 percent. Features of this radiometer are given.

Crommelynck, D.↗

NASA NTRS2008

Recent Developments in Transition-Edge Strip Detectors for Solar X-Rays

LMSAL and NIST are developing position-sensitive x-ray strip detectors based on Transition Edge Sensor (TES) microcalorimeters optimized for solar physics. By combining high spectral (E/ delta E approximately equals 1600) and temporal (single photon delta t approximately equals 10 micro s) resolutions with imaging capabilities, these devices will be able to study high-temperature (>l0 MK) x-ray lines as never before. Diagnostics from these lines should provide significant new insight into the physics of both microflares and the early stages of flares. Previously, the large size of traditional TESs, along with the heat loads associated with wiring large arrays, presented obstacles to using these cryogenic detectors for solar missions. Implementing strip detector technology at small scales, however, addresses both issues: here, a line of substantially smaller effective pixels requires only two TESs, decreasing both the total array size and the wiring requirements for the same spatial resolution. Early results show energy resolutions of delta E(sub fwhm) approximately equals 30 eV and spatial resolutions of approximately 10-15 micron, suggesting the strip-detector concept is viable.

Rausch, Adam J.↗

NASA NTRS2023

Heliocentric Distance and Solar Activity Dependence of Sustained Quasi-radial Interplanetary Magnetic Field Occurrence

Planets close to their stars experience an interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) that is dominantly quasi-radial. Our solar system serves as a laboratory to study how the occurrence of quasi-radial IMF varies away from the star and under different stellar activities. Furthermore, on time and spatial scales relevant to magnetospheric physics, solar wind variability prevails in the form of structures generated both at the Sun and locally in the interplanetary space. The stationary Parker spiral model only approximates the large-scale structure of the IMF. Deviations from the Parker spiral often result in strongly radial magnetic fields that give rise to kinetic foreshock turbulence, which in turn can impact planetary magnetospheres. The relative significance of this type of interaction can be estimated statistically based on the occurrence rate of cases where the IMF is directed along the radial direction, leading to the entire day-side magnetosphere being downstream of the ion foreshock. We use observations covering radial distances from 0.1 to 10 au and more than 2 solar cycles to quantify the prevalence of radial IMFs throughout the heliosphere. Near Earth's orbit, it is found that the occurrence rates of quasi-radial and southward IMF orientations are similar, and that the Pearson correlation coefficient is ${{ \mathcal R }}_{{xy}}\sim -0.7$ calculated between quasi-radial IMF occurrence rate and solar activity. A negative correlation is demonstrated for radial distances extending to at least Mars but not to Saturn.

Brandon L Burkholder↗

NASA NTRS1993

Model development for Ulysses and SOHO

The purpose of this research is to provide scientific expertise in solar physics and in the development and use of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) models of coronal structures for the computation of Lyman alpha scattered radiation in these structures. The specific objectives will be to run MHD models with new boundary conditions and compute resulting scattered solar Lyman alpha intensities, guided by results from the first series of boundary conditions.

Wu, S. T.↗