Radioastronomical Studies of Plasmas from the Solar Corona to the Orbit of the Earth

University Of Iowa, Iowa City IA

Investigators

Abstract

Abstract: ATM 99-86887 Proposal Title: Radioastronomical Studies of Plasmas from the Solar Corona to the Orbit of Earth Principal Investigator: Steven R. Spangler, University of Iowa The investigators will employ radioastronomical observations to learn more about the solar corona and the solar wind within 0.28 astronomical units of the Sun, a region of space where direct measurements have never been made. The main effort is to use radio telescopes such as the Very Large Array and the Green Bank Telescope to observe distant, astronomical radio sources when they are occulted by the corona and the inner solar wind. Plasma characteristics of the corona and solar wind are inferred from distortions and modifications of the radio waves, a phenomenon generically known as interplanetary scintillation. Faraday rotation data will be used to construct and refine a model of the plasma density and magnetic field in the outer corona and inner solar wind. Observations will be supported by a program of theoretical research to develop models for plasma turbulence in this region of space. Effort will be concentrated on simplified theories of plasma turbulence, which nonetheless possess sufficient realism to explain the main observed features of the solar wind turbulence.