Remote Sensing of Coronal Mass Ejections using Widefield Low Frequency Imaging Arrays
Abstract
This is a continuation proposal, with the overarching goal of enhancing ourunderstanding of the physical properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) using lowfrequency radio imaging arrays for remote sensing. These instruments allow thegathering of unique information throughout large volumes of the solar corona and theheliosphere, based on emissions from or associated with CME plasma, and from effectson background astronomical radio signals propagating through CME plasma. We willuse the recently upgraded Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) in western Australia forthis purpose. We will also conduct an observing campaign with an advanced portable andreconfigurable array called RAPID, developed at Haystack Observatory under NSFsponsorship, which has complementary capabilities to the MWA.The observational studies will focus on gyrosynchrotron emission from the CME plasma,on Faraday rotation (FR) of the linearly polarized galactic background radiation as itpasses through a CME, and on interplanetary scintillation (IPS) of compact backgroundastronomical sources. Additional targets will be tracking of type II and type III bursts,and imaging of coronal emissions before and during CME eruptions. Data reduction andanalysis efforts will focus on further optimizing imaging dynamic range, with the aims oftracking CME-related emissions over a larger range of heliocentric distances, andallowing sensitive widefield measurements of FR and IPS with the Sun in the field ofview. Interpretation of the data will be supported by theoretical modeling effortsspecifically targeting and constrained by the radio measurements.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 19, 2018
- Source ID
- FA95501810671
Entities
People
- Iver H. Cairns
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- United States Air Force
- University of Sydney