Turbulent heating of the corona, origin of solar wind fluctuations, and boundary conditions in the inner heliosphere
ROSES ID: NNH05ZDA001N Selection Year: 2006
Program Element: Data, Tools, & Methods
Principal Investigator: William Matthaeus
Affiliation(s): University of Delaware
Project Member(s):
Velli, Marco CM Co-I University of California, Los Angeles
Summary:
This proposal is to support collaborative work on the origins of the solar wind,
and the boundary conditions for Space Weather effects in the inner
heliosphere, to be carried out during a one year sabbatical that the
PI has been granted by the University of Delaware for calendar year 2006.
The University will supply 75% of the PI's salary in support of the sabbatical,
and this proposal requests support for the remaining 25%.
During the year the PI will spend approximately five months at the University
of Florence to work collaboratively with Prof. Marco Velli. The PI and Prof. Velli
both served on the Solar Probe Science and Technology Definition team
and contributed substantially to the science component of that effort.
The goals of this proposal are based on science issues that came up and
became partially clarified while writing the solar probe Science and Technology
Definition Team document, providing a unique opportunity to continue the
momentum that was established in that series of meetings. The proposed
research is:
(1) to develop a better theoretical understanding of the behavior of
Alfven waves and turbulence in the important regions between the sonic and
Alfven points (approx. 5-20 Rs) in the corona, and between the Alfven point
and 1AU in the solar wind. This includes study of observed 1/f noise, the
development of anisotropy, and the nature of high latitude turbulence. These
will be addressed through a combination of observational and numerical inputs,
and analytical modeling;
(2) to assemble a fully consistent model of the acceleration of the solar wind,
using for the first time an accurate, consistent and tested nonlinear model for
MHD turbulence starting in the lower corona. Unlike other similar models, we
will include cross helicity and anisotropic cascade effects. These are issues
that the PI has worked on in great detail with his collaborators, and in this new
collaboration M. Velli will supply valuable expertise in wind equations and
modeling of large scale coronal magnetic field. The further understanding of
the plasma physics and turbulence theory of these regions will provide extremely
valuable insights concerning the "inner boundary conditions" for space weather,
and is therefore an essential underpinning of the LWS TRT science in general,
directly addressing the 2005 targeted research area: "T3b. Determine the
mechanisms that heat and accelerate the solar wind." This is a one
year proposal, but the PI agrees to maintain participation in the associated
working group.
Publications:
Performance Year | Reference | Investigation Type | Actions |
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1 | Smith, Charles W.; Isenberg, Philip A.; Matthaeus, Wi...
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1 | Breech, B.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Minnie, J.; Bieber, J....
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1 | Usmanov, A. V.; Matthaeus, W. H.; Breech, B.; Goldst...
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1 | Isenberg, Philip A.; Oughton, Sean; Smith, Charles W....
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1 | Usmanov, Arcadi V.; Matthaeus, William H.; Breech, Be...
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