How do the Magnetic Pieces Fit Together?

Advisor: Dana Longcope

The Sun's activity is caused by the interaction between the different magnetic regions on its visible surface, such as sunspots. This project will involve acquisition of detailed magnetic maps, called magentograms, from NASA data archives. Data files will be analyzed using existing software, to determine the interacting magnetic regions present at that time. The student will learn about the structure of the magnetic field in the solar atmosphere and the Physics underlying the energetic activity which it drives, for example solar flares.

The student will use a computer program which partitions a detailed magnetic map, called a magnetogram, into a set of source regions. Each region defines a portion of the solar surface where the magnetic field is directed in one direction: either inward or outward. The region can be characterized by a number of geometric quantities such as area, circumference, mean radius. It could also be characterized by magnetic quantities such as the average strength of it vertical field or total magnetic flux (local field strength integrated over area). The active region as a whole can then be characterized by the distribution of these quantities. The goal of the project is to study how these distributions vary between different active regions and how they change in time for a given active region. The student should have experience working with computers. Previous knowledge of IDL is desirable, but not required.

For background on this project from last summer's REU program, see Murphy Breyfogle's 2007 REU Research Log and Presentation.