Solar Spectral Study with SOHO/SUMER

Advisor: Suman Panda and Aki Takeda

For this project the student will get a chance to work with SOHO/SUMER and UARS/SOLSTICE data. SUMER(Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation) is a UV telescope and spectrometer onboard the ESA/NASA spacecraft SOHO(SOlar Heliospheric Observatory). During its period of operation 1996-2014, SUMER took a few full disk solar spectra in different wavelength bands. The student will learn to look at SUMER spectral data including C IV and Ne VIII lines and synthesize a full disk image/datacube out of spectral data of a slit scanning across the solar disk. We will produce a disk averaged spectra and use the data from UARS/SOLSTICE (Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite/Solar Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment) to cross-calibrate SUMER data.

Our team at MSU is currently developing a sounding rocket spectrometer called Full-sun Ultraviolet Rocket SpecTrometer(FURST). The student will also have an opportunity to interact with our research group at MSU and learn about their work.