Summer 2013 REU Projects

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Project type and supervisor
  Project title and brief description
(Click title for details)
 flare loops
Modeling with 
Sean Brannon
  Effects of Flux Tube Geometry on Conduction-driven Evaporation
Solar flares are triggered by reconnection of magnetic field lines in the corona. The newly reconnected flux tubes release free magnetic energy by supersonically contracting toward the solar surface. This generates reconnection shocks, across which thermal conduction deposits energy in the lower atmosphere, and in turn, drives plasma upflows known as chromospheric evaportation. In this project, we study how the upflow characteristics depend on the geometry of the reconnection-formed flux tube.
Sun's EUV corona
Data analysis with 
Philip Judge
  Super-fast Phenomena in the Sun's Atmosphere
If we see something "moving faster than light", it can only be an apparent motion. Recent imaging-spectral observations have revealed phenomena moving very fast through the Sun's atmosphere. In this project, we will analyze these observations to determine the nature of the super-fast apparent motions, and to understand whether they are associated with flows of mass, momentum and energy.  
Sun's EUV corona
Data analysis with 
Charles Kankelborg
and
Sarah Jaeggli
  Global Characteristics of the Solar Corona
The solar corona is imaged in a number of different EUV bands that are dominated by plasma emissions at different temperatures. We will apply Fourier and wavelet analysis to a large number of these images obtained by Solar Dynamics Observatory, and study the morphology of the sun's corona. By this study, we will test the hypothesis that the apparent differences may be related to a few basic physical parameters such as scale height or volume filling factor.  

partitioned magnetogram
Modeling with 
Dana Longcope 
  Simulating Shocks in Solar Flares
Solar flares occur when a large amount of magnetic energy is released through magnetic reconnection and converted into thermal and kinetic energy of plasmas. Post-reconnection magnetic field lines retract like an elastic string, and create shocks that can heat plasma to tens of millions of Kelvins. In this project the student will run a computer program to solve the dynamical equations for the retracting field line, and study how the shape of the initial field line influences the density and temperature of the shocked fluid.
Coronal Dimming and Large-scale Magnetic Field
Data analysis with 
Chris Lowder
  Global Transient Coronal Hole Tracking
Transient coronal holes, or coronal dimmings, are regions with much reduced emission in extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) or x-ray wavelength images of the sun. These events can occur in association with coronal mass ejections, when magnetic field configuration is changed allowing plasmas to expand or lift off. In this project, we will analyze coronal images obtained by Solar Dynamic Observatory to study evolution of coronal dimming signatures for several associated eruptive events.
Flare
reconnection model and flare observations
Data analysis with 
Jiong Qiu 
and
Angela Des Jardins
  Inferring Energy Release from UV and HXR Observations of Flares
Flares are spectacular energy release events governed by magnetic reconnection. The student will study the evolution of flare radiation signatures in magnetic tubes (loops) formed during reconnection, measure parameters of magnetic reconnection and plasma evolution, and search for better understanding of the relationship between magnetic reconnection and energization of plasmas or particles in flare loops.

Super Arcade Downflows
Modeling with 
Roger Scott
  Peristaltic Pumping in Post-CME Supra-Arcades
In recent years observations have revealed extremely dynamic plasma and magnetic field behavior above large scale coronal arcades - the supra-arcades, where the electric current sheet structure is located. In particular, magnetic reconnection forming these arcades may drive flows and shocks in the surrounding plasma. In this project, we will analyze kinematics of the descending magnetic structure and the dynamics of nearby plasmas and fields, and relate the analysis with state-of-the-art observations.
SSEL Activities
Hardware development with 
David Klumpar 
  Space Hardware Development: Space Flight Systems for Space Science
MSU's Space Science and Engineering Laboratory (SSEL) involves students in highly responsible roles in science and engineering associated with the development of space flight systems for scientific applications. The student(s) will develop spaceflight hardware through design, development, and testing as a member of an interdisciplinary project student team. Participants must be U.S. citizens.