Hello, my name is Jada Walters. During the summer of 2018, I am a participant in Montana State University's Solar Physics REU program. At the time of writing, I am a rising 4th year physics major from Georgia Tech with a concentration in astrophysics. On this page, you will find my weekly reports on the progress of my research during the REU program.
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In space plasma physics, magnetic reconnection is a process not yet fully understood. In a magnetic reconnection event, magnetic field lines become spliced to form new field line configurations and impart energy to the surrounding plasma in the process. In order to investigate the process of magnetic reconnection, we will study the solar corona in extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, focusing on reconnection events in magnetic loops in the corona. Solar corona data will be provided by the solar dynamics observatory (SDO), a space-based telescope which can make observations in the extreme ultraviolet regime. By observing magnetic reconnection events in the natural laboratory of the Sun's corona, we will identify and characterize reconnection events. This project will further scientific knowledge of magnetic reconnection, which is crucial to an understanding of processes driven by reconnection including solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and coronal bright points and heating.
My final technical report for this project can be downloaded here: Final Technical Report
Email: jwalters@gatech.edu
Connect with me on LinkedIn
Office (summer 2018): EPS/Barnard Hall 255