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Award Abstract #0079482
MRI: Development of High Order Solar Adaptive Optics
| NSF Org: |
AST
Division of Astronomical Sciences
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| Initial Amendment Date: |
July 21, 2000 |
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| Latest Amendment Date: |
May 28, 2004 |
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| Award Number: |
0079482 |
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| Award Instrument: |
Continuing grant |
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| Program Manager: |
Jeffrey R. Pier
AST Division of Astronomical Sciences
MPS Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences
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| Start Date: |
August 1, 2000 |
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| Expires: |
July 31, 2005 (Estimated) |
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| Awarded Amount to Date: |
$1821322 |
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| Investigator(s): |
Thomas Rimmele trimmele@nso.edu (Principal Investigator)
Philip Goode (Co-Principal Investigator)
Richard Radick (Co-Principal Investigator)
Oskar vonderLuhe (Co-Principal Investigator)
Christoph Keller (Co-Principal Investigator)
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| Sponsor: |
New Jersey Institute of Technology
323 DOCTOR MARTIN LUTHER
Newark, NJ 07102 973/596-5275
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| NSF Program(s): |
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES & INSTRM,
MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION
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| Field Application(s): |
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| Program Reference Code(s): |
OTHR, 0000
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| Program Element Code(s): |
1218, 1189
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ABSTRACT
Rimmele
AST0079482
Abstract
This project will build a state of the art adaptive optics system optimized to image the high spatial frequency structure in the solar photosphere and chromosphere. Theoretical magneto-hydrodynamics modeling of the solar photosphere using our current understanding of plasma physics, predicts that the pressure scale heights and the photon mean free path in the magnetized plasma of the solar atmosphere has a physical scale distance of 100Km. Also observations using speckle interferometry of the solar spicules which reveal information about the role of magnetic field in energy transport between the photosphere and the chromosphere indicate the presence of tightly wound plasma fields, unresolved with current telescopes. High-resolution studies of the sun will help us determine 1) how the dynamics of stellar atmospheres are driven by the interaction of the magnetic fields with the stellar plasma. 2) How magnetic fields are generated and amplified by dynamo processes. 3) How the magnetic fields are destroyed. 4) What physical mechanisms are responsible for heating the corona, variations in the solar constant, triggering flares and coronal mass ejections. The sun is the nearest star to the earth and the only star that can be studied in detail.
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