Joint Physics Dept.–Inst. for Space Weather Sci. – Solar Physics Webinar of Global Reach SolFER Colloquium

September 18, Friday (** SPECIAL DAY**)

High Resolution Observations of Solar Flares

Prof. Haimin Wang, NJIT

(Solar & Terrestrial Physics, Host: Fleishman)

*Webex Meeting ID: 924 797 400

*Password: check email/poster or request from kenahn@njit.edu

Time: 1pm - 2pm (**SPECIAL TIME**)

Abstract:

In recent years, the operation of 1-meter class solar telescopes have advanced the understanding of solar activity. In particular, the Adaptive Optics equipped 1.6-meter Goode Solar Telescope (GST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory provides observations of with a spatial resolution in the order of 100km. I review some recent fundamental discoveries using these high resolution observations, including: (1) Flare ribbon fronts, as well as pre- and post-flare loops are in the scale of about 100 km. The injection flare electron flux should increase substantially comparing to the results from lower resolution RHESSI observations. (2) In He10830, flare front may appear as narrow dark front, indicating the effect of collisional ionization. (3) Irreversible/rapid photospheric magnetic structures are detected such as formation of new penumbra, rapid sunspot rotation and sudden transvers field orientation change. (4) Filament eruptions may consist of rising of many small scale threads, corresponding to small scale brightening in chromosphere.

Brief Bio:

Prof. Wang obtained his BS degree from Nanjing University in 1982, Ph.D. from California Institute of Technology in 1988. He is a Distinguished Professor of Physics in New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT). He is currently the Chief Scientist of Big Bear Solar Observatory and Director of Institute for Space Weather Sciences of NJIT. He has published nearly 300 papers in refereed journals, from those, received about 10,000 citations. Prof. Wang is also leading an effort of interdisciplinary research of applying advanced machine learning to analyze big data from solar observations. He also trained over 20 Ph.D. students, led many US NSF and NASA funded projects.