Keynote address: Outstanding problems in solar physics

Celebrating the diamond jubilee of the Physics Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad, India, we look back over the last six decades in solar physics and contemplate on the ten outstanding problems (or research foci) in solar physics:

1. The solar neutrino problem
2. Structure of the solar interior (helioseismology)
3. The solar magnetic field (dynamo, solar cycle, corona)
4. Hydrodynamics of coronal loops
5. MHD oscillations and waves (coronal seismology)
6. The coronal heating problem
7. Self-organized criticality (from nanoflares to giant flares)
8. Magnetic reconnection processes
9. Particle acceleration processes
10. Coronal mass ejections and coronal dimming

The first two problems have been largely solved recently, while the other eight selected problems are still pending a final solution, and thus remain persistent Challenges for Solar Cycle 24, the theme of this jubilee conference.     

Concerning solar sources of large-scale heliospheric disturbances

Initial observational data and their analysis made by Hewish and Bravo (1986) are examined critically. It is shown that the conclusion drawn by them that coronal holes are solar sources of all eruptive plasma flows recorded in interplanetary space by the method of IPS-images using 900 radio sources, is ungrounded. At the same time it is argued that, under certain conditions, coronal holes are indeed able to emit eruptive flows which are capable of exciting interplanetary shock waves.     

The physics of particle acceleration at the heliospheric termination shock

Cosmic rays are ubiquitous in space, and the essential similarity of their energy spectra in many different regions places significant general constraints on the mechanisms for their acceleration and confinement. Diffusive shock acceleration is at present the most successful acceleration mechanism proposed, and, together with transport in Kolmogorov turbulence, can account for the universal specta. A unique laboratory for studying the acceleration and transport of charged particles is the outer heliosphere, including the solar wind termination shock and heliosheath.

A widely accepted paradigm for the transport and acceleration of energetic particles in the heliosphere has evolved over the last few decades. This picture has successfully explained many features of the modulation of galactic cosmic rays and the transport and acceleration of anomalous cosmic rays at the solar-wind termination shock. Recent Voyager observations near and beyond the termination shock have revealed new, and in some cases, unexpected phenomena which have led to questions concerning the established paradigm. The physical interpretation of the observations requires a blunt termination shock, rapid inward motion of the shock and temporal variations over time scales ranging from hours to 22 years. Incorporation of these into the physics has promise of explaining most, if not, all of the observed phenomena while retaining the advantages of the termination shock paradigm for both galactic and anomalous cosmic rays.     

The role of magnetohydrodynamics in heliospheric space plasma physics research

Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) is a fairly recent extension of the field of fluid mechanics. While much remains to be done, it has successfully been applied to the contemporary field of heliospheric space plasma research to evaluate the macroscopic picture of some vital topics via the use of conducting fluid equations and numerical modeling and simulations. Some representative examples from solar and interplanetary physics are described to demonstrate that the continuum approach to global problems (while keeping in mind the assumptions and limitations therein) can be very successful in providing insight and large scale interpretations of otherwise intractable problems in space physics.Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 30 May 1988.     

Coronal and heliospheric observations of solar particle events

Observations of accelerated particle beams are used to probe the coronal and interplanetary magnetic field structures over large distances from the Sun on the order of a few AU and for various heliolatitudes. It is shown that the propagation of low energy particles is very much controled by discrete interplanetary magnetic field structures. These discrete magnetic structures are sometimes embedded within interplanetary solar wind plasma disturbances, commonly called CMEs. The connection between the corona and the interplanetary medium is discussed. These observations lead to new insights on the origin of accelerated particles detected in association with CMEs.     

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer for the solar and heliospheric observatory

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer is designed to probe the solar atmosphere through the detection of spectral emission lines in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength range 150 – 800 . By observing the intensities of selected lines and line profiles, we may derive temperature, density, flow and abundance information for the plasmas in the solar atmosphere. Spatial and temporal resolutions of down to a few arcseconds and seconds, respectively, allow such studies to be made within the fine-scale structure of the solar corona. Futhermore, coverage of large wavelength bands provides the capability for simultaneously observing the properties of plasmas across the wide temperature ranges of the solar atmosphere.     

Update on modeling and data analysis of heliospheric solar wind charge exchange X‐ray emission

About 15 years ago, charge exchange (CX) X‐ray emission was discovered in comet observations, and was identified as the radiative decay of excited states of highly‐charge solar wind ions populated in collisions with neutral cometary material. This non‐thermal X‐ray emission mechanism is now generally acknowledged in planetary environments (e.g. Mars, Earth), as well as interstellar atoms sweeping through the heliosphere. In this paper I present the most recent improvements made in simulations of the heliospheric CX X‐ray emission. The model results are compared to X‐ray data from Suzaku, XMM‐Newton and Chandra spanning over a 10‐year period, and some conclusions are drawn on the heliospheric contribution to the diffuse soft X‐ray background. The solar system CX X‐ray sources can serve as prototypes in terms of modeling and diagnostics to more distant astrophysical objects where CX emission signatures are being discovered (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Propagation of solar flare-associated interplanetary shock waves in the heliospheric meridional plane

We have analyzed 149 flare-associated shock wave events based on interplanetary scintillation (IPS) observational data. All of the flare-associated shock waves tend to propagate toward the low latitude region near the solar equator for flares that are located in both the solar northern and southern hemispheres. Also, the fastest propagation directions tend toward the heliospheric current sheet near 1 AU. We suggest that this tendency is caused by the dynamic action of near-Sun magnetic forces on the ejected coronal plasma that traverses the helmet-like magnetic topologies near the Sun outward to the classical topology that is essentially parallel to the heliospheric current sheet.     

Influence of solar heliospheric parameters on cosmic rays anisotropy

In the present work the cosmic ray data of three different neutron monitoring stations, Deep River, Inuvik, and Tokyo, located at different geomagnetic cutoff rigidities and altitudes have been harmonically analyzed for the period 1980–95 for a comparative study of diurnal semi-diurnal and tri-diurnal anisotropies in cosmic ray intensity in connection with the change in interplanetary magnetic field Bz component and solar wind velocity on 60 quietest days. It is observed that the amplitudes of all the three harmonics increase during the period 1982–84 at all the stations during the high speed solar wind stream epoch and remain low during the declining phase of the stream. The amplitudes of the three harmonics have no obvious characteristics associated with the time variation of magnitude of the Bz component. The phases of all the three harmonics have no time variation characteristics associated with solar wind velocity and Bz. Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 4, pp. 651–664 (August 2006).     

Azimuthal structure of the solar wind velocity andK-corona brightness in the heliospheric current sheet

The solar wind velocity near Earth shows systematic structure in and around the heliospheric current sheet. The solar wind velocity measurements at IMF sector boundary crossings at 1 AU during 1972–1977 have been used to infer the azimuthal structure of the solar wind velocity in the current sheet. We found that the solar wind velocity in the in-ecliptic portion of the current sheet varies from longitude to longitude, where it originates from the corona. Also, the yearly average value of solar wind velocity in the HCS is found to vary with the phase of the solar cycle; with a maximum value around 1974. TheK-corona brightness on the source surface corresponding to the IMF sector boundary crossings during the period of study also shows a similar but opposite pattern of variation when the data are averaged over a long period. However, this relation is not observed when we considered them individually. So, we conclude that there exists a longitudinal variation of solar wind velocity in the heliospheric current sheet.     

A space-borne solar stereoscope experiment in solar physics

A space experiment project is proposed, with the main purpose of obtaining 3-dimensional images of the solar atmosphere. We give a list of problems and objectives which can be resolved through the space-borne solar stereoscope.     

Remote sensing of the heliospheric solar wind using radio astronomy methods and numerical simulations

The ground-based radio astronomy method of interplanetary scintillations (IPS) and spacecraft observations have shown, in the past 25 years, that while coronal holes give rise to stable, reclining high speed solar wind streams during the minimum of the solar activity cycle, the slow speed wind seen more during the solar maximum activity is better associated with the closed field regions, which also give rise to solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CME’s). The latter events increase significantly, as the cycle maximum takes place. We have recently shown that in the case of energetic flares one may be able to track the associated disturbances almost on a one to one basis from a distance of 0.2 to 1 AU using IPS methods. Time dependent 3D MHD models which are constrained by IPS observations are being developed. These models are able to simulate general features of the solar-generated disturbances. Advances in this direction may lead to prediction of heliospheric propagation of these disturbances throughout the solar system.     

Structure and physics of solar faculae

The methods used and the results obtained in the measurement of the distances between the centers of chromospheric granules are described. A coincidence of these structures at two different altitudes was observed. Observations made in the K2v, or in the K3 and CN lines permit the comparison of two different altitudes: the upper and the lower chromosphere. These results include flocculi on the edge of the supergranules as well as plages. Two main results are obtained: (l)the most likely distance between two neighboring granules is, at the minimum of the solar cycle, of about 2. 60 for K3 and 2.45 for CN, and (2) this distance is decreasing with growing solar activity.     

A simulation study of distortion of the heliospheric sheet caused by solar activity

During major geomagnetic storms, the interplanetary magnetic field angle φ (phi) changes often abruptly, either from 135° to 315° or 315° to 135°, suggesting that the heliospheric current sheet is pushed upward or downward by disturbed solar wind. The distortion of the heliospheric current sheet by three successive solar flares is simulated to show that such a flapping motion can occur.     

Structure and physics of solar faculae

Taking into account the effect of roughness (or local departures from sphericity) of the emitting layers in the chromosphere-corona transition zone (CCT) allows one to determine the optical depths of layers responsible for resolved structures in Cii, Ciii, Oiv, and Ovi lines. The result, at the top of the irregularities, is of the order of respectively ₁ 3.5,2.0, 1.6,0.5, and for the bottom of these irregularities, ₂ = 0.7, 0.4, 0.3, 0.25. The characteristic angle of these irregularities is, respectively, of the order of 35 °, 33 °, 35 °, and 41 °. For unresolved structures of Civ and Ovi (already analyzed in the spherical symmetry hypothesis in Paper III), one finds ₁ 0.6; 0.9 and ₂ 0.12; 0.2 in the case of quiet areas; in the case of active areas, the range is broader for Civ and Ovi, from 1.0 to 1.7 for ₁ and from 0.2 to 0.9 for ₂. The values obtained from Ovi are in reasonable agreement with each other for resolved and unresolved structures. And the obtained values of ₁ and ₂ correspond not too badly with the determinations made in Paper III, by methods not exceedingly influenced by the spherical symmetry hypothesis.     

Structure and physics of solar faculae

Si iv, C iv, and O vi resonance lines have been measured above quiet and active solar regions from both pointed OSO-8 instruments. From calibrated profiles, optical depths are computed with three different methods. All three methods provide evidence that the opacity above faculae is lower than above the quiet Sun. From lower and upper limits of the opacity, we derive limits of the electron density. Our first method assumes only that the source function is constant without any geometrical constraint. We find higher densities above faculae than above quiet regions (about a factor 10). A second method allows us to compute the density, temperature gradient and thickness of a plane-parallel model, for active and quiet Sun. Electron densities agree with those of the first method but they lie in the lower range of values previously determined from Skylab. This result can be explained by the moderate level activity of the observed faculae. Appendices give relevant elements of transfer theory and newly computed values of collisional rates.     

Structure and physics of solar faculae

The OSO-8 satellite enabled us to study various characteristics of the profiles of Si ii, Si iv, C iv, and O vi lines above active areas of the Sun, as well as above quiet areas, and to derive some physical properties of the transition region between chromosphere and corona (CCT): (i) The study of the lines shows a general tendency for the microvelocity fields on the average to be nearly constant for the heights corresponding to T > 10⁵ K; however they seem to slightly increase with height in quiet areas, and decrease in active areas. (ii) A multicomponent model of the CCT is however quite necessary, and its geometry is far from being a set of plane-parallel columns. It is similar to an association of moving knots within the non-moving principal component of the matter. (iii) The proportion of mass, in the knots relative to that in the non-moving component, is several times larger in active regions than in quiet regions. (iv) In the knots, the non-thermal microvelocity fields are smaller in active regions and seem to decrease for T increasing above 10⁵ K, contrary to what happens in the steady principal component. Of course, we consider that microturbulence and Doppler shift are two aspects of the same distribution of velocity.     

The future of solar physics

The future of solar physics is founded on the existing fundamental unsolved problems in stellar physics. Thus, for instance, the physics of stellar interiors has been called into serious question by the very low-measured neutrino flux. The ⁷¹Ga neutrino detection experiment is the next step in unravelling this mystery. If that experiment should find the expected neutrino flux from the basic p-p reaction in the Sun, then astrophysics is in a difficult situation, because the most likely explanation for the low neutrino flux found in the ³⁷Cl experiment would be an error in our calculation of the opacity or an error in our understanding of the elemental abundances in stellar interiors, with serious implications for present ideas on stellar structure and the age of the galaxy.The new methods of helioseismology, for probing the interior of the Sun, have already found the primordial rapid rotation of the central core. The forthcoming world-wide helioseismology observing network will permit fuller exploitation of the method, promising to provide the first direct sounding of the interior of a star, hitherto known to us only through theoretical inference and the discrepant neutrino emission.The activity of all stars involves much the same phenomena as make up the activity of the Sun. The effects are too complex, and too foreign to the familiar dynamics in the terrestrial laboratory, to be deciphered by theoretical effort alone. It has become clear through the observational and theoretical work of the past decade or two that much of the essential dynamics of the activity of the atmosphere takes place on scales of the order of 10² km. Thus, an essential step in developing the physics of stellar activity will be the Solar Optical Telescope (presently planned by NASA to be launched early in the next decade) to permit a microscopic examination of the surface of the Sun to study the source of the action. The activity and X-ray emission of other stars depend on much the same effects, so that the study is essential to determining the significance of the X-ray emission from other stars.This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under grant NGL-14-001-001.