Scientific Aims
Current Sheets (CSs) are a basic prerequisite for magnetic reconnection. The goal
of the proposed research is to define CS properties in the solar athmosphere and
their signatures in the interplanetary medium, and to understand their role in the
developments of solar eruptive events. The project was inspired by recently acquired
ground and space based observations that reveal CSs signatures at the time of
flare/CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections), in the chromosphere, in the corona and in
the interplanetary medium. At the same time, theoretical studies predict the
formation of CSs in different models/configurations, but theories and observational
results have not yet developed an interaction efficient enough to allow us to
construct an unified scenario. This proposal aims at maximizing the synergy between
observers/data analysts and theoreticians, so as to enable a significant advance
in our understanding of CS behaviour and properties. A further motivation for
studying CSs is related to the expected electric fields in CSs that may well be
the source of solar energetic particle (SEP) events that create a serious hazard
for human being and their machines. Hence, the refinement of CS models has a
pragmatic benefit in helping forecast the production of energetic particles,
an issue of growing importance for our present society. Our project also fits
perfectly into the scope of the International Heliophysical Year (see
http://ihy.gsfc.nasa.gov),
an international program devoted to understanding the entire interconnected
heliophysical system by fostering collaborations among scientists from different
countries and specialties.
Proposal
Original proposal (.pdf file)
Team Members
Aurass, H., Astrophysikalisches Institute, Postdam, GERMANY
Bemporad, A., INAF-Arcetri Observatory, Firenze, ITALY
Buechner, J., Max Planck Institute fur Sonnensystemforschung, Lindau, GERMANY
Ciaravella, A., INAF-Palermo Observatory, Palermo, ITALY
Innes, D.E., Max Planck Institute fur Sonnensystemforschung, Lindau, GERMANY
Ko, Y.-K., Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, USA
Lin, J., Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, USA
Poedts, S., K.U. Leuven-Centrum voor Plasma-Astrofysica, Leuven, BELGIUM
Poletto, G. (Team Leader), INAF-Arcetri Observatory, Firenze, ITALY
Raymond, J.C., Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, Cambridge, USA
Suess, S.T., NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, USA
Von Steiger, R., ISSI, Bern, SWITZERLAND
Vrsnak, B., Faculty of Geodesy, Zagreb, CROATIA
Webb, D.F., Boston College and AFRL, Hanscom, USA
Meeting Presentations
(only Team members)
Click here to enter in the Team Presentation page
Schedule of the Project
First Meeting: 23-26 October 2006
Second Meeting: 3-4 September 2007
Final Meeting: 3-6 March 2008
List of outcoming papers
Please click here to download a preliminary list
(.pdf file) of published,
submitted and upcoming papers.
Last Modified: September 2008
Maintained by: Alessandro Bemporad