UK Solar Physics Newsletter Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay, Editors March 1st 2010 o News, Views and Gossip o Reminder - deadline for UKSP at NAM2010 approaching o New RHESSI Science Nugget o STFC Small Awards for public engagement o Congratulations - Andrzej Fludra o UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget o Solar News Items of Interest - http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100216.txt o Chromospheric synoptic magnetograms from SOLIS o Topical Issue (TI) of Solar Physics: The Sun--Earth Connection near Solar Minimum: Placing it into Context o Meetings, Conferences and Workshops o NAM/UKSP/MIST Session on Energetic Particles o NAM parallel session: P24 Solar Influences in the Heliosphere o Space Tech 2010 o UKSP/NAM session: P34: UKSP General Session o Solar News Items of Interest - http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100216.txt o COSPAR 2010: Special Session on Solar Spectral Irradiance Variations and Their Influence on the Earth's Atmosphere o SH08.: Solving the coronal heating riddle: recent developments and future directions o SORCE Meeting - Abstracts due Feb. 1 o Employment Opportunities o PhD in Solar Physics - University of Central Lancashire o SOLAR PHYSICS: POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER POSITION AT ARMAGH OBSERVATORY o PhD Studentship at University of Reading o Solar News Items of Interest - http://solarnews.nso.edu/2010/20100216.txt o Tenure-Track Faculty Position at Boston University Dear Colleague, Here are a few items which have come to our attention since the last Newsletter. You can find this newsletter also at the UKSP website: http://www.uksolphys.org Lyndsay (lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk) Duncan (duncan@mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk) ********************************************************************* * * * News, Views and Gossip * * * ********************************************************************* From: Lyndsay Fletcher Dear all, This is just to remind you that the deadline for the UKSP at NAM is fast approaching! - The abstract submission and early-bird registration deadline is 16.00 GMT on Wednesday 3rd March - The deadline *if you are paying by bank transfer* is 16.00 GMT on Monday 1st March - Hotel rooms held preferentially for NAM delegates until Saturday 27th February. The following is a list of USKP sessions, along with their convenors is below. Full details are available on: http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/nam2010/prog.php P04 New Views of Solar Active Regions from Hinode and STEREO 15:45-17:30 Monday 12th April Alison Wallace (MSSL) Helen Mason (Cambridge) Giulio del Zanna (Cambridge) P09 Missions Forum: The State of the Art and Future Opportunities (UKSP/MIST) 10:45-12:30 Tuesday 13th April David Williams (University College, London, MSSL) Colin Forsyth (University College, London, MSSL) Louise Harra (University College, London, MSSL) P14 Magnetic Coupling of the Solar Atmosphere: Magneto-Seismology of the Solar Atmosphere 1545-1730, Tuesday 13th April 2010 I. Ballai (University of Sheffield) R. von Fay Seibenburgen (University of Sheffield) M. Mathioudakis (Queen's University Belfast) P19 Energetic Particles in the Solar System and Astrophysical Plasmas: Observations and Theory (UKSP/NAM) 1045-1230, Wednesday 14th April 2010 Thomas Neukirch (University of St Andrews) Silvia Dalla (University of Central Lancashire) P23 Magnetic Reconnection 1545-1730, Wednesday 14th April 2010 Gunnar Hornig (University of Dundee) P24: Solar Influences in the Heliosphere (UKSP/MIST) 1545-1730, Wednesday 14th April 2010 Kimberley Steed (University College, London, MSSL) Jackie Davies (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) Richard Harrison (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) Chris Davies (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) P29: Modeling of Dynamic Solar Plasmas 1045-1230, Thursday 15th April 2010 Gerry Doyle (Armagh Observatory) Maria Madjarska (Armagh Observatory) P33: Public Engagement in Astronomy, Solar and Solar System Physics 1045-1230, Friday 16th April 2010 Dan Hillier (ROE Visitor Centre) Helen Mason (DAMTP, Cambridge) Danielle Bewsher (University of Central Lancashire) P34: UKSP General Session 1045-1230, Friday 16th April 2010 Duncan Mackay (University of St Andrews) Barbara Bromage (UCLAN) Rekha Jain (University of Sheffield) Eduard Kontar (University of Glasgow) The UKSP business lunch will take place on Thursday 15th April from 12.30 until 14.00. More on that later best wishes - hope to see you all in Glasgow. Lyndsay ************************************ From: Hugh Hudson - hhudson@ssl.berkeley.edu New RHESSI Science Nugget http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/Revisiting_the_SHH_and_SEP_Link RHESSI confirms the statistical link between flare hard X-ray spectral evolution and the acceleration of solar energetic particles. ************************************ From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk STFC are pleased to announce a closing date of the 15th April 2010 for its Small Award Scheme for projects in public engagement. Further information, including the notes for guidance and application form can be found on the Science in Society section of the STFC website [www.stfc.ac.uk]. Funding limit - ?10,000 It is anticipated that we will run a round of Large Awards for public e ngagement with a closing date of November 2010 Contact: Chris.woolford@stfc.ac.uk ************************************* From: Lyndsay Fletcher - lyndsay@astro.gla.ac.uk Congratulations to Andrzej Fludra on becoming Head of Solar Group at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. Richard Harrison, who held this position previously, remains in the group but will be focusing on his roles as Division Head of Space Physics and as Chief Scientist in the Space Science and Technology Department at RAL. ************************************* From: Lucie Green - lmg@mssl.ucl.ac.uk EIS science nugget UCL-MSSL is pleased to announce a new Hinode EIS science nugget. The nugget looks at the science behind the widths of emission line profiles and how they can be used as a plasma diagnostic. http://msslxr.mssl.ucl.ac.uk:8080/SolarB/eisnuggets.jsp Next month's nugget is entitled "Interchange reconnection along a coronal hole boundary". EIS nuggets are published on the 1st of every month and we welcome contributions from the community. Please contact Lucie Green if you are interested. ********************************************************************* * * * Conferences, Workshops, Meetings * * * ********************************************************************* From: Thomas Neukirch - thomas@mcs.st-and.ac.uk NAM/UKSP/MIST Session on Energetic Particles Dear Colleagues, we invite submission of abstracts for session P19 "Energetic Particles in the Solar System and Astrophysical Plasmas: Observations and Theory" at NAM/UKSP/MIST in Glasgow. Abstract deadline is March 3, 2010. The session is scheduled for Wednesday, 14 April 2010, 10.45-12.30. Session Description: The generation of a high-energy non-thermal particle population is a prominent feature of many magnetic activity processes in solar system and astrophysical plasmas. Examples include auroral particle acceleration in planetary magnetospheres, solar and stellar flares and energetic processes in compact objects such as white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. This session aims to further our understanding of the physical processes underlying the generation of high-energy non-thermal particle populations in different physical regimes by giving researchers from different areas the opportunity to present their work and exchange their ideas. We encourage the submission of papers on both the theoretical and observational aspects, including the acceleration process, the propagation and transport of energetic particles from the location of acceleration, and their detection. Session Organisers: Thomas Neukirch (University of St Andrews) and Silvia Dalla (University of Central Lancashire) ********************************************* From: Kimberley Steed - ks3@mssl.ucl.ac.uk NAM parallel session: P24 Solar Influences in the Heliosphere Dear colleagues, We invite submissions for the parallel session P24, entitled "Solar Influences in the Heliosphere", at the NAM 2010 meeting at the University of Glasgow (12th-16th April). This session will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 14th April. All researchers who are interested in the Sun-heliosphere connection are invited to participate and contribute to this joint UKSP/MIST session. Please visit http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/nam2010/ for registration and abstract submission. Abstract and early registration deadline is 3rd March 2010. Best regards, Kimberley Steed (University College London, MSSL) Jackie Davies (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) Richard Harrison (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) Chris Davis (Rutherford Appleton Laboratory) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT Solar Influences in the Heliosphere Joint UKSP/MIST session at the UK National Astronomy Meeting, Glasgow, 12 -16 April 2010 http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/nam2010/p24.php This session will address our current understanding of the influence of the Sun on the surrounding heliospheric environment, and the opportunities for future research in this area. Conventionally, we have conducted remote sensing of the near-Sun environment and have performed in situ measurements further out in the heliosphere; this has led to two distinct areas of focus. However in recent years, and particularly with the advent of the STEREO mission, many new data analysis techniques have been developed that bridge this divide between studies of the near-Sun and interplanetary space environments. There is still much to learn about the links between the Sun and the heliosphere, in particular the origins of the ambient solar wind and solar ejecta, their structure and evolution as they propagate into interplanetary space and their subsequent interactions with planets and other solar system bodies. This session will draw together our current knowledge of the physics within the solar-heliospheric environment, whilst addressing the methodologies required to further understand and progress this area of science, with particular emphasis on the exploitation of multiple missions. All researchers who are interested in the Sun-heliosphere connection are invited to participate and to contribute to this session. ********************************************* From: Melanie.Illsley@stfc.ac.uk Space Tech 2010 - Space Technology Symposium 10th March 2010 STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Harwell Science Innovation Campus Updated programme The Innovations Club and the ESA Technology Transfer Network is holding a Space Technology Symposium on the 10th March and invites you to register for this event. Registration details are below. Our objective is to provide a forum that creates a unique opportunity for commercial companies to network and exploit advanced technologies developed by leading European research organisations in the space sector with applications addressing many market sectors. The event will provide participants/delegates: * An opportunity to discover the latest technologies from the space industry * The chance to make direct contact with the UK?s leading technology groups * Advice on how to use new technology to gain commercial competitive advantage * Case study examples of successful transfers between academic know-how to industry * The chance to network and identify potential business partners This event offers a unique opportunity for commercial companies to exploit technologies developed for space and last year a similar showcase attracted 200 delegates and 40 exhibitors. Further information about this exclusive event can be found here: www.stfc.ac.uk/KE/Events/spacetech.aspx Exhibit - last spaces going fast. We are also offering you the opportunity to exhibit at this symposium of advanced technologies; please contact Innovationsclub@stfc.ac.uk The last few exhibition spaces are avaliable for which there is a charge of ?400 plus VAT for a 2m table with poster board and 2 chairs. Due to Health and Safety reasons we are unfortunately unable to allow electrical items on to stands. Registration TO REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT PLEASE FOLLOW THIS LINK: WWW.STFC.AC.UK/FORMS/INNOVATIONSCLUB.ASPX ********************************************** From: Duncan H Mackay duncan@mcs.st-and.ac.uk UKSP/NAM session: P34: UKSP General Session Dear Colleagues, We invite submission of abstracts for session P34: UKSP General Session at NAM/UKSP/MIST in Glasgow. The session is scheduled for Friday, 16th April 2010, 10.45-12.30. The UKSP General Session is designed to address aspects of current solar physics research not covered in the other more focused sessions. All researchers who are interested in solar physics are invited to take part. Organisers: Duncan Mackay (University of St Andrews) Barbara Bromage (University of Central Lancashire) Rekha Jain (University of Sheffield) Eduard Kontar (University of Glasgow) *********************************************************************** * * * Positions Vacant * * * *********************************************************************** From: Danielle Bewsher PhD in Solar Physics The Jeremiah Horrocks Institute at the University of Central Lancashire is pleased to announce the availability of several new STFC and University funded PhD studentships for intake in October 2010, some of which are available for Solar Physics projects. If you know of any undergraduate students who may be interested in pursuing Solar Physics PhD projects (or other areas of astrophysics), please direct them to our online advert at http://www.star.uclan.ac.uk/studentships/ for further details. Further questions can be directed to either Danielle Bewsher - DBewsher@uclan.ac.uk Daniel Brown - DSBrown@uclan.ac.uk ******************************************** From: Gerry Doyle SOLAR PHYSICS: POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER POSITION AT ARMAGH OBSERVATORY A fixed-term Postdoctoral Researcher position tenable at the Armagh Observatory is available for up to 16 months from 2010 July 1 or as soon as possible thereafter. The starting salary is 25,958 pounds with annual increments. Applicants must have, or be about to obtain, a PhD in a relevant discipline. Candidates must have expertise in solar physics, in particular the interpretation and/or modelling of small-scale solar transient features. Expertise in the use of data from different instruments and in particular their co-alignment is essential. The research will involve looking closely at various assumptions relating to spectral line formation and the use of such data plus MHD modelling and magnetic field extrapolation data in the interpretation of the observational data. Full details of the position and the selection criteria are in the Job Information pack available from the Armagh Observatory web-site, http://star.arm.ac.uk/. Enquiries and requests for further information may be made to Professor J. Gerry Doyle at the address below, or by e-mail to jgd@arm.ac.uk. For information about Armagh Observatory, see the web-site. The initial closing date is 2010 April 16. Late applications may be considered until the position is filled. Applicants should obtain an application pack from the Administrator or from the Observatory web-site, and send the completed application form and a full curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and complete bibliography to: The Administrator, Armagh Observatory, College Hill, Armagh BT61 9DG, Northern Ireland (Tel: +44-(0)28-3752-2928; FAX: +44-(0)28-3752-7174; e-mail: lfy@arm.ac.uk). Candidates should arrange for references from two or three referees to be sent to the same address as early as possible to ensure full consideration of the application. The Armagh Observatory is an equal opportunities employer. ******************************************** From: Mathew Owens - m.owens@imperial.ac.uk PhD Studentship at University of Reading The Department of Meteorology at the University of Reading is pleased to invite applications for a 3-year NERC-funded PhD studentship in "Galactic cosmic rays, the Sun's magnetic field and climate change", supervised by Dr. Mathew Owens and Prof. Mike Lockwood. The expected start date is October 2010. The departmental open day is March 10th, so anyone with a potential interest should e-mail Mathew Owens (m.owens@imperial.ac.uk) as soon as possible. Further details about funding and the application process can be found at http://www.met.reading.ac.uk/pg-research/pgropportunities.html Galactic cosmic rays, the Sun's magnetic field and climate change Galactic cosmic rays (GCRs) are extremely high energy particles which originate far outside our solar system and travel at almost the speed of light. The effects of these particles, and of the cascade of secondary particles that they produce in Earth's atmosphere, have a number of known and postulated effects on Earth's atmosphere, surface and lifeforms. The GCR flux incident on Earth's atmosphere can be measured using space- or ground-based monitors. Such observations have shown that the Sun's magnetic field (in what is termed the heliosphere) partially shields the inner solar system from energetic particles, allowing GCRs to be used as proxies for the solar magnetic field strength - and hence the Sun's brightness - when direct measurements are not available. Prehistoric GCR fluxes are inferred from isotopic depositions in reservoirs such as ice cores, ocean sediments and tree trunks and are used in reconstruction of solar irradiance thousands of years in the past, vital for quantifying the role of solar variability in terrestrial climate change on centennial and millennial timescales. However, the justification of the use of these proxies is somewhat superficial and detailed studies of the heliospheric structure, how it shields Earth from GCRs, and how it relates to the changes in the solar photosphere are required. The student will undertake analysis and modelling of spacecraft and ground-based data to relate GCR shielding to solar magnetic activity and heliospheric structures, with an eventual goal of improving reconstruction of Sun's irradiance for use in climate modelling. -- Dr Duncan H Mackay Mathematical Institute, University of St. Andrews, St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9SS, Scotland. Tel 01334 463760 Fax 01334 463748 The University of St Andrews is a charity registered in Scotland : No SC013532 _______________________________________________ uksp mailing list uksp@physics.gla.ac.uk http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uksp