UK Solar Physics Newsletter Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay, Editors November 15th 2008 o News, Views and Gossip o New book entitled "Sunspots and Starspots" o Closing date for STFC Astronomy Grants Panel submissions o Nominations Sought for IOP Payne-Gaposchkin medal and prize o Web Based Browser Application for Plotting Ulysses Data o New RHESSI Science Nugget o Call for Proposals for IAU Symposia in 2010 o Call for programmes for KITP China o Meetings, Conferences and Workshops o BUKS2009: Workshop on MHD waves and seismology of the solar atmosphere o Registration opens for IAU XXVII General Assemby, Rio o Les Diablerets Advanced School: Magnetic Fields of Stars: From the Sun to Compact Objects o Employment Opportunities o University of Warwick: Research Fellow in Plasma Physics (2 posts) o POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS AT Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research WITHIN THE SOLAIRE NETWORK o Postdoc in Space and Climate Physics, UCL 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: Nigel Weiss A new book entitled "Sunspots and Starspots" by John H. Thomas and Nigel O. Weiss has just been published by Cambridge University Press (Cambridge Astrophysics Series No. 46). The book is available at www.cup.org. This volume provides the first comprehensive combined account of the properties of sunspots and starspots. It covers both observations and theory, and describes both the intricate fine structure of a sunspot and the prevalence of polar spots on stars. Emphasis is placed on recent high resolution observations of umbral and penumbral magnetic fields and associated motions, as well as on their theoretical interpretation. The book also includes a substantial historical introduction and treats solar and stellar magnetic activity, dynamo models of magnetic cycles, and the influence of solar variability on the Earth's magnetosphere and climate. Chapter headings: The Sun among the stars. Sunspots and starspots: a historical introduction. Overall structure of a sunspot. Fine structure in the umbra. Fine structure in the penumbra. Oscillations in sunspots. Sunspots and active regions. Magnetic activity in stars. Starspots. Solar and stellar activity cycles. Solar and stellar dynamos. Solar activity, space weather and climate change. The way ahead. ************************************ From: "Melanie Illsley (STFC,SPO)" Please note that the closing date for all submissions to the Astronomy Grants Panel for 2009 will be 7th April. Any queries on the above should be sent to Kim Burchell, kim.burchell@stfc.ac.uk ************************************* From: S Chapman Nominations are now open for the 2009 IOP Payne-Gaposchkin medal and prize The award shall be made for distinguished research in plasma, solar or space physics. See http://www.iop.org/activity/awards/index.html [www.iop.org] for details. Deadline for nominations is Tuesday 6 January 2009 Prof? Sandra C Chapman Director, CFSA Physics, Univ. of Warwick, UK S.C.Chapman@warwick.ac.uk www.warwick.ac.uk/go/cfsa/ ************************************* From: Cecil Tranquille Web Based Browser Application for Plotting Ulysses Data Browsing and plotting data from the joint European Space Agency (ESA)- NASA Ulysses mission is now even easier. An application has recently been added to the ESA Ulysses Data System (UDS) that allows users to generate custom plots of prime Ulysses archive data sets using only a standard web browser connected to the Internet. This application, which is accessible via ESA's Research and Scientific Support Department (RSSD) portal, complements the existing summary plots provided on the UDS, and the web based interactive visualization capabilities of COHOWeb and CDAWeb at NSSDC. The URL for the application is http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?project=Ulysses&page=UDA User authentication is required to access the ESA/RSSD portal. New users are invited to register by simply providing a username/password combination in association with a valid e-mail address. The graphical user interface of the application requires a plugin that will play a Flash movie, a standard feature of most commonly used web browsers. The user selects the parameters to be plotted over an arbitrary time interval, combining measurements from the different experiments on Ulysses in a series of user defined panels. The data (and associated metadata) are stored as ISTP compliant CDF files on the server side, providing the user with the most complete and current data available from the Ulysses mission archives. The graphical output (generated by IDL) is displayed in JPEG, PDF and PostScript formats for download and import into electronic documents. Data can also be exported to numerical data files for further processing. A user manual is provided with more detailed information about using the application and reporting any bugs and suggestions. A complete description of the Ulysses mission, the experiments and the data (products), can be found at the UDS website http://helio.esa.int/ulysses/. ********************************************************* Announcing a new RHESSI Science Nugget "SEPs Link not Confirmed," by Jerry Share & Alan Tylka The spectral evolution of a solar hard X-ray burst may give a clue to the acceleration of solar energetic particles (SEPs). This RHESSI Science Nugget questions the validity of this predictor. This new nugget can in the new location at http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/ SEPs_Link_not_Confir med Note that this is another Nugget in our new Wiki style and we are still developing that. Steven Christe Hugh Hudson ********************************************************* From: Lyndsay Fletcher (for IAU Commission 10) Call for Proposals for IAU Symposia in 2010 The IAU is seeking proposals for Symposia in 2010, to help in securing a balanced and topical programme. The original deadline for submission of 1 December 2008 has been extended up to 15 December. A new proposal system has been introduced on http://www.iau.org/science/meetings/proposals/lop/ Please consider submitting proposals. that symposia which are at least somewhat cross-disciplinary (but yet not too broad) have a higher chance of success, because other divisions have to support the proposal. ********************************************************* From: Yue-Liang Wu BUKS2009: Workshop on MHD waves and seismology of the solar atmosphere 6-8 april 2009, Leuven, Belgium 6 research groups from Belgium, UK, and Spain (hence BUKS): the Solar Physics Group, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Spain; the Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre, University of Sheffield, UK; the Solar and Magnetospheric Theory Group, University of St Andrews, UK; the Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, University of Warwick, UK; the Solar Physics department (SIDC) of the Royal Observatory of Belgium and the Centre for Plasma Astrophysics, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium, have taken the initiative to organize an open and informal workshop on MHD waves and Seismology of the Solar Atmosphere. The aim is to exchange advanced results on observations, data-analysis, interpretation, modelling and seismology concerning MHD waves in the solar atmosphere and to discuss current open questions as well as required future research initiatives in this field. Invited keynote speakers are selected from outside of the 6 core groups, thereby helping to strengthen the cooperative efforts in this area of research. All groups active in this field are warmly welcomed to attend. Registration fee is 50 euro, to be paid at registration on Monday 6 April 2009. For information see https://wis.kuleuven.be/cpa/BUKS2009/index.php or contact M. Goossens by e-mail Marcel.Goossens@wis.kuleuven.be ********************************************* From: Robert von Fay-Siebenburgen From: IAU - International Astronomical Union IAU XXVII GENERAL ASSEMBLY. REGISTRATION HAS STARTED. The Registration Server for the IAU XXVII General Assembly, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 3-14 August 2009, is on-line. See . The Server gives also access to the GA Accommodation Server, the GA Abstract Server, the GA Travel Grant Application Server and the CUP Pre-ordering of GA Proceedings Server. Note that Early Registration (reduced fees) will end on 1 March 2009. The IAU XXVII GA National Organizing Committee, chaired by Daniela Lazzaro and Beatriz Barbuy, is going to great lengths to organize a most interesting and enjoyable GA for the IAU membership, invited participants and guests. The scientific programme and practical information are available at: - the GA web site , - the IAU web pages , - and in IAU Information Bulletin 102 . The GA website and the IAU website both contain a great deal of information and are worth visiting regularly. ********************************************* From: stephane regnier March 23rd-28th, 2009 / Les Diablerets / Switzerland The Swiss Society for Astrophysics & Astronomy (SSAA) is now organising its 39th Advanced Course in Astronomy and Astrophysics. This course has taken place annually since 1971, sponsored every year by the Swiss Academy of Sciences. This winter school will be held in Les Diablerets from March 23rd to 28th, 2009. The subject of the course is: Magnetic Fields of Stars: From the Sun to Compact Objects The course addresses all aspects of stellar magnetic fields. The Sun, of which we best know and understand the magnetic field, shall serve as a reference object. Thus, lectures on the solar magnetic field will occupy about one third of the course, treating in detail the solar dynamo and all aspects of magnetic fields on the solar surface and in the outer atmosphere, and basic techniques of polarimetry of magnetic fields. In another third of the course we will turn our interest to magnetic fields of stars. On the theoretical side we will focus on stellar dynamos and magnetic fields during star formation and stellar evolution, and on the observational side on techniques and results from Doppler and Zeeman imaging of stellar magnetic fields and on the magnetic activity of different types of stars. A third of the full course will be devoted to the fate of the magnetic fields in the formation of the compact objects that emerge at the end of stellar evolution. This includes the current understanding of the observation and dynamics of magnetic fields in stellar collapse, white dwarfs and neutron stars. The lectures will be given in English by three top experts in the field. These are: Paul Charbonneau (D?artement de Physique, Universit?de Montr?l, Montr?l, Canada) Sami K. Solanki (Max-Planck-Institute f? Sonnensystemforschung, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany) Christopher Thompson (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Toronto, Canada) The lectures will be held in the morning and in the late afternoon leaving free time for informal discussions, studies, and outdoor activities (skiing) in the afternoons. The course is intended mainly for post graduate astronomers and physicists who wish to broaden their knowledge about astrophysical magnetic fields. More information on the course programme, general information, and registration is available on this course web-site: http://www.physik.unibas.ch/saasfee39 [www.physik.unibas.ch] Organisers: S. Berdyugina, R. Hirschi, M. Liebend?fer, G. Meynet, O. Steiner and F.-K. Thielemann Contact: saasfee39-physik@unibas.ch *********************************************************************** * * * Positions Vacant * * * *********************************************************************** From: S C Chapman Research Assistant or Research Fellow in Plasma Physics (2 posts) PHYSICS Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, University of Warwick, UK ?23,449 - ?26,391 pa or ?27,183 - ?35,469 pa Fixed Term Contract for 3 years These posts are part of a major EPSRC initiative to strengthen plasma physics in UK universities. You will have, or expect to attain, a PhD or equivalent in an area relevant to high temperature plasma physics, and your future research must strengthen the Centre's programme in fusion plasmas. It should be noted that these posts are designed as career development posts for someone who is newly qualified and wishes to gain experience in this field. Informal enquiries: Centre Directors, Professor Sandra Chapman S.C.Chapman@warwick.ac.uk and Professor Richard Dendy richard.dendy@ukaea.org.uk Further details may also be found on www.warwick.ac.uk/go/CFSA/ Click here for further details Microsoft Word [go.warwick.ac.uk] of the post in Microsoft Word format. Click here for further details Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) [go.warwick.ac.uk] of the post in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Click here for an application form [go.warwick.ac.uk]. To receive a hard copy application pack, please contact Human Resources, on +44(0)24 7652 3685 (24 hour answerphone), or by e-mail to Recruit@warwick.ac.uk. An application form must be completed if you wish to be considered for this post. Please note that the hard copy application pack and the on-line application pack are the same. Please quote job vacancy reference number 59388-108. The closing date/time for applications is midnight (British time) at the end of Monday 05 January 2009. For further details on how to apply [go.warwick.ac.uk] for a post at Warwick, the employee benefits [go.warwick.ac.uk] that we offer, information on Warwick people [go.warwick.ac.uk], what it is like working at Warwick [go.warwick.ac.uk], and more, please see our jobs introduction page [go.warwick.ac.uk]. The university values diversity. ******************************************** From: Eckart Marsch POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS AT Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research WITHIN THE SOLAIRE NETWORK In the framework of the SOLAIRE Marie Curie Network, a position is available to carry out research at the recent postdoctoral level: -18-month contract at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS), Germany, financed through the Solaire European Commission funds. Topic : We are looking for a candidate with strong interest and background in solar and heliospheric plasma physics, who will continue and extend our present numerical and analytical theoretical studies on, and/or observational investigations of, the origin and acceleration of the steady and transient solar wind and various heating processes of the corona. The group's ongoing research concentrates on collisionless and microturbulent transport, and on reconnection, extrapolation and modelling of the coronal magnetic field The research of the appointee will benefit from the networking activities within SOLAIRE. The latter include network-wide research and research training, postgraduate schools, network meetings and complementary-skills courses. The Solaire network (http://www.solairenetwork.eu) is a joint initiative of 12 European Universities and Research Institutes and a private R&TD company. Salary and social benefits are based on the applicable EU regulations as well as the local regulations of the Max-Planck Society. Following the European Commission rules, the gross salary for this employment contract will be roughly 34150 Euro/year, plus a mobility allowance depending on the marital status of the applicant. From these amounts, local taxes and the employee's contribution to social security must be deducted. In addition, the appointees will receive career exploratory, travel and mobility allowances in accordance with the European Commission's rules for Marie Curie Networks.. Details about salary and benefits can be obtained through the contact address given below. Candidates can be citizens of any country in the world with more than 4 years and less than 10 years of postgraduate research experience at the time of the appointment. They cannot be appointed in their own country or in a country where they have spent more than 12 months in the past 3 years. Further conditions and exceptions to these rules can be obtained in the contact addresses given below. The Solaire network especially encourages applications from women. For further information (description of the positions, application procedure, address for submission, etc) visit the Solaire web page: http://www.solairenetwork.net Contact email addresses: -- Further details about the position:. Eckart Marsch, marsch@linmpi.mpg.de -- General information about the Solaire Network: F. Moreno-Insertis, fmi@iac.es ******************************************** From: Julia Wehrle UCL Department of Space & Climate Physics Mullard Space Science Laboratory Salary will be in the range ?28,839 - ?35,469 dependent on experience. Start date: As soon as possible Location: Holmbury St. Mary, Dorking, UK. UCL?s Mullard Space Science Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral scientist to undertake research in the areas of space plasma physics and the dynamics of the terrestrial magnetosphere, principally through analysis of the Cluster and Double Star datasets. MSSL is the UKs largest university based space science research institution and is involved in many leading space research missions ( http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/). The postholder will be expected to work with the Cluster, Double Star and Themis datasets, as well as other space and ground-based datasets for context, and to work effectively as a member of the Space Plasma Physics group. In addition, potential future missions such as Cross-Scale, which is explicitly targeted at multi-scale space plasma physics currently being pioneered by Cluster, and KuaFu, which will bring new opportunities to explore large scale magnetospheric dynamics, will build on present work with the multi-spacecraft Cluster-Double Star-Themis constellations. In preparation for these, the successful applicant will also have the opportunity to be involved in scientific studies defining prospective MSSL involvement in these future missions. The post is supported by an STFC rolling grant and is available for a period of two years in the first instance, subject to a successful probationary period. Salary will be in the range ?28,839 - ?35,469, dependent on experience. To apply, prospective candidates should send their CV, publication list, a 1-page summary of both their research experience and future research aspirations and the contact details of three referees to Mrs. E. Daghorn (ead@mssl.ucl.ac.uk ). More details of the post can be found on http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/pages/jobs/jobs.html. For further information, contact Dr. Chris Owen (cjo@mssl.ucl.ac.uk) or Dr. Andrew Fazakerley (anf@mssl.ucl.ac.uk ). The closing date for applications is 28 November 2008 UCL Taking Action For Equality _______________________________________________ uksp mailing list uksp@physics.gla.ac.uk http://www.physics.gla.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/uksp