UK Solar Physics Newsletter Lyndsay Fletcher & Duncan Mackay, Editors September 1st 2008 o News, Views and Gossip o Launch of new UKSP Website. o Congratulations to Vasilis Archontis for A&A image. o Science and Society Consultation by DIUS o A new highlight of solar radio physics o Meetings, Conferences and Workshops o Fall AGU session SH05- Turbulence in Solar Wind and Heliospheric Plasmas o AGU session NG05: Topological Space Weather Forecasting o SH02: Origins of Magnetic Activity at High Latitude on the Sun o AGU Session SH09: New Views of Multi-scale Couplings in the Sun: From the Hinode Era to Future o Employment Opportunities o Faculty Position in Solar Physics at Rice University o Research Associate (Postdoctoral) to work in the MSSL Solar & Stellar Physics Group o Postdoc position in Parallel MHD for New Architectures at Waterloo o STFC studentship at Salford. 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: Editors The editors would like to announce the launch of the new UKSP website. The site may be found at, www.uksolphys.org The site serves as a repository of information for the UK solar physics community and contains community news and information about national and international conferences, employment and study opportunities, solar missions, and computing resources. Items for the news letter may also be submitted through the website. The editors would like to thank Michelle Murray of MSSL for all of her hard work in putting this site together and agreeing to maintain it for the near future. Thanks - Michelle. Editors ************************************ From: Editors Congratulations to Vasilis Archontis at St. Andrews for producing an image beautiful enough to make it into the Astronomy and Astrophysics journal advertising material! See for yourselves at the link below (look at 3rd page) http://www.aanda.org/doc_journal/leaflet/aa_leaflet.pdf ************************************* From: "Melanie Illsley (STFC,SPO)" There has been a recent move within the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) to develop a strategy for "Science and Society". This title is very broad, covering the whole spectrum of public and schools engagement with scientific research - from science centres, dialogue over policy and ethics to developing a well-qualified scientific workforce. DIUS have produced a strategy document. They have asked us to draw your attention to it and to encourage you to comment as part of the consultation around the strategy. Though STFC, along with the other research councils, have had some input into the strategy we would very much like members of the research communities such as yourself to give their opinion. The interactive website where you can download the document and leave comments can be found at http://interactive.dius.gov.uk/scienceandsociety/site/. Though the whole document is quite lengthy, there is the opportunity to comment on individual sections or even paragraphs within sections so you can choose to comment only on those areas you feel are relevant to you. The consultation is open until Friday 17 October Kind regards Gareth Gareth James Science in Society Team Science and Technology Facilities Council Polaris House North Star Avenue Swindon Wiltshire SN2 1SZ ************************************* From: Silja Pohjolainen silpoh [at] utu.fi A New Highlight of Solar Radio Physics, Type III bursts, magnetic field extrapolations, and the propagation of solar energetic particles by Karl-Ludwig Klein is announced and can be found at http://www.lesia.obspm.fr/cesra/highlights/ --- New highlight material is always welcome, see instructions at the bottom of the highlights page or contact Silja at silpoh@utu.fi ********************************************************************* * * * Conferences, Workshops, Meetings * * * ********************************************************************* From: S Chapman Fall AGU 2008 SH05: --Abstract submission now open-Abstract deadline 10 September- Turbulence in Solar Wind and Heliospheric Plasmas: Observations, Simulations, and Theory Convenors: S. C. Chapman (Warwick), S. P. Gary (Los Alamos), A. Noullez (Obs. Nice), A. Lazarian (Wisconsin), D. Shaikh (IGPP), G. P. Zank (IGPP) The solar wind is a unique laboratory for the study of high magnetic Reynolds number flows with long term, in situ spacecraft observations that provide fluctuation measurements that span several orders of magnitudes in frequencies. These reveal an approximately 5/3 power law spectrum of magnetic fluctuations, which, along with the behaviour of the fluctuation PDFs suggest interpretation in terms of an inertial range of MHD turbulence. At higher time resolution, these observations identify a spectral break marking a transition to a high frequency regime which cannot be explained by MHD, a collisionless dissipation/dispersion range. On much longer timescales there is a `1/f' like power spectral signature suggested to be of coronal origin, and the solar wind can be characterized from the point of view of both intermittent turbulence and nonlinear coherent structures. Both our theoretical and observational understanding of these phenomena are far from complete. Problems include (i) anisotropy and compressibility (ii) the nature of `dissipation range' turbulence (iii) the formation of coherent structures (iv) the interplay between evolving turbulence and embedded structure originating from the corona and (v) obtaining an unambiguous quantitative characterization of the data, given issues of time stationarity and finite sample effects. The focus of this session will be the nonlinear dynamics of turbulent processes associated with solar wind and heliospheric plasma flows and magnetic fields. We invite related contributions addressing current theories, simulations, and analysis of spacecraft data. Prof Sandra C Chapman Director, CFSA Physics, Univ. of Warwick, UK S.C.Chapman@warwick.ac.uk www.warwick.ac.uk/go/cfsa/ ********************************************* From: Alexei Pevtsov AGU session NG05: Topological Space Weather Forecasting Topological space weather forecasting is a new focus area within the broader discipline of heliophysics that makes use of topological and other parameters related to local and global magnetic configurations in order to make predictions about the triggering, onset and evolution of phenomena, which precede and set the stage for geomagnetic storms. These include, but are not limited to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), solar flares, magnetic reconnection in coronal loops and in the Earth's magnetotail and magnetospheric storms and sub-storms. The tools for such studies include magnetic twistedness, kink, linkage, knottedness, helicities, field-line curvature (FLC), field-line torsion (FLT) and wave polarization. The purpose of this session is to assemble an interdisciplinary group of researchers from diverse backgrounds including topology and geometry, non-linear dynamics, plasma physics, magnetospheric, heliospheric and solar physics, and astrophysics in order to develop a new framework for understanding the solar-terrestrial interactions which culminate in geomagnetic events. See http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/index.php/Program/SessionSearch/?show=detail &sessid=410 for description of this session. The abstract deadline is September 10, 2008, 23:59UT. The meeting is scheduled for 15-19 December, 2008, in San Francisco, CA: http://www.agu.org ********************************************* From : Todd Hoeksema SH02: Origins of Magnetic Activity at High Latitude on the Sun Help explore what we know and do not know about the origins of polar magnetic activity on the Sun during a session at the Fall AGU Meeting in San Francisco, 15-19 December, 2008. The deadline for on-line submission of abstracts is during September 10 at UT 23:59. The high-latitude magnetic field of the Sun is key to understanding the fast solar polar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, and the variability of solar cycles. The large-scale polar magnetic field reverses polarity every 11 years during the maximum of solar activity and its consequent evolution affects the heliospheric magnetic field. Solar cycle predictions often rely on the nature and dynamics of the Sun's polar magnetic field and surrounding plasma motions. Emerging sunspots and magnetic flux at middle latitudes are closely related to the growth and development of polar magnetic activity. An evolving systematic imbalance of small-scale magnetic features results in the appearance of unipolar patterns. Solar transport models successfully describe many features of the solar cycle and magnetic field evolution, but they often fail to predict the polar field reversals without ad hoc assumptions. Also, accurate measurements of the polar magnetic field are important for understanding the nature of the fast high-latitude solar wind and coronal heating. Observing the polar regions is difficult. Observations from SOLIS, MDI,Hinode, and Ulysses will soon be augmented by frequent full-disk high-resolution vector magnetic field and velocity maps from SDO. The development of a more realistic understanding of the origins of the polar field will require analysis of vector magnetic observations and more complete knowledge of the nature of polar activity and its role in solar and heliospheric processes. Convenors: Elena Benevolenskaya, Dean Pesnell, & Todd Hoeksema ********************************************** From : Kanya Kusano AGU Session SH09: New Views of Multi-scale Couplings in the Sun: From the Hinode Era to Future The mutual interaction between vastly different scales is a crucial issue for the understanding of the Sun. Recent space-borne observatories such as Hinode have provided a wealth of new information for small scale solar dynamics. This includes the emergence of small-scale magnetic flux loop, transient horizontal magnetic fields in solar plage regions, and small-scale jet-like features in penumbral chromospheres. However, whether and how the small scale dynamics are related to large scale solar activities are still debatable and important questions for understanding of the Sun. This session will provide a forum to discuss these issues mainly based on the summary of the Hinode's discoveries. This session consists of several topical talks on the multi-scale couplings for the mutual relations between small scale and large scale structures of sunspot, the relation between transient brightening and large scale solar eruption, and the possible connection between the small scale horizontal magnetic fields and the large-scale solar magnetic field. Some generic talks on theory and new modeling for multi-scale interaction in plasmas are also included. Contributed talks on any kind multi-scale couplings either for observation and theory are welcome. The session promotes also the discussion on the future direction of solar research beyond the Hinode era, on the basis of the new satellite plans. Please join us in this session. Abstract deadline: September 10, 2008, 23:59UT. Meeting page: http://www.agu.org/meetings/fm08/ Meeting schedule: 15-19 December, 2008 Meeting Location: San Francisco, CA Co-conveners Kusano, K. (JAMSTEC) Sakao, T. (ISAS/JAXA) Ichimoto, K. (Kyoto Univ.) Suematsu, Y. (NAOJ) *********************************************************************** * * * Positions Vacant * * * *********************************************************************** From: David Alexander Faculty Position in Solar Physics at Rice University Research Associate (Postdoctoral) to work in the MSSL Solar & Stellar Physics Group The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University expects to have a tenure-track junior faculty position available in Solar Physics starting July 1, 2009 and invites applications from all qualified applicants. The successful candidate's research program should complement current research in solar physics and related fields at Rice, particularly in the areas of space physics and astrophysics (see physics.rice.edu for information on current research programs). We are particularly interested in developing strength in theoretical solar physics with a preference for solar MHD theory and numerical modeling. The successful candidate is expected to participate actively and effectively in teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, have a strong record of published research, obtain external funding, and develop a nationally recognized research program. Applicants should send a dossier that includes a curriculum vitae, a brief description of proposed research and teaching interests, a list of publications, and arrange for at least three letters of recommendation to be sent to David Alexander, Chair, Faculty Search Committee, c/o Valerie Call, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy ^S MS 61, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005 or by email to vcall@rice.edu. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, but only those received by December 31, 2008 will be assured of full consideration. Rice University is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer; women and underrepresented minorities are strongly encouraged to apply ******************************************** From: Libby UCL DEPARTMENT OF SPACE & CLIMATE PHYSICS Research Associate (Postdoctoral) to work in the MSSL Solar & Stellar Physics Group UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral scientist to fill the position of Research Associate in the Solar and Stellar Physics group. The solar and stellar physics group programme seeks to understand the basic physical processes that lead to the many and varied manifestations of solar (and stellar) activity. In particular, we study the processes of energy storage and release that lead to the existence of a hot corona, and impulsive phenomena occurring on all scales in the solar atmosphere (e.g. quiet Sun brightenings, flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)). Underpinning all of our activities is the requirement to understand the emergence and evolution of the solar magnetic field and its role in all solar phenomena, and we place great emphasis on the importance of this. This approach provides us with the basis for a coherent understanding of solar activity and its implications in the heliosphere. In addition, we are actively involved in the development of instrumentation for space missions such as the recently launched Hinode, and the future Solar Orbiter and KuaFu missions. The post is supported by an STFC rolling grant and is available for a period of two years in the first instance. Salary will be in on the UCL Grade 7 salary scale: 27,466 - 33,780 p.a. dependent on experience (October pay award pending). More details of the post can be found on ( http://www.mssl.ucl.ac.uk/pages/jobs/jobs.html ). For further information contact Dr. Sarah Matthews (sam@mssl.ucl.ac.uk). To apply, please send a CV, publication list and the details of three referees to Mrs. E. Daghorn (ead@mssl.ucl.ac.uk). In addition, UCL requires applicants applying with a CV to fill in a standardised monitoring information form which can be downloaded from: ( http://ucl.ac.uk/hr/docs/download_forms/recruitment_selection-1.doc). Please add this form to your application. Closing date: 30th September 2008. UCL Taking Action for Equality ******************************************** From: Hans De Sterck Postdoc position in Parallel MHD for New Architectures at Waterloo Applications are invited for a postdoctoral position in "Parallel CFD and MHD for New Architectures" at the Applied Mathematics Department of the University of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada). The project involves the development of numerical methods and parallel software for compressible hydrodynamics and MHD flows on parallel computers with GPU and CELL accelerators. The areas of application targeted are transonic solar wind modeling and space weather prediction. Successful candidates will have experience and/or interest in the following areas: CFD, multilevel numerical linear algebra methods, high-order numerical methods for hyperbolic conservation laws, MHD, C++ programming, unstructured grids, large-scale scientific computing with MPI, solar wind and space weather modeling, and GPU or CELL accelerator programming. To apply, please email a cover letter and a CV with list of publications to Prof. Hans De Sterck (hdesterck@uwaterloo.ca), and arrange for two letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the same address. The position is available immediately, but the starting date is negotiable. Funding is available for up to four years. For more information about our group and projects, see http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/groups/SSC http://www.math.uwaterloo.ca/~hdesterc/ ******************************************** From: David Tsiklauri < D.Tsiklauri -at- salford.ac.uk > STFC PhD Full Studentship Space and Solar Plasma Physics University of Salford Applications are invited for a Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) PhD Studentship within the Space and Solar Plasma Physics Group, Institute for Materials Research, University of Salford. The project involves numerical modelling and analytical investigation of wave dynamics and magnetic reconnection in space plasmas in broad, inter-disciplinary context. Project would also involve Solar Active Region modelling in the context of the main unsolved problem in Space Physics- the Coronal Heating Problem (http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/mysteries_l1/corona.html) Applicants should have a good Honours degree in Physics or Applied Mathematics (at least 2:1 or equivalent) or a lower second class plus a Master's (MPhys) qualification. Programming experience in any high level language is highly desirable. Candidates should be UK residents and will receive full fees and stipend of 12,600+ per annum for three years. For details and eligibility, see http://www.stfc.ac.uk/Grants/Studs/Contents.aspx EU students qualify for the "fees only" award. Please send your CV, completed PhD application form, which is available from the Postgraduate Office of the University (Web site: http://www.pg.salford.ac.uk/pdfs/PGR-app.pdf), and two letters of recommendation directly to: Dr. David Tsiklauri Physics Discipline Newton Building University of Salford Greater Manchester, England M5 4WT The deadline for applications is the 1st September 2008. Starting Date is 1 October 2008. Dr. David Tsiklauri may be contacted by Email: D.Tsiklauri -at- salford.ac.uk or Tel. 0161 29 55383 for informal discussions. University of Salford is located in Greater Manchester, only 1 mile away from the Manchester city centre. For further information, please visit URL links below: Space and Solar Plasma Physics Group -- http://space.cse.salford.ac.uk/ Institute for Materials Research -- http://www.imr.salford.ac.uk University of Salford -- http://www.salford.ac.uk -- 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