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Title: Coupling of the Photosphere to the Solar Corona: A laboratory and observational study of Alfvén wave interaction with a neutral gas

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/972630· OSTI ID:972630

The grant funded a three year project to investigate the role of Alfvén waves as a possible mechanism heating plasmas, with relevance to solar coronal heating. Evidence suggests that there is strong coupling between the solar photosphere, corona and solar wind through Alfvén wave interaction with the neutral gas particles. A laboratory experimental and solar observational plan was designed to investigate in detail this interaction. Although many of the original research goals were met, difficulties in detecting the Alfvén wave signature meant that much of the research was stymied. This report summaries the work during the grant period, the challenges encountered and overcome, and the future research directions.

Research Organization:
Univ. of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-06ER54895
OSTI ID:
972630
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER54895-3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English