Description

The heating of the solar corona and acceleration of the solar wind is one of thefundamental problems in all of space science. While different scenarios have beenproposed to explain the heating of magnetically confined and open regions of the corona,they all rely on the transfer, storage and dissipation of the abundant free energy presentin photospheric convection. Free energy can be transferred from the photospherethrough the chromosphere and the transition region into the corona both as a Poyntingflux, which has two components - one due to emerging magnetic field, and one due tothe constant shaking and tangling of magnetic field lines already threading the corona bythe photospheric velocity field - and by a mechanical and enthalpy flux related to massmotions (flows and compressive waves).

This opportunity concerns the modeling of the different aspects of the energy storageand dissipation in the outer solar atmosphere and wind, to be addressed via analyticalmodeling and/or numerical simulations, at either the large, MHD scales, or the smallerkinetic scales involving non-linear wave-particle interactions.

References:Rappazzo, F., Velli, M., Einaudi, G. and Dahlburg, R., (2008) Astrophys. J. 677, 1348,Nonlinear Dynamics of the Parker Scenario for Coronal Heating.Verdini, A. and Velli, M. (2007) Astrophys J. 662, P 669, Alfven Waves and Turbulence in theSolar Atmosphere and Solar Wind
Location:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Pasadena, California
Field of Science:Heliophysics Science
Advisors:
Marco Velli
Marco.C.Velli@jpl.nasa.gov
818-354-4369

Applications with citizens from Designated Countries will not be accepted at this time, unless they are Legal Permanent Residents of the United States. A complete list of Designated Countries can be found at: https://www.nasa.gov/oiir/export-control.

Eligibility is currently open to:

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status; and,
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status