Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre (SP²RC)
The scientist does not study nature because it is useful; he studies it because he delights in it, and he delights in it because it is beautiful. If nature were not beautiful, it would not be worth knowing, and if nature were not worth knowing, life would not be worth living.
– Henri Poincaré
Research Summary and Principal Aims
The Solar Physics and Space Plasma Research Centre (SP²RC) at the University of Sheffield seeks to understand the nature of key plasma processes occurring in the solar interior and the atmosphere of the Sun, from photosphere to corona, with particular attention devoted to the various coupling mechanisms of these apparently distinct regions.
A large part of the energy flux released in the solar atmosphere travels into interplanetary space and impacts on the Earth's bow shock, energising the magnetosphere and influencing the composition, energy balance and dynamics of the ionosphere, plamasphere and plasmapause.
The generation of energetic events in the convection zone and their propagation through the solar-terrestrial system is investigated by members of SP²RC by using mathematical modelling.
Our mathematical approach involves rigorous analytical work and the implementation of parallel computing (GRID technology) where results are continuously tested by making and using ground-base(e.g. SST, DSO) and high-resolution satellite observations (e.g. SOHO, TRACE, Hinode, SDO).
SP²RC's research programme involves projects on Helioseismology, Convection Zone & Tachocline, Oscillations & Dynamics in the Solar Atmosphere, Global Coronal Seismology, Magnetic Reconnection, and Absolute & Convective Instabilties.
The main aims of SP²RC are
(1) to understand the key important physical processes governing the energy flow from the convective zone to the solar atmosphere and down to the Earth's upper atmosphere using analysis of observational data, and through mathematical and computational modelling.
(2) to model the coupling of the various traditionally considered `distinct' regions of the Sun-Earth system (e.g. momentum transport through tachocline; coupling of global solar oscillations to the solar atmosphere; magnetic coupling from photosphere to corona and CMEs; etc.).
(3) to develop and update our mathematical and computational models, and our data analysis techniques to achieve the above objectives.
(4) to verify observationally our mathematical and numerical modelling.
(5) to absorb advances made elsewhere and disseminate our results/knowledge base in order to keep the Group's activities at the forefront of world-wide research.
(6) to offer PhD and postdoctoral training of the highest possible quality.
(7) to contribute UK's leadership of the high-profile international solar research.
Key Publications
Ballai, I., Erdelyi, R. Pinter, B. (2005)
"On the nature of coronal EIT waves"
Astrophys. J. Lett., 633, L145
Ballai, I., Erdelyi, R. Hargreaves, J. (2006)
"Slow magnetohydrodynamic waves in stratified and viscous plasmas"
Phys. Plasmas, 13, 042108-1
Rekha Jain and Haber D. (2002)
"Solar P-modes & Surface Magnetic fields: Is there an Acoustic Emission?"
Astron. & Astrophys., vol. 387,no.3 1092.
Rekha Jain, P. Browning and K. Kusano (2006)
`Nonlinear effects on magnetic energy release by forced magnetic reconnection"
Physics of Plamas, vol. 13, issue 5, 052902-12
Kim, E. (2006)
"Consistent theory of turbulent transport in two dimensional magnetohydrodynamics"
Phys. Rev. Lett., 96, 084504
Kim, E. and MacGregor, K.B. (2001)
"Gravity wave-driven flows in the solar tachocline"
Astrophys. J. Lett., 556, L117
Ruderman, M.S. and Roberts, B. (2002)
"Damping of coronal loop oscillations,"
ApJ, 577, 475-486.
Dymova, M. and Ruderman, M.S. (2006)
"The resonant damping of oscillations of longitudinally stratified coronal loops,"
A&A, 457, 1059-1070.
De Pontieu, B., Erdélyi, R. & James, S.P. (2004)
"Solar Spicules Driven by Leakage into the Chromosphere of Photospheric Oscillations and Flows",
Nature, 430, pp.536-539.
Erdélyi, R. (2006)
"Magnetic Coupling of Waves and Oscillations in the Lower Solar Atmosphere: Can the Tail Wag the Dog?"
Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A, 364, pp.351-382.
R. Howe et al. (incl. M. J. Thompson) (2000)
"Deeply Penetrating Banded Zonal Flows in the Solar Convection Zone"
Astrophys. J. 533, L163.
Thompson, M. J., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., Miesch, M. S. & Toomre, J. (2003)
The internal rotation of the sun.
Ann. Rev. Astron. Astrophys., 41, 599-643.
Key Achievements
Determination of the nature of coronal global EIT waves & initialisation of the field of global coronal seismology
Derivation and solution to the Klein-Gordon-Burgers equation
Establishing the role of magnetic fields in the amplitude and frequency modulations of the solar p-modes
Proving evidence (both observational and modelling) for the direct dynamic effects of photospheric wave leakage (e.g. p-modes) on atmospheric fine-scale structure formation (e.g. spicule formation and coronal wave excitation)
Mapping the rotation of the solar interior
Current Grants & Awards (Above 5K only)
Rolling Grant Support for Solar Physics and Upper-Atmosphere Research at the University of Sheffield
2005-2010
PPARC
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen
Co-Is: Dr. I. Ballai, Dr. R. Jain, Dr. N. Mole, Prof. M. Ruderman, Prof. M. J. Thompson
Helioseismology – transfer from Imperial rolling grants
17/01/2005
PPARC
Prof. M. J. Thompson
Making NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Data available to the Virtual Observatory
2004 -
PPARC
Prof. M. J. Thompson
HELAS – A European Helio- and Asteroseismology Network
2006 -
European Commission
O. von der Luehe, P. Palle, M. J. Thompson, J. Christensen-Dalsgaard, M. J. P. F. G. Monteiro, L. Gizon, M. P. di Mauro, C. Aerts, J. Daszynska-Daszkiewicz, T. Corbard
International networking for young scientists
2007
British Council
I. Ballai, E. Forgacs-Dajka, L. van Driel-Gesztelyi
Research grant for young lecturers
2004-2007
Nuffield Foundation (UK)
Dr I. Ballai
EPSRC first grant
2005 - 2008 EPSRC
Dr. Rekha Jain
Research grant for young lecturers
2004-2007
Nuffield Foundation (UK)
Dr Rekha Jain
EPSRC First Grant
20/03/2007
EPSRC
Dr. E. Kim
EPSRC CASE PhD studentship
01/10/2006
EPSRC
Dr. E. Kim
Particle Physics and Astronomy International Summer School (IUSS)
2006, 2007,
PPARC
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen
Novelties in Theory and Observations of the Solar-Terrestrial System,
PPARC, 2003-2006
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen
Co-I : Dr E. Kiss-T\'oth, Medical School, SU, `Mathematical modelling of regulatory mechanisms in MAPK signalling,
Waves and Oscillations in the Solar Atmosphere: Heating and Magneto-Seismology,
IAU
2007 -
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen (with Prof. Mendoza [Merida])
Waves and oscillations in the solar atmosphere: Heating and magneto-seismology
International Union of Pure and Applied Physics (IUPAP),
2006 -
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen (with Prof Mendoza [Merida])
Awarded (outside University of Sheffield)
Waves in the Solar Corona,
2007 - 2008
ISSI, Switzerland,
Prof. R. von Fay-Siebenburgen
(P.I: Dr Nakariakov [U. of Warwick])
