Angular Broadening Measurements of the Solar Corona and Solar Wind in Support of the Parker Solar Probe Third Perihelion Encounter

Author:
Kenny, Megan, Astronomy, University of Virginia
Advisor:
Bastian, Timothy, National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Abstract:

From August 14 to September 10, 2019, the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array observed cosmic radio point sources occulted by the solar corona and solar wind. These remote sensing observations were temporally coordinated with the Parker Solar Probe's Third Perihelion Encounter, centered on September 1, 2019. In the range of 2-10R☉ and over a large range of heliographic latitudes, these angular broadening observations not only provide local measurements relevant to PSP but also provide global context information on the inner heliosphere. With ~64 pierce points tracing spatial anisotropies in the solar wind, these measurements provide a snapshot of minimum-corona conditions and shed light on questions of energy dissipation mechanisms and positional dependences of plasma properties.

Degree:
BS (Bachelor of Science)
Keywords:
solar corona, solar wind, radio astronomy, angular broadening
Language:
English
Rights:
All rights reserved (no additional license for public reuse)
Issued Date:
2020/05/08