Dear Colleagues,
Here are a few items which have come to our attention since the last Newsletter.
You can find this news also at the UKSP website:
http://www.uksolphys.org/news/last-15-days/
or the newsletter in full in our JISCMail archive:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/uksp
Richard ([log in to unmask])
Mihalis ([log in to unmask])
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General News/UKSP Business:
Big Bear Solar Observatory – Call for Observing Proposals: 2018 Session 1
New Website Showing Past and Present Solar Activity
STFC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
Nuggets:
CESRA nuggets in January
HMI Science Nuggets in January 2018
New RHESSI Science Nuggets
Meetings/Workshops/Summer Schools:
TESS session: Sources for Suprathermal Ions
UKMHD 2018 Registration deadline
Jobs/Studentships:
2 fully-funded PhD positions at the University of Glasgow
Postdoctoral Position at the Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics
JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Position at the University of Arizona
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General News/UKSP Business:
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Big Bear Solar Observatory – Call for Observing Proposals: 2018 Session 1
from Richard Morton [February 1, 2018]
New Jersey Institute of Technology announces the availability of a certain amount of observing time for the solar community at its Big Bear Solar observatory (BBSO) 1.6-m, off-axis Goode Solar Telescope (GST). The BBSO telescope allocation committee (TAC) is accepting outside proposals for the session 1 (2018 April 15 – Jun 30) observing quarter. Proposals are due Friday, March 9, 2018. Applicants are encouraged to collaborate with BBSO/NJIT scientists to facilitate proposal preparation, observations, and data analysis. Descriptions of the GST and its instrumentation are available at: www.bbso.njit.edu/NJIT_Ground-Based_Solar_Observatories.pdf
The observing proposal should be submitted via the following web link: www.bbso.njit.edu/cgi-bin/NSTObsForm
Meanwhile, much of our existing data are already open to the community. The data availability with quick look movies can be found at: www.bbso.njit.edu/~vayur/NST_catalog/
Data can be requested via: www.bbso.njit.edu/~vayur/nst_requests/
We note the large number of excellently written DKIST Science Use Cases being considered in its critical science plan. As DKIST is about 2 years away from start of operations, many of these could be preliminarily explored using existing GST data or by applying for new GST observations. We encourage authors of the DKIST Science Use Cases to discuss this possibility with us.
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New Website Showing Past and Present Solar Activity
from Richard Morton [February 1, 2018]
Would you like to know how active the Sun is today? Or how did it look like 100 years ago? You can explore this by visiting our new website at www.observethesun.com The main features of the website:
a 3D map of the tracers of solar activity (sunspots, filaments, plages, coronal holes, corona, prominences), updated daily
large-scale datasets of sunspots (1918 – present), plages (from 1907), filaments and prominences (1919 – present) and variety of solar activity indices
you can see solar activity from different vantage points, select objects to be displayed and download the data.
A detailed information about features of the website and a tutorial are available at [log in to unmask]
Enjoy!
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STFC Impact Acceleration Account (IAA)
from Sian Giles [January 31, 2018]
STFC has recently awarded each of its top 22 universities an Impact Acceleration Account (IAA) to help accelerate impact derived from STFC-funded science and technology. STFC’s IAA provides flexible funding directly to the research organisation’s Knowledge Exchange / Technology Transfer Office to support STFC-funded academics to take their ideas towards application through activities not currently supported by other STFC funding mechanisms.
Activities supported by the IAA should align to the IAA guidance notes available via: http://www.stfc.ac.uk/funding/working-with-industry/commercialisation/stfc-impact-acceleration-account-pilot/
For instance, the STFC Impact Acceleration Account can be used to:
• Support the commercialisation of STFC-funded research outputs, e.g. hold an internal competition for funding small proof of concept studies.
• Supporting the training of STFC-funded academics in knowledge exchange and commercialisation, e.g. hold internal business plan competitions or workshops.
• Support the assessment for commercial potential of STFC-funded research outputs, e.g. carry out market surveys for new technologies.
• Support the engagement of STFC-funded academics with relevant users of their research, e.g. hold showcase events to introduce businesses to applied research in STFC-funded academic groups or support short secondments to / from business.
The above activities are suggestions and we very much welcome alternative projects. Applicants should consider what activities would be most appropriate for their own STFC-funded community. Any requests for the award funds to be used to employ external parties should be fully justified.
STFC Impact Acceleration Account cannot be used to:
• Support Public Engagement activities
• Pay for patent costs
• Support training or activities aimed at undergraduates
• Cover tuition or bench fees for PhD students
• Support activities based on outputs of research funded solely by organisations other than STFC
Due to funding limitations, we will be supporting only the top 22 funded research organisations as determined by total value of STFC grants paid in financial years 2012-17. An alphabetical list of the research organisations, who have received an IAA award (£100,000), is attached below.
Cardiff University, Durham University, Imperial College London, Lancaster University, Open University
Queen Mary, University of London Royal Holloway, University of London, The University of Manchester, University College London, University of Birmingham, University of Bristol, University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow, University of Leeds, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool, University of Oxford, University of Sheffield, University of Southampton, University of Sussex, University of Warwick
Please contact the Knowledge Exchange / Technology Transfer team within your university or Ling Xu ([log in to unmask]) if you have any questions.
Best wishes,
STFC
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/funding/working-with-industry/commercialisation/stfc-impact-acceleration-account-pilot/
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Nuggets:
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CESRA nuggets in January
from Eduard Kontar [February 1, 2018]
The statistical relationship between global EUV waves and other solar phenomena by D. Long et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1763
Estimation of a CME magnetic field strength using observations of gyrosynchrotron radiation by E. P. Carley et al.*
http://cesra.net/?p=1701
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CESRA publishes Highlights of Solar Radio Physics aka CESRA Nuggets approximately every two weeks. These short communications are written in the language accessible to a non-expert in the specific area and designed to keep solar and heliophysics communities informed and up-to-date about current research. The highlights can be followed, discussed, commented and shared via www.facebook.com/solarcesra/ and www.twitter.com/CESRA_community
http://cesra.net
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HMI Science Nuggets in January 2018
from Richard Morton [February 1, 2018]
We announce three HMI Science Nuggets for January 2018.
#82 “A Super-Synoptic Map of HMI Flux Density”, contributed by Leif Svalgaard (hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?p=2146)
#83 “Observing and modeling the poloidal and toroidal fields of the solar dynamo”, contributed by Robert Cameron (hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?p=2166)
#84 “Abrupt and Permanent Changes of the Photospheric Magnetic Field During 75 flares observed with HMI”, contributed by Sebastián Castellanos Durán (hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/?p=2172)
We welcome submissions on work related to HMI scientific goals. More information can be found at hmi.stanford.edu/hminuggets/
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New RHESSI Science Nuggets
from Hugh Hudson [January 26, 2018]
No. 313, “Tecumseh’s Eclipse and Astrophysics,” by Hugh Hudson: The solar corona was first recognized as actually being solar, and given that name by Jose Joaquin de Ferrer y Cafranga, in an historically interesting eclipse of 1806 (December 25, 2017).
No. 314, “A Curious Sunspot Group in 2018,” by Hugh Hudson: The first new sunspot group of 2018 emerged at the wrong latitude, or else with the wrong polarity (January 14, 2018).
No. 315, “Parametrized Flare Models with Chromospheric Compressions,” by Adam Kowalski and Joel Allred: A new approach to modeling the lower solar atmosphere during flaring (January 17, 2018).
See
http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/wiki/index.php/RHESSI_Science_Nuggets
listing the current series, 2008-present, and
http://sprg.ssl.berkeley.edu/~tohban/nuggets/
for the original series, 2005-2008.
We publish these at roughly two-week intervals and welcome contributions,
which should be related, at least loosely, to RHESSI science.
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Meetings/Workshops/Summer Schools:
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TESS session: Sources for Suprathermal Ions
from Yuan-Kuen Ko [January 24, 2018]
We invite contributions to the session “Sources for Suprathermal Ions” (https://agu.confex.com/agu/2018tess/preliminaryview.cgi/Session40387)
at The Triennial Earth–Sun Summit that will be held on May 20-24, 2018 at the Lansdowne Resort and Spa in Leesburg, VA, USA (https://connect.agu.org/tess2018/home).
Session Description:
Suprathermal ions (ions of a few times the solar wind plasma energy up to 100s of keV per charge) are known to play a significant role as the seed population in the acceleration to high energy particles by coronal mass ejection (CME) shocks. In the quest for a reliable prediction of the properties of large solar energetic particle (SEP) events, one crucial element is a quantitative understanding of how the suprathermal particles are produced and distributed in the solar corona and the solar wind, especially as a sustained source. Another crucial element is a quantitative understanding of how the variation in the suprathermal seed population contributes to the variation in SEP properties. This session invites contributions from theories, models and observations that aim toward this aspect of research.
Session conveners: Yuan-Kuen Ko ([log in to unmask]), George C. Ho ([log in to unmask]), Nariaki Nitta ([log in to unmask])
Abstract submission deadline: February 20, 2018
The Triennial Earth-Sun Summit (TESS) is a joint meeting of the Space Physics and Aeronomy Section of the American Geophysical Union (AGU) and the Solar Physics Division (SPD) of the American Astronomical Society.
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UKMHD 2018 Registration deadline
from Richard Morton [January 17, 2018]
Hi,
Please note that the UKMHD 2018 meeting will be held at the University of St Andrews from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th March, 2018. The meeting is part of the British Applied Mathematics Colloquium. Professor Philippa Browning will give one of the BAMC plenary talks during UKMHD and there will be a public lecture by Professor Carlos Frenk on Tuesday 27th March at 5.00pm.
Registration details can be found at
http://www.mcs.st-andrews.ac.uk/~bamc2018/Registration.html
and please note that the early bird registration ends on 2nd February 2018.
We do have funding from both STFC and the RAS to support the accommodation and travel costs of STFC postdocs and PhD students and RAS student members. Due to issues with the website, the funding will have to be paid retrospectively and claim forms should be completed at the meeting. Basically, we will divide the total amount of funding we have by the number of eligible applicants and that will be the support costs!
Pass on this information to anyone else who is interested in MHD problems.
Many thanks.
Alan
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Jobs/Studentships:
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2 fully-funded PhD positions at the University of Glasgow
from Lyndsay Fletcher [January 26, 2018]
Applications are welcomed for two fully-funded PhD positions at the University of Glasgow.
The first PhD studentship, fully funded by the Royal Society for 4-years, is available for a UK/EU student on the topic of “The high energy emission from small solar flares”. This will involve using some of the latest solar X-ray data (including NASA’s NuSTAR telescope) to investigate heating of the solar atmosphere. It will be supervised by Dr. Iain Hannah. For more information contact Dr Hannah directly ([log in to unmask]) or go to http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/?p=4814
The second PhD studentship, fully funded by the STFC, is for 3.5 years and is available to UK and EU students satisfying the STFC eligibility criteria under point 28. here:
http://www.stfc.ac.uk/files/tg-frequently-asked-questions/
This studentship will be in solar physics or a closely related area of plasma physics, and project descriptions are available here:
http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/?page_id=52
Individual supervisors may be contacted for more information.
The PhD studentship will start by Oct 2018 and be held in Astronomy & Astrophysics group in the SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Glasgow, UK.
The application deadline for both positions is February 14th, and applications must be made through the Glasgow University College of Science and Engineering:
https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/scienceengineering/graduateschool/postgraduateresearchstudy/howtoapply/
http://www.astro.gla.ac.uk/?page_id=52
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Postdoctoral Position at the Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics
from Catherine Fischer [January 20, 2018]
Applications are invited for the position of a postdoctoral position at the Kiepenheuer-Institut für Sonnenphysik in Freiburg, Germany, available from May 1, 2018.
The candidate will be working on the QUEST-project (QUiet-sun Event STatistics), a junior research group funded by the Leibniz association and led by Dr. Catherine Fischer. A PhD student will join the group during the project duration.
This project will characterize the quiet-sun magnetic field by studying observational signatures of events such as for example flux cancelation, convective collapse and granular buffeting of magnetic elements. Taking advantage of multi-instrument data sets and building up statistics of these events by correlating the changes of physical parameters will provide a comprehensive picture of these processes from the photosphere to the higher solar atmosphere. The project will thereby fully exploit the available multi-instrument data of the Hinode telescope and the SDO, IRIS, the current high-resolution data from GREGOR as well as the DKIST coming online in 2020.
KIS is a foundation of public law of the State of Baden-Württemberg and a member of the Leibniz Association. Its mission is to perform fundamental astrophysical research with an emphasis on solar physics. Current research foci include the magnetized solar atmosphere, global magnetic activity in the sun and stars, and high resolution techniques. Further information can be obtained via the web page of the Institute (http://www.leibniz-kis.de).
Applicants should have a PhD in astrophysics and a record of research in astrophysics, preferentially in the area of solar physics. Ideally candidates will be fluent in the programming languages Python and IDL.
KIS is committed to be a workplace free from discrimination, with equal opportunities for all. We therefore encourage qualified women to apply. The contract can be for a period of up to 3 years (if performance is adequate). The salary scale will be in accordance with the TV-L E-13 level of the German public employees and includes contributions to a pension plan as well as health and unemployment insurances. In addition KIS can provide child and kindergarten allowances, discounts on public transport fares and an end-of-year bonus.
The application should include a curriculum vitae, a list of publications, a cover letter in the context of the QUEST project, and a short statement on past and envisioned research. Please arrange for two reference letters to be sent directly by the referees to the email addresses below. The selection of candidates will start after February 15, 2018 until the position is filled. Please send your application via email to Ms. Judith Blank: judith.blank(at)leibniz-kis.de and cfischer(at)leibniz-kis.de in CC with the keyword ‘QUEST’ in the email subject. Questions regarding the position should be sent to Catherine Fischer at cfischer(at)leibniz-kis.de.
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JOB OPENING: Postdoctoral Research Position at the University of Arizona
from Kristopher G Klein [January 18, 2018]
The Solar and Heliospheric Research Group at the University of Arizona in the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral researcher who will work with Professor Kristopher Klein on combining theory with the analysis of in situ solar wind observations as a means of characterizing the plasma processes that occur in the heliosphere and in space and astrophysical plasmas more generally. In addition to currently available solar wind observatory data, we will be working with measurements from the soon-to-launch Parker Solar Probe to gain a better understanding of how the solar wind is heated and accelerated in the near-Sun environment.
Applicants should have a recent PhD in physics, ideally with a focus in plasma, space, or solar physics.
Applications for the position, a Postdoctoral Research Associate I with listing number P20504, should be submitted to:
https://uacareers.com/postings/26015
A Cover Letter and Curriculum Vitae will be required, and three letters of recommendation will be requested.
Any questions regarding this position should be addressed to [log in to unmask]
https://uacareers.com/postings/26015
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