Coronagraphic Imaging Research Articles

Nature of helicity injection in non-erupting solar active regions

ABSTRACT Using time-sequence vector magnetic field and coronal observations from Solar Dynamics Observatory, we report the observations of the magnetic field evolution and coronal activity in four emerging active regions (ARs). The ARs emerge with leading polarity being the same as for the majority of ARs in a hemisphere of solar cycle 24. After emergence, the magnetic polarities separate each other without building a sheared polarity inversion line. In all four ARs, the magnetic fields are driven by foot point motions such that the sign of the helicity injection (dH/dt) in the first half of the evolution is changed to the opposite sign in the later part of the observation time. This successive injection of opposite helicity is also consistent with the sign of mean force–free twist parameter (αav). Further, the EUV light curves off the ARs in 94 Å and GOES X-ray flux reveal flaring activity below C-class magnitude. Importantly, the white-light coronagraph images in conjunction with the AR images in Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) 94 Å delineate the absence of associated Coronal Mass ejections (CMEs) with the studied ARs. These observations imply that the ARs with successive injection of opposite sign magnetic helicity are not favourable to twisted flux rope formation with excess coronal helicity, and therefore are unable to launch CMEs, according to recent reports. This study provides the characteristics of helicity flux evolution in the ARs referring to the conservative property of magnetic helicity and more such studies would help to quantify the eruptive capability of a given AR.

Constrained Reference Star Differential Imaging: Enabling High-fidelity Imagery of Highly Structured Circumstellar Disks * * Based on data collected at Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

High-contrast imaging presents us with the opportunity to study circumstellar disks and the planets still embedded within them, providing key insights into the formation and evolution of planetary systems. However, the postprocessing techniques that are often needed to suppress stellar halo light typically result in significant and variable loss of circumstellar light, even when using relatively conservative approaches like reference star differential imaging (RDI). We introduce “constrained reference star differential imaging” (constrained RDI), a new class of RDI point-spread-function (PSF) subtraction techniques for systems with circumstellar disks. Constrained RDI utilizes either high-resolution polarized-intensity (PI) images or disk models to severely limit or even eliminate the signal loss due to oversubtraction that is common to RDI. We demonstrate the ability of constrained RDI utilizing polarimetric data to yield an oversubtraction-free detection of the AB Aurigae protoplanetary disk in total intensity. PI-constrained RDI allows us to decisively recover the spectral signature of the confirmed, recently discovered protoplanet, AB Aurigae b. We further demonstrate that constrained RDI can be a powerful analysis tool for soon-to-be-acquired James Webb Space Telescope coronagraphic imaging of disks. In both cases, constrained RDI provides analysis-ready products that enable more detailed studies of disks and more robust verification of embedded exoplanets.

Laboratory demonstration of real-time focal plane wavefront control of residual atmospheric speckles

Current and future high contrast imaging instruments aim to detect exoplanets at closer orbital separations, lower masses, and/or older ages than their predecessors. However, continually evolving speckles in the coronagraphic science image limit contrasts of state-of-the-art ground-based exoplanet imaging instruments. For ground-based adaptive optics (AO) instruments, it remains challenging for most speckle suppression techniques to attenuate both the dynamic atmospheric as well as quasistatic instrumental speckles on-sky. We have proposed a focal plane wavefront sensing and control algorithm to address this challenge, called the fast atmospheric selfcoherent camera (SCC) technique (FAST), which in theory enables the SCC to operate down to millisecond timescales even when only a few photons are detected per speckle. Here, we present the first experimental results of FAST on the Santa Cruz Extreme AO Laboratory (SEAL) testbed. In particular, we illustrate the benefit of “second stage” AO-based focal plane wavefront control, demonstrating up to 5 × contrast improvement with FAST closed-loop compensation of evolving residual atmospheric turbulence—both for low and high order spatial modes—down to 20-ms timescales.

Low-order wavefront control using a Zernike sensor through Lyot coronagraphs for exoplanet imaging

Context.The combination of large segmented space telescopes, coronagraphy, and wavefront control methods is a promising solution for producing a dark hole (DH) region in the coronagraphic image of an observed star in order to study planetary companions. The thermal and mechanical evolution of such a high-contrast instrumental setup leads to wavefront drifts that degrade the DH contrast during the observing time, thus limiting the ability to retrieve planetary signals.Aims.Lyot-style coronagraphs are starlight-suppression systems that remove the central part of the image for an unresolved observed star, that is, the point spread function, with an opaque focal plane mask (FPM). When implemented with a flat mirror containing an etched pinhole, the mask rejects part of the starlight through the pinhole which can be used to retrieve information about low-order aberrations.Methods.We propose an active control scheme using a Zernike wavefront sensor (ZWFS) to analyze the light rejected by the FPM, control low-order aberrations, and stabilize the DH contrast. We first present the concept formalism and then describe how we characterized the sensor behavior in simulations and in the laboratory. We performed experimental tests to validate a wavefront control loop using a ZWFS on the HiCAT testbed.Results.By controlling the first 11 Zernike modes, we show a decrease in the standard deviation of the wavefront error by a factor of up to 9 between open- and closed-loop operations using the ZWFS. In the presence of wavefront perturbations, we show the ability of this control loop to stabilize a DH contrast around 7 × 10−8with a standard deviation of 7 × 10−9.Conclusions.Active control with a ZWFS proves to be a promising solution in Lyot coronagraphs with an FPM-filtered beam for controlling and stabilizing low-order wavefront aberrations and DH contrast for exoplanet imaging with future space missions.

ALMA Images the Eccentric HD 53143 Debris Disk

We present ALMA 1.3 mm observations of the HD 53143 debris disk—the first infrared or millimeter image produced of this ∼1 Gyr old solar analog. Previous HST STIS coronagraphic imaging did not detect flux along the minor axis of the disk, which could suggest a face-on geometry with two clumps of dust. These ALMA observations reveal a disk with a strikingly different structure. In order to fit models to the millimeter visibilities and constrain the uncertainties on the disk parameters, we adopt a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. This is the most eccentric debris disk observed to date with a forced eccentricity of 0.21 ± 0.02, nearly twice that of the Fomalhaut debris disk, and also displays an apocenter glow. Although this eccentric model fits the outer debris disk well, significant interior residuals remain, which may suggest a possible edge-on inner disk, which remains unresolved in these observations. Combined with the observed structure difference between HST and ALMA, these results suggest a potential previous scattering event or dynamical instability in this system. We also note that the stellar flux changes considerably over the course of our observations, suggesting flaring at millimeter wavelengths. Using simultaneous TESS observations, we determine the stellar rotation period to be 9.6 ± 0.1 days.

Predictive wavefront control on Keck II adaptive optics bench: on-sky coronagraphic results

The behavior of an adaptive optics (AO) system for ground-based high contrast imaging dictates the achievable contrast of the instrument. In conditions where the coherence time of the atmosphere is short compared with the speed of the AO system, the servo-lag error can become the dominant error term of the AO system. While the AO system measures the wavefront error and subsequently applies a correction (typically taking a total of one or a few milliseconds), the atmospheric turbulence above the telescope has changed resulting in the servo-lag error. In addition to reducing the Strehl ratio, the servo-lag error causes a build-up of speckles along the direction of the dominant wind vector in the coronagraphic image, severely limiting the contrast at small angular separations. One strategy to mitigate this problem is to predict the evolution of the turbulence over the delay time. Our predictive wavefront control algorithm minimizes, in a mean square sense, the wavefront error over the delay and has been implemented on the Keck II AO bench. We report on the latest results of our algorithm and discuss updates to the algorithm itself. We explore how to tune various filter parameters based on both daytime laboratory tests and on-sky tests. We show a reduction in residual-mean-square wavefront error for the predictor compared with the leaky integrator (the standard controller for Keck) implemented on Keck for three separate nights. Finally, we present contrast improvements for daytime and on-sky tests for the first time. Using the L-band vortex coronagraph for Keck’s NIRC2 instrument, we find a contrast gain of up to 2 at a separation of 3 λ / D and up to 3 for larger separations (3 − 7 λ / D).

Can We Detect Coronal Mass Ejections through Asymmetries of Sun-as-a-star Extreme-ultraviolet Spectral Line Profiles?

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the largest-scale eruptive phenomena in the solar system. Associated with enormous plasma ejections and energy releases, CMEs have an important impact on the solar–terrestrial environment. Accurate predictions of the arrival times of CMEs at the Earth depend on precise measurements of their 3D velocities, which can be achieved by using simultaneous line-of-sight (LOS) and plane-of-sky (POS) observations. Besides the POS information from routine coronagraph and extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) imaging observations, spectroscopic observations could unveil the physical properties of CMEs, including their LOS velocities. We propose that spectral line asymmetries measured by Sun-as-a-star spectrographs can be used for routine detections of CMEs and estimations of their LOS velocities during their early propagation phases. Such observations can also provide important clues for the detection of CMEs on other solar-like stars. However, few studies have concentrated on whether we can detect CME signals and accurately diagnose CME properties through Sun-as-a-star spectral observations. In this work, we construct a geometric CME model and derive the analytical expressions for full disk-integrated EUV line profiles during CMEs. For different CME properties and instrumental configurations, the full disk-integrated line profiles are synthesized. We further evaluate the detectability and diagnostic potential of CMEs from the synthetic line profiles. Our investigations provide important constraints on the future design of Sun-as-a-star spectrographs for CME detections through EUV line asymmetries.

Determination of coronal mass ejection orientation and consequences for their propagation

Context. The configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field and features of the related ambient solar wind in the ecliptic and meridional plane are different. Therefore, one can expect that the orientation of the flux-rope axis of a coronal mass ejection (CME) influences the propagation of the CME itself. However, the determination of the CME orientation, especially from image data, remains a challenging task to perform. Aim. This study aims to provide a reference to different CME orientation determination methods in the near-Sun environment. Also, it aims to investigate the non-radial flow in the sheath region of the interplanetary CME (ICME) in order to provide the first proxy to relate the ICME orientation with its propagation. Methods. We investigated 22 isolated CME-ICME events in the period 2008–2015. We determined the CME orientation in the near-Sun environment using the following: (1) a 3D reconstruction of the CME with the graduated cylindrical shell (GCS) model applied to coronagraphic images provided by the STEREO and SOHO missions; and (2) an ellipse fitting applied to single spacecraft data from SOHO/LASCO C2 and C3 coronagraphs. In the near-Earth environment, we obtained the orientation of the corresponding ICME using in situ plasma and field data and also investigated the non-radial flow in its sheath region. Results. The ability of GCS and ellipse fitting to determine the CME orientation is found to be limited to reliably distinguish only between the high or low inclination of the events. Most of the CME-ICME pairs under investigation were found to be characterized by a low inclination. For the majority of CME-ICME pairs, we obtain consistent estimations of the tilt from remote and in situ data. The observed non-radial flows in the sheath region show a greater y direction to z direction flow ratio for high-inclination events, indicating that the CME orientation could have an impact on the CME propagation.

Calibration of quasi-static aberrations in exoplanet direct-imaging instruments with a Zernike phase-mask sensor

Coronagraphic imaging of exoplanets and circumstellar environments using ground-based instruments on large telescopes is intrinsically limited by speckles induced by uncorrected aberrations. These aberrations originate from the imperfect correction of the atmosphere by an extreme adaptive optics system; from static optical defects; or from small opto-mechanical variations due to changes in temperature, pressure, or gravity vector. More than the speckles themselves, the performance of high-contrast imagers is ultimately limited by their temporal stability, since most post-processing techniques rely on difference of images acquired at different points in time. Identifying the origin of the aberrations and the timescales involved is therefore crucial to understanding the fundamental limits of dedicated high-contrast instruments. In previous works we demonstrated the use of a Zernike wavefront sensor called ZELDA for sensing non-common path aberrations (NCPA) in the VLT/SPHERE instrument. We now use ZELDA to investigate the stability of the instrumental aberrations using five long sequences of measurements obtained at high cadence on the internal calibration source. Our study reveals two regimes of decorrelation of the NCPA. The first, with a characteristic timescale of a few seconds and an amplitude of a few nanometers, is induced by a fast internal turbulence within the enclosure. The second is a slow quasi-linear decorrelation on the order of a few 10−3 nmrms s−1 that acts on timescales from minutes to hours. We use coronagraphic image reconstruction to demonstrate that these two NCPA contributions have a measurable impact on differences of images, and that the fast internal turbulence is a dominating term over to the slow linear decorrelation. We also use dedicated sequences where the derotator and atmospheric dispersion compensators emulate a real observation to demonstrate the importance of performing observations symmetric around the meridian, which minimizes speckle decorrelation, and therefore maximizes the sensitivity to point sources in difference of images.

A Simple Radial Gradient Filter for Batch-Processing of Coronagraph Images

Images of the extended solar corona, as observed by different white-light coronagraphs, include the K- and F-corona and suffer from a radial variation in intensity. These images require separation of the two coronal components with some additional image-processing to reduce the intensity gradient and analyse the structures and processes occurring at different heights in the solar corona within the full field of view. Over the past few decades, coronagraphs have been producing enormous amounts of data, which will be continued with the launch of new telescopes. To process these bulk coronagraph images with steep radial-intensity gradients, we have developed the algorithm Simple Radial Gradient Filter (SiRGraF). This algorithm is based on subtracting a minimum background (F-corona) created using long-duration images and then dividing the resultant by a uniform-intensity-gradient image to enhance the K-corona. We demonstrate the utility of this algorithm to bring out the short-time-scale transient structures of the corona. SiRGraF can be used to reveal and analyse such structures. It is not suitable for quantitative estimations based on intensity. We have successfully tested the algorithm on images of the Large Angle Spectroscopic COronagraph (LASCO)-C2 onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and COR-2A onboard the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) with good signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) along with low-SNR images of STEREO/COR-1A and the KCoronagraph (KCor). We also compared the performance of SiRGraF with the existing widely used algorithm Normalizing Radial Gradient Filter (NRGF). We found that when hundreds of images have to be processed, SiRGraF works faster than NRGF, providing similar brightness and contrast in the images and separating the transient features. Moreover, SiRGraF works better on low-SNR images of COR-1A than on NRGF, providing better identification of dynamic coronal structures throughout the field of view. We discuss the advantages and limitations of the algorithm. The application of SiRGraF to COR-1 images can be extended for an automated coronal mass ejection (CME) detection algorithm in the future, which will help in our study of the characteristics of CMEs in the inner corona.

Modeling a Coronal Mass Ejection as a Magnetized Structure with EUHFORIA

Abstract We studied an Earth-directed coronal mass ejection (CME) that erupted on 2015 March 15. Our aim was to model the CME flux rope as a magnetized structure using the European Heliospheric Forecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA). The flux rope from eruption data (FRED) output was applied to the EUHFORIA spheromak CME model. In addition to the geometrical properties of the CME flux rope, we needed to input the parameters that determine the CME internal magnetic field like the helicity, tilt angle, and toroidal flux of the CME flux rope. According to the FRED technique geometrical properties of the CME flux rope are obtained by applying a graduated cylindrical shell fitting of the CME flux rope on the coronagraph images. The poloidal field magnetic properties can be estimated from the reconnection flux in the source region utilizing the post-eruption arcade method, which uses the Heliospheric Magnetic Imager magnetogram together with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) 193 Å images. We set up two EUHFORIA runs with RUN-1 using the toroidal flux obtained from the FRED technique and RUN-2 using the toroidal flux that was measured from the core dimming regions identified from the AIA 211 Å images. We found that the EUHFORIA simulation outputs from RUN-1 and RUN-2 are comparable to each other. Overall using the EUHFORIA spheromak model, we successfully obtained the magnetic field rotation of the flux rope, while the arrival time near Earth and the strength of the interplanetary CME magnetic field at Earth are not as accurately modeled.

Impacts of CMEs on Earth Based on Logistic Regression and Recommendation Algorithm

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are one of the major disturbance sources of space weather. Therefore, it is of great significance to determine whether CMEs will reach the earth. Utilizing the method of logistic regression, we first calculate and analyze the correlation coefficients of the characteristic parameters of CMEs. These parameters include central position angle, angular width, and linear velocity, which are derived from the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) images. We have developed a logistic regression model to predict whether a CME will reach the earth, and the model yields an F1 score of 30% and a recall of 53%. Besides, for each CME, we use the recommendation algorithm to single out the most similar historical event, which can be a reference to forecast CMEs geoeffectiveness forecasting and for comparative analysis.

Multipoint Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections Observed with Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo, Parker Solar Probe, Wind, and STEREO-A

Abstract We report the result of the first search for multipoint in situ and imaging observations of interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) starting with the first Solar Orbiter (SolO) data in 2020 April–2021 April. A data exploration analysis is performed including visualizations of the magnetic-field and plasma observations made by the five spacecraft SolO, BepiColombo, Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Wind, and STEREO-A, in connection with coronagraph and heliospheric imaging observations from STEREO-A/SECCHI and SOHO/LASCO. We identify ICME events that could be unambiguously followed with the STEREO-A heliospheric imagers during their interplanetary propagation to their impact at the aforementioned spacecraft and look for events where the same ICME is seen in situ by widely separated spacecraft. We highlight two events: (1) a small streamer blowout CME on 2020 June 23 observed with a triple lineup by PSP, BepiColombo and Wind, guided by imaging with STEREO-A, and (2) the first fast CME of solar cycle 25 (≈1600 km s−1) on 2020 November 29 observed in situ by PSP and STEREO-A. These results are useful for modeling the magnetic structure of ICMEs and the interplanetary evolution and global shape of their flux ropes and shocks, and for studying the propagation of solar energetic particles. The combined data from these missions are already turning out to be a treasure trove for space-weather research and are expected to become even more valuable with an increasing number of ICME events expected during the rise and maximum of solar cycle 25.

Multiband Imaging of the HD 36546 Debris Disk: A Refined View from SCExAO/CHARIS*

Abstract We present the first multiwavelength (near-infrared; 1.1–2.4 μm) imaging of HD 36546's debris disk, using the Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO) system coupled with the Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS). As a 3–10 Myr old star, HD 36546 presents a rare opportunity to study a debris disk at very early stages. SCExAO/CHARIS imagery resolves the disk over angular separations of ρ ∼ 0.″25–1.″0 (projected separations of rproj ∼ 25–101 au) and enables the first spectrophotometric analysis of the disk. The disk’s brightness appears symmetric between its eastern and western extents, and it exhibits slightly blue near-infrared colors on average (e.g., J−K = −0.4 ± 0.1)—suggesting copious submicron-sized or highly porous grains. Through detailed modeling adopting a Hong scattering phase function (SPF), instead of the more common Henyey–Greenstein function, and using the differential evolution optimization algorithm, we provide an updated schematic of HD 36546's disk. The disk has a shallow radial dust density profile (α in ≈ 1.0 and α out ≈ −1.5), a fiducial radius of r 0 ≈ 82.7 au, an inclination of i ≈ 79.°1, and a position angle of PA ≈ 80.°1. Through spine tracing, we find a spine that is consistent with our modeling, but also with a “swept-back wing” geometry. Finally, we provide constraints on companions, including limiting a companion responsible for a marginal Hipparcos–Gaia acceleration to a projected separation of ≲0.″2 and to a minimum mass of ≲11 M Jup.

Constraining the Orbit and Mass of epsilon Eridani b with Radial Velocities, Hipparcos IAD-Gaia DR2 Astrometry, and Multiepoch Vortex Coronagraphy Upper Limits

Abstract ϵ Eridani is a young planetary system hosting a complex multibelt debris disk and a confirmed Jupiter-like planet orbiting at 3.48 au from its host star. Its age and architecture are thus reminiscent of the early Solar System. The most recent study of Mawet et al., which combined radial-velocity data and Ms-band direct imaging upper limits, started to constrain the planet’s orbital parameters and mass, but are still affected by large error bars and degeneracies. Here we make use of the most recent data compilation from three different techniques to further refine ϵ Eridani b’s properties: RVs, absolute astrometry measurements from the Hipparcos and Gaia missions, and new Keck/NIRC2 Ms-band vortex coronagraph images. We combine this data in a Bayesian framework. We find a new mass, M b = 0.66 − 0.09 + 0.12 MJup, and inclination, i = 78 . 81 − 22.41 ° + 29.34 , with at least a factor 2 of improvement over previous uncertainties. We also report updated constraints on the longitude of the ascending node, the argument of the periastron, and the time of periastron passage. With these updated parameters, we can better predict the position of the planet at any past and future epoch, which can greatly help define the strategy and planning of future observations and with subsequent data analysis. In particular, these results can assist the search for a direct detection with JWST and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s coronagraph instrument.

Development of a Deep Learning Model for Inversion of Rotational Coronagraphic Images Into 3D Electron Density

Abstract We present, for the first time, a deep learning model that returns the three-dimensional (3D) coronal electron density from coronagraphic images. The intensity of coronagraphic observations arises from the Thomson scattering of photospheric light by the coronal electrons. We use MHD numerical simulations to obtain realistic 3D electron density and construct error-free training sets consisting of input (observation) and target (electron density) images. In the training sets, the input images are directly synthesized from the target 3D electron density by applying the Thomson scattering theory. The input and target images are in the form of latitude–longitude maps given at a radius, often referred to as synoptic maps. Using synoptic maps reduces a tomographic method to an image translation problem. We use pix2pixHD, one of the well-established supervised image translation methods and develop models for six selected heights: 2.0, 2.2, 2.5, 4.0, 6.0, and 12.0 solar radii. All six models have similar performance and the mean absolute percent error of the generated density images is less than 7% with respect to the ground-truth simulated data sets.

Combining white light and UV Lyman-α coronagraphic images to determine the solar wind speed

Context. The availability of multi-channel coronagraphic images in different wavelength intervals acquired from the space will provide a new view of the solar corona, allowing us to investigate the 2D distribution and time evolution of many plasma physical parameters, such as plasma density, temperature, and outflow speed. Aims. This work focuses on the combination of white light (WL) and UV (Lyα) coronagraphic images to demonstrate the capability of measuring the solar wind speed in the inner corona directly with the ratio of these two images (a technique called the quick inversion method), thus avoiding having to account for the line-of-sight (LOS) integration effects in the inversion of data. Methods. After a derivation of the theoretical basis and illustration of the main hypotheses in the quick inversion method, the data inversion technique is tested first with 1D radial analytic profiles and then with 3D numerical MHD simulations in order to show the effects of variabilities related to different phases of the solar activity cycle and the complex LOS distribution of plasma parameters. The same technique is also applied to average WL and UV images obtained from real data acquired by the SOHO UVCS and LASCO instruments around the minimum and maximum of the solar activity cycle. Results. Comparisons between input and output velocities show a good agreement overall, demonstrating that this method, which allowed us to infer the solar wind speed with the WL-to-UV image ratio, can be complementary to more complex techniques requiring the full LOS integration. The analysis described here also allowed us to quantify the possible errors in the outflow speed, and to identify the coronal regions where the quick inversion method performs at the best. The quick inversion applied to real UVCS and LASCO data also allowed us to reconstruct the typical bimodal distribution of fast and slow wind at solar minimum, and to derive a more complex picture around the solar maximum. Conclusions. The application of the technique shown here will be very important for the future analyses of data acquired with multi-channel WL and UV (Lyα) coronagraphs, such as Metis on board the Solar Orbiter, LST on board ASO-S, and any other future WL and UV Lyα multi-channel coronagraphs.

Connecting the Low to the High Corona: A Method to Isolate Transients in STEREO/COR1 Images

Abstract We present a method that isolates time-varying components from coronagraph and extreme ultraviolet images, allowing substreamer transients propagating within streamers to be tracked from the low to the high corona. The method uses a temporal bandpass filter with a transmission bandwidth of ∼2.5–10 hr that suppresses both high- and low-frequency variations in observations made by the STEREO/SECCHI suite. We demonstrate that this method proves crucial in linking features in the low corona, where the magnetic field is highly nonradial, to their counterparts in the high corona, where the magnetic field follows a radial path, through the COR1 instrument. We also apply our method to observations by the COR2 and EUVI instruments on board SECCHI and produce height–time profiles that reveal small density enhancements, associated with helmet streamers propagating from ∼1.2 R ⊙ out to beyond 5 R ⊙. Our processing method reveals that these features are common during the period of solar minimum in this study. The features recur on timescales of hours, originate very close to the Sun, and remain coherent out into interplanetary space. We measure the speed of the features and classify them as slow (a few to tens of kilometers per second) or fast (∼100 km s−1). Both types of features serve as an observable tracer of a variable component of the slow solar wind to its source regions. Our methodology helps overcome the difficulties in tracking small-scale features through COR1. As a result, it proves successful in measuring the connectivity between the low and high corona and in measuring the velocities of small-scale features.

Numerical MHD Simulations of the 3D Morphology and Kinematics of the 2017 September 10 CME-driven Shock from the Sun to Earth

Abstract A global, three-dimensional (3D) numerical simulation model has been employed to study the 3D morphology and kinematics of the large shock driven by the 2017 September 10 coronal mass ejection (CME). Based on actual solar observations, which include the photospheric magnetic field and the CME’s speed and source location, the simulation result is delicately tuned by matching with coronal polarized brightness observations and in situ solar-wind measurements at 1 au. The simulation reproduces well the shock’s shape and position in coronagraphic images. The shock’s physical parameters at 1 au are similar to those constrained from the observations, with the simulated transit time being nearly the same as the observed one. The simulation reveals that the shock around the backward direction keeps propagating away from the Sun, and despite its large extent, the shock cannot be seen as a spherical structure forming a 360° envelope around the Sun. Identified as a fast forward shock, the shock has a sharp velocity jump and a large density compression with a Mach number larger than one from the nose toward the lateral parts, consistent with a driven shock all across the front. Compared to the nose, the right flank of the shock has a weak compression ratio, but probably yields enhanced energetic particles for observers aligned with it. It follows that large CME-driven shocks have the potential to accelerate energetic particles over a wide longitudinal separation and are likely responsible for the production of these particles in the inner heliosphere.

Exoplanets with ELT-METIS

Direct imaging is a powerful exoplanet discovery technique that is complementary to other techniques and offers great promise in the era of 30 m class telescopes. Space-based transit surveys have revolutionized our understanding of the frequency of planets at small orbital radii around Sun-like stars. The next generation of extremely large ground-based telescopes will have the angular resolution and sensitivity to directly image planets with R < 4 R⊕ around the very nearest stars. Here, we predict yields from a direct imaging survey of a volume-limited sample of Sun-like stars with the Mid-Infrared ELT Imager and Spectrograph (METIS) instrument, planned for the 39 m European Southern Observatory Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) that is expected to be operational towards the end of the decade. Using Kepler occurrence rates, a sample of stars with spectral types A-K within 6.5 pc, and simulated contrast curves based on an advanced model of what is achievable from coronagraphic imaging with adaptive optics, we estimated the expected yield from METIS using Monte Carlo simulations. We find the METIS expected yield of planets in the N2 band (10.10−12.40 μm) is 1.14 planets, which is greater than comparable observations in the L (3.70−3.95 μm) and M (4.70−4.90 μm) bands. We also determined a 24.6% chance of detecting at least one Jovian planet in the background limited regime assuming a 1 h integration. We calculated the yield per star and estimate optimal observing revisit times to increase the yield. We also analyzed a northern hemisphere version of this survey and found there are additional targets worth considering. In conclusion, we present an observing strategy aimed to maximize the possible yield for limited telescope time, resulting in 1.48 expected planets in the N2 band.