• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.307-310
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• 2005

The Solar-B is the third Japanese spacecraft dedicated for solar physics to be launched in summer of 2006. The spacecraft carries a coordinated set of optical, EUV and X-ray instruments that will allow a systematic study of the interaction between the Sun's magnetic field and its high temperature, ionized atmosphere. The Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) consists of a 50cm aperture diffraction limited Gregorian telescope and a focal plane package, and provides quantitative measurements of full vector magnetic fields at the photosphere with spatial resolution of 0.2-0.3 arcsec in a condition free from terrestrial atmospheric seeing. The X-ray telescope (XRT) images the high temperature (0.5 to 10 MK) corona with improved spatial resolution of approximately 1 arcsec. The Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) aims to determine velocity fields and other plasma parameters in the corona and the transition region. The Solar-B telescopes, as a whole, will enable us to explore the origins of the outer solar atmosphere, the corona, and the coupling between the fine magnetic structure at the photosphere and the dynamic processes occurring in the corona. The mission instruments (SOT/EIS/XRT) are joint effort of Japan (JAXA/NAO), the United States (NASA), and the United Kingdom (PPARC). An overview of the spacecraft and its mission instruments are presented.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.spc1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2003

Quiescent solar radiation, at microwave spectral regime, is dominated by gyroresonant and thermal Bremsstrahlung radiations from hot electrons residing in solar active region corona. These radiations are known to provide excellent diagnostics on the coronal temperature, density, and magnetic field, provided that spatially resolved spectra are available from observations. In this paper we present an imaging spectroscopy implemented for a bipolar active region, AR 7912, using the multifrequency interferometric data from the Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA), as processed with a new imaging technique, so-called Spatio-Spectral Maximum Entropy Method (SSMEM). From the microwave maps at 26 frequencies in the range of 1.2-12.4 GHz at both right- and left-circular polarizations, we construct spatially resolved brightness spectra in every reconstructed pixel of about 2 arcsec interval. These spectra allowed us to determine 2-D distribution of electron temperature, magnetic field of coronal base, and emission measure at the coronal base above the active region. We briefly compare the present result with existing studies of the coronal active regions.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 1999

In this study we present a new improved nonlinear calibration method for vector magnetograms made by the Solar Flare Telescope of BOAO. To identify Fe I 6302.5 line, we have scanned monochromatic images of the line integrated over filter passband, changing the location of the central transmission wavelength of a Lyot filter. Then we obtained a filter-convolved line profile, which is in good agreement with spectral atlas data provided by the Sacramento Peak Solar Observatory. The line profile has been used to derive calibration coefficients of longitudinal and transverse fields, employing the conventional line slope method under the weak field approximation. Our improved nonlinear calibration method has also been used to calculate theoretical Stokes polarization signals with various angles of inclination of magnetic fields. For its numerical test, we have compared input magnetic fields with the calibrated ones, which have been derived from the new improved non-linear method and the conventional method respectively. The numerical test shows that the calibrated fields obtained from the improved method are consistent with the input fields, but not with those from the conventional method. Finally, we applied our new improved method to a dipole model which characterizes a typical field configuration of a single, round sunspot. It is noted that the conventional method remarkably underestimates the transverse field component near the inner penumbra.

• Information and Communications Magazine
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• v.15 no.9
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• pp.97-106
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• 1998

It is crucial to predict the variabilities of the near-earth space environment associated with the solar activity, which cause enormous socio-economic impacts on mankind. The geomagnetic storm prediction scheme adopted in this study is designed to predict such variabilities in terms of the geomagnetic indices, AE and Dst, the cross-polar cap potential difference, the energy dissipation rate over the polar ionosphere and associated temperature increase in the thermosphere. The prediction code consists of two parts; prediction of the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field based upon actual flare observations and estimation of various electrodynamic quantities mentioned above from the solar wind-magnetosphere coupling function 'epsilon' which is derivable through the predicted solar wind parameters. As a test run, the magnetic storm that occurred in early November, 1993, is simulated and the results are compared with the solar wind and the interplanetary magnetic field measured by the Japanese satellite, Geotail, and the geomagnetic indices obtained from ground magnetic observatories. Although numerous aspects of the code are to be further improved, the comparison between the simulated results and the actual measurements encourages us to use this prediction scheme as the first appoximation in forecasting the disturbances of the near-earth space environment associated with solar flares.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.278-281
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• 2004

To realize magnetic sails, momentum of the solar wind should be efficiently transferred to a spacecraft via magnetic field, which is produced around a spacecraft. In this paper, two important physical processes are addressed: 1) diffusive processes caused by plasma turbulence at the magnetospheric boundary around the spacecraft; and 2) field aligned current loops that will electrically connect the magnetospheric boundary and the spacecraft. The idea of the magnetic sails will be demonstrated by an experimental simulator, in which a fast plasma beam will penetrate into a dipole magnetic field. For that purpose, the two important physical processes should be scaled down to a small laboratory experiment in a space chamber. From the scaling considerations, the interaction can be scaled down if high-speed and high-density $(10^{19}m^{-3})$ plasma jet is used with 1-T-class magnetic field.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.102.1-102.1
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• 2011

In this study we use three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations to investigate how the dynamic state of emerging magnetic field is related to the twist of field lines. Emerging magnetic field forms a magnetic structure on the Sun where various kinds of activity such as solar flares, jets, and coronal mass ejections are observed. To understand the physical mechanism for producing such activity, we have to know the dynamic nature of this structure. Since flares are the manifestation of rapidly dissipating electric current in the corona, we also investigate the distribution of current density inside the structure and examine how it depends on the field-line twist. To demonstrate the dynamic structure of emerging magnetic field, we focus on the factors characterizing the geometric property and stratification of emerging magnetic field, such as the curvature of field line and the scale height of field strength. These two factors show that emerging field forms a two-part structure in which the central part is close to a force-free state while the outer marginal part is in a fairly dynamic state where magnetic pressure force is dominant. We discuss how the field-line twist affects the two-part structure and also explain a possible relation between electric current structure and sigmoid observed in a preflare phase.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2012

Since the development of surface magnetic features should reflect the evolution of the solar magnetic field in the deep interior of the Sun, it is crucial to study properties of sunspots and sunspot groups to understand the physical processes working below the solar surface. Here, using the data set of sunspot groups observed at the ButterStar observatory for 3,364 days from 2002 October 16 to 2011 December 31, we investigate temporal change of sunspot groups depending on their Z$\ddot{u}$rich classification type. Our main findings are as follows: (1) There are more sunspot groups in the southern hemisphere in solar cycle 23, while more sunspot groups appear in the northern hemisphere in solar cycle 24. We also note that in the declining phase of solar cycle 23 the decreasing tendency is apparently steeper in the solar northern hemisphere than in the solar southern hemisphere. (2) Some of sunspot group types make a secondary peak in the distribution between the solar maximum and the solar minimum. More importantly, in this particular data set, sunspot groups which have appeared in the solar southern hemisphere make a secondary peak 1 year after a secondary peak occurs in the solar northern hemisphere. (3) The temporal variations of small and large sunspot group numbers are disparate. That is, the number of large sunspot group declines earlier and faster and that the number of small sunspot group begins to rise earlier and faster. (4) The total number of observed sunspot is found to behave more likewise as the small sunspot group does. Hence, according to our findings, behaviors and evolution of small magnetic flux tubes and large magnetic flux tubes seem to be different over solar cycles. Finally, we conclude by briefly pointing out its implication on the space weather forecast.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.87.1-87.1
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• 2012

We use three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations to investigate how the dynamic state of emerging magnetic field is related to the twist of field lines. Emergence of magnetic field is considered as one of the key physical process producing solar activity such as flares, jets, and coronal mass ejections. To understand these activities we have to know dynamic nature and electric current structure provided by emerging magnetic field. To demonstrate dynamic nature of field lines, we focus on the factors such as curvature of magnetic field line and scale height of magnetic field strength. These factors show that strong twist case forms two-part structure in which the central part is close to a force-free state while the outer marginal part is in a fairly dynamic state. For weak twist case, it still shows two-part structure but the tendency becomes weaker than strong twist case. We discuss how the curvature distribution affects the dynamic nature of emerging magnetic field. We also investigate electric current distribution provided by emerging field lines to show a possible relation between electric current structure and sigmoid observed in a preflare phase.

• Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.151-157
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• 2002

From the data of solar wind observation by ACE spacecraft orbiting the Earth-Sun Lagrangian point, we selected 48 forward interplanetary shocks(IPSs) occurred in 2000, maximum solar activity period. Examining the profiles of solar wind parameters, the IPSs are classified by their shock drivers. The significant shock drivers are the interplanetary coronal mass ejection(ICME) and the high speed stream(HSS). The IPSs driven by the ICMEs are classified into shocks driven by magnetic clouds and by ejectas based on the existence of magnetic flux rope structure and magnetic field strength. Some IPSs could be formed as the blast wave by the smaller energy and shorter duration of shock drivers such as type II radio burst. Out of selected 48 forward IPSs, $56.2\%$ of the IPSs are driven by ICME, $16.7\%$ by HSS, and $16.7\%$ of the shocks are classified into blast-wave type shocks. However, the shock drivers of remaining $10\%$ of the IPSs are unidentified. The classification of the IPSs by their driver is a first step toward investigating the critical magnitudes of the IPS drivers commencing the magnetic storms in each class.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.37.2-37.2
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• 2011

Our previous study on tiny pores (R < 2") observed by HINODE/Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) revealed that the plasma in the pores at the photosphere is always moving down and the pores are surrounded by the strong downward motions (highly red-shifted) of neighboring granulations. From this study, we speculated that the flow motions above the pore should be related with the motions at the photosphere, since the pore is strong magnetic field region. Meanwhile, SNU and KASI installed Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) in the Cude room of the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope (NST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory. FISS is a unique system that can do imaging of H-alpha and Ca II 8542 band simultaneously, which is quite suitable for studying of dynamics of chromosphere. To get some clue on the relationship between the photospheric and low-chromospheric motions at the pore region, we took a coordinate observation with NST/FISS and Hinode/SOT for new emerging active region (AR11117) on October 26, 2010. In the observed region, we could find two tiny pores and two small magnetic islands (SMIs), which have similar magnetic flux with the pores but does not look dark. Magnetic flux density and Doppler velocities at the photosphere are estimated by applying the center-of-gravity (COG) method to the HINODE/spectropolarimeter (SP) data. The line-of-sight motions above the photosphere are determined by adopting the bisector method to the wing spectra of Ha and CaII 8542 lines. As results, we found the followings. (1) There are upflow motion on the pores and downflow motion on the SMIs. (2) Towards the CaII 8542 line center, upflow motion decrease and turn to downward motion in pores, while the speed of down flow motion increases in the SMIs. (3) There is oscillating motion above pores and the SMIs, and this motion keep its pattern along the height. (4) As height increase, there is a general tendency of the speed shift to downward on pores and the SMIs. This is more clearly seen on the other regions of stronger magnetic field. In this talk, we will present preliminary understanding of the coupling of pore dynamics between the photosphere and the low-chromosphere.