SOLAR TOMOGRAPHY: Reconstructing the 3D Reality Encrypted in 2D Data
When
Where
Dr. Gregory D. Fleishman
Distinguished Research Professor
Physics Department, Center for Solar-Terrestrial Research
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Modern astronomy explores the Universe through new observations with ever improving spatial, spectral, and temporal resolutions brought about by recent advances in technology. To make sense of these highly demanding data with progressively increasing volume and complexity, astrophysicists develop sophisticated models that integrate the most advanced theories, computational codes, and simulation tools along with high performing computing. A great challenge is to tightly couple observations and modeling to obtain new, fundamental astrophysical knowledge enabling scientific discovery. In this talk I will make the case that addressing this challenge within the Solar Physics is not only fundamentally important in the astrophysics framework, but also of great practical value in the Space Weather framework. I will overview my vision, contribution, and future research plans towards developing Solar Tomography—the approach enabling us to reconstruct the 3D reality of an active region or a solar flare, for example, based on multi-wavelength observations augmented by theory and modeling tools. I will also review my role in developing and commissioning a new generation of cutting edge radio (from microwaves to sub mm waves) instruments such as the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array (EOVSA) and the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA); in the development of science-transforming fast codes for computing the radiation transfer in nonuniform solar corona and chromosphere, and the design, development, and applications of the solar community distributed GX Simulator data-driven modeling package, which enables a quantitative Solar Tomography framework.
Host: Dr. Joe Giacalone