Search

Context. Rising concerns about the impact of space-weather-related disruptions demand modelling and reliable forecasting of coronal mass ejection (CME) impacts. Aims. In this study, we demonstrate the application of the modified Miller-Turner (mMT) model implemented within EUropean Heliospheric FORecasting Information Asset (EUHFORIA) in forecasting the geo-effectiveness of observed coronal mass ejection (CME) events in the heliosphere. Our goal is to develop a model that not only has a global geometry, in order to improve overall forecasting, but is also fast enough for operational space-weather forecasting. Methods. We test the original full torus implementation and introduce a new three-fourths Torus version called the Horseshoe CME model. This new model has a more realistic CME geometry, and overcomes the inaccuracies of the full torus geometry. We constrain the torus geometrical and magnetic field parameters using observed signatures of the CMEs before, during, and after the eruption. We perform EUHFORIA simulations for two validation cases – the isolated CME event of 12 July 2012 and the CME–CME interaction event of 8–10 September 2014. We performed an assessment of the model's capability to predict the most important Bz component using the advanced dynamic time-warping (DTW) technique. Results. The Horseshoe model predictions of CME arrival time and geo-effectiveness for both validation events compare well with the observations and are weighed against the results obtained with the spheromak and FRi3D models, which were already available in EUHFORIA. Conclusions. The runtime of the Horseshoe model simulations is close to that of the spheromak model, which is suitable for operational space weather forecasting. However, the capability of the magnetic field prediction at 1 AU of the Horseshoe model is close to that of the FRi3D model. In addition, we demonstrate that the Horseshoe CME model can be used for simulating successive CMEs in EUHFORIA, overcoming a limitation of the FRi3D model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. High-resolution solar observations have revealed the existence of small-scale vortices, as seen in chromospheric intensity maps and velocity diagnostics. Frequently, these vortices have been observed near magnetic flux concentrations, indicating a link between swirls and the evolution of the small-scale magnetic fields. Vortices have also been studied with magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations of the solar atmosphere, revealing their complexity, dynamics, and magnetic nature. In particular, it has been proposed that a rotating magnetic field structure driven by a photospheric vortex flow at its footprint produces the chromospheric swirling plasma motion. Aims. We present a complete and comprehensive description of the time evolution of a small-scale magnetic flux concentration interacting with the intergranular vortex flow and affected by processes of intensification and weakening of its magnetic field. In addition, we study the chromospheric dynamics associated with the interaction, including the analysis of a chromospheric swirl and an impulsive chromospheric jet. Methods. We studied observations taken with the CRisp Imaging SpectroPolarimeter (CRISP) instrument and the CHROMospheric Imaging Spectrometer (CHROMIS) at the Swedish Solar Telescope (SST) in April 2019. The data were recorded at quiet-Sun disc centre, consisting of full Stokes maps in the Fe I line at 6173 Å and in the Ca II infrared triplet line at 8542 Å, as well as spectroscopic maps in the lines of Hα 6563 Å and Ca II K 3934 Å. Utilising the multi-wavelength data and performing height-dependent Stokes inversion, based on methods of local correlation tracking and wavelet analysis, we studied several atmospheric properties during the event lifetime. This approach allowed us to interpret the spatial and temporal connectivity between the photosphere and the chromosphere. Results. We identified the convective collapse process as the initial mechanism of magnetic field intensification, generating a re-bound flow moving upwards within the magnetic flux concentration. This disturbance eventually steepens into an acoustic shock wave that dissipates in the lower chromosphere, heating it locally. We observed prolonged magnetic field amplification when the vortex flow disappears during the propagation of the upward velocity disturbance. We propose that this type of magnetic field amplification could be attributed to changes in the local vorticity. Our analysis indicates the rotation of a magnetic structure that extends from the photosphere to the chromosphere, anchored to a photospheric magnetic flux concentration. It appears to be affected by a propagating shock wave and its subsequent dissipation process could be related to the release of the jet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The space radiation environment conditions and the maximum expected coronal mass ejection (CME) speed are assessed by investigating scaling laws between the peak proton flux and fluence of solar energetic particle (SEP) events with the speed of the CMEs. Methods. We used a complete catalog of SEP events, covering the last ∼25 years of CME observations (i.e., 1997–2017). We calculated the peak proton fluxes and integrated event fluences for events that reached an integral energy of up to E > 100 MeV. For a sample of 38 strong SEP events, we first investigated the statistical relations between the recorded peak proton fluxes (IP) and fluences (FP) at a set of integral energies of E > 10 MeV, E > 30 MeV, E > 60 MeV, and E > 100 MeV versus the projected CME speed near the Sun (VCME) obtained by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (SOHO/LASCO). Based on the inferred relations, we further calculated the integrated energy dependence of both IP and FP, assuming that they follow an inverse power law with respect to energy. By making use of simple physical assumptions, we combined our derived scaling laws to estimate the upper limits for VCME, IP, and FP by focusing on two cases of known extreme SEP events that occurred on 23 February 1956, (GLE05) and in AD774/775, respectively. Based on the physical constraints and assumptions, several options for the upper limit VCME associated with these events were investigated. Results. A scaling law relating IP and FP to the CME speed as VCME5 for CMEs ranging between ∼3400–5400 km/s is consistent with values of FP inferred for the cosmogenic nuclide event of AD774/775. At the same time, the upper CME speed that the current Sun can provide possibly falls within an upper limit of VCME ≤ 5500 km/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The application of machine learning in solar physics has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of the complex processes that take place in the atmosphere of the Sun. By using techniques such as deep learning, we are now in the position to analyze large amounts of data from solar observations and identify patterns and trends that may not have been apparent using traditional methods. This can help us improve our understanding of explosive events like solar flares, which can have a strong effect on the Earth environment. Predicting hazardous events on Earth becomes crucial for our technological society. Machine learning can also improve our understanding of the inner workings of the sun itself by allowing us to go deeper into the data and to propose more complex models to explain them. Additionally, the use of machine learning can help to automate the analysis of solar data, reducing the need for manual labor and increasing the efficiency of research in this field.

The study of our Sun holds significant importance in space weather research, encompassing a diverse range of phenomena characterized by distinct temporal and spatial scales. To address these complexities, we developed CAFE-AMR, an implementation of an adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) strategy coupled with a magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equation solver, aiming to tackle solar-physics-related problems. CAFE-AMR employs standard fluid dynamics methods, including finite-volume discretization, HLL and Roe class flux formulas, linear order reconstructors, second-order Runge–Kutta, and corner transport upwind time stepping. In this paper, we present the core structure of CAFE-AMR, discuss and evaluate mesh refinement criteria strategies, and conduct various tests, including simulations of idealized solar wind models, relevant for space weather applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the energetics of a convective flow subject to an oscillation with a period |$t_{\rm osc}$| much smaller than the convective time-scale |$t_{\rm conv}$|⁠ , allowing for compressibility and uniform rotation. We show that the energy of the oscillation is exchanged with the kinetic energy of the convective flow at a rate |$D_R$| that couples the Reynolds stress of the oscillation with the convective velocity gradient. For the equilibrium tide and inertial waves, this is the only energy exchange term, whereas for p modes there are also exchanges with the potential and internal energy of the convective flow. Locally, |$\left| D_R \right| \sim u^{\prime 2} / t_{\rm conv}$|⁠ , where |$u^{\prime}$| is the oscillating velocity. If |$t_{\rm conv} \ll t_{\rm osc}$| and assuming mixing length theory, |$\left| D_R \right|$| is |$\left(\lambda_{\rm conv} / \lambda_{\rm osc} \right)^2$| smaller, where |$\lambda_{\rm conv}$| and |$\lambda_{\rm osc}$| are the characteristic scales of convection and the oscillation. Assuming local dissipation, we show that the equilibrium tide lags behind the tidal potential by a phase |$\delta(r) \sim r \omega_{\rm osc} / \left(g(r) t_{\rm conv}(r) \right)$|⁠ , where g is the gravitational acceleration. The equilibrium tide can be described locally as a harmonic oscillator with natural frequency |$\left(g/r \right)^{1/2}$| and subject to a damping force |$-u^{\prime}/t_{\rm conv}$|⁠. Although |$\delta(r)$| varies by orders of magnitude through the flow, it is possible to define an average phase shift |$\overline{\delta }$| which is in good agreement with observations for Jupiter and some of the moons of Saturn. Finally, |$1 / \overline{\delta }$| is shown to be equal to the standard tidal dissipation factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents new prediction models of the 11-yr solar activity cycles (SC) 25 and 26 based on multiple activity indicator parameters. The developed models are based on the use of non-linear autoregressive exogenous (NARX) neural network approach. The training period of the NARX model is from July 1749 to December 2019. The considered activity indicator parameters are the monthly sunspot number time series (SSN), the flare occurence frequency, the 10.7-cm solar radio flux, and the total solar irradiance (TSI). The neural network models are fed by these parameters independently and the prediction results are compared and verified. The obtained training, validation, and prediction results show that our models are accurate with an accuracy of about 90 per cent in the prediction of peak activity values. The current models produce the dual-peak maximum (Gnevyshev gap) very well. Based on the obtained results, the expected solar peaks in terms of SSN (monthly averaged smoothed) of the solar cycles 25 and 26 are R SSN = 116.6 (February 2025) and R SSN = 113.25 (October 2036), respectively. The expected time durations of SC 25 and SC 26 cycles are 9.2 and 11 yr, respectively. The activity levels of SC 25 and 26 are expected to be very close and similar to or weaker than SC 24. This suggests that these two cycles are at the minimum level of the Gleissberg cycle. A comparison with other reported studies shows that our results based on the NARX model are in good agreement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of machine learning in solar physics has the potential to greatly enhance our understanding of the complex processes that take place in the atmosphere of the Sun. By using techniques such as deep learning, we are now in the position to analyze large amounts of data from solar observations and identify patterns and trends that may not have been apparent using traditional methods. This can help us improve our understanding of explosive events like solar flares, which can have a strong effect on the Earth environment. Predicting hazardous events on Earth becomes crucial for our technological society. Machine learning can also improve our understanding of the inner workings of the sun itself by allowing us to go deeper into the data and to propose more complex models to explain them. Additionally, the use of machine learning can help to automate the analysis of solar data, reducing the need for manual labor and increasing the efficiency of research in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Below the acoustic cut-off frequency, oscillations are trapped within the solar interior and become resonant. However, signatures of oscillations persist above the acoustic cut-off frequency, and these travelling waves are known as pseudo-modes. Acoustic oscillation frequencies are known to be correlated with the solar cycle, but the pseudo-mode frequencies are predicted to vary in antiphase. We have studied the variation in pseudo-mode frequencies with time systematically through the solar cycle. We analysed Sun-as-a-star data from Variability of Solar Irradiance and Gravity Oscillations (VIRGO), and Global Oscillations at Low Frequencies (GOLF), as well as the decomposed data from Global Oscillation Network (GONG) for harmonic degrees 0 ≤ l ≤ 200. The data cover over two solar cycles (1996–2021, depending on instrument). We split them into overlapping 100-d long segments and focused on two frequency ranges, namely 5600– |$6800\, \rm \mu Hz$| and 5600– |$7800\, \rm \mu Hz$|⁠. The frequency shifts between segments were then obtained by fitting the cross-correlation function between the segments' periodograms. For VIRGO and GOLF, we found no significant variation of pseudo-mode frequencies with solar activity. However, in agreement with previous studies, we found that the pseudo-mode frequency variations are in antiphase with the solar cycle for GONG data. Furthermore, the pseudo-mode frequency shifts showed a double-peak feature at their maximum, which corresponds to solar activity minimum, and is not seen in solar activity proxies. An, as yet unexplained, pseudo-periodicity in the amplitude of the variation with harmonic degree l is also observed in the GONG data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sunspot catalog was published by the Madrid Astronomical Observatory from sunspot observations made by Rafael Carrasco and his assistants for the period November 1931 – December 1933. We have digitized this catalog and carried out a quality control to detect inconsistencies. We present a machine-readable version of this sunspot catalog together with an erratum list. Moreover, we compared the Madrid sunspot number and area with other reference series. We found that sunspots in the northern hemisphere were predominant during this period, confirming previous studies. We have also analyzed the group morphological typologies registered in the catalog and show a butterfly diagram drawn with this new information. A comparison with the sunspot catalog by the Royal Greenwich Observatory shows that almost all the groups included in the Carrasco's catalog are also present in the aforementioned catalog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the consequences of, and apply, the formalism developed in Terquem (2021) for calculating the rate DR at which energy is exchanged between fast tides and convection. In this previous work, DR (which is proportional to the gradient of the convective velocity) was assumed to be positive in order to dissipate the tidal energy. Here we argue that, even if energy is intermittently transferred from convection to the tides, it must ultimately return to the convective flow and transported efficiently to the stellar surface on the convective time-scale. This is consistent with, but much less restrictive than, enforcing DR > 0. Our principle result is a calculation of the circularization time-scale of late–type binaries, taking into account the full time evolution of the stellar structure. We find that circularization is very efficient during the PMS phase, inefficient during the MS, and once again efficient when the star approaches the RGB. These results are in much better agreement with observations than earlier theories. We also apply our formalism to hot Jupiters, and find that tidal dissipation in a Jupiter mass planet yields a circularization time-scale of 1 Gyr for an orbital period of 3 d, also in good overall agreement with observations. The approach here is novel, and the apparent success of the theory in resolving longstanding time-scale puzzles is compelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Maunder Minimum (MM) was a period of prolonged solar activity minimum between 1645 and 1715. Several works have identified a significant number of problematic spotless days in the MM included in existing data bases. We have found a list of exact spotless (in the second half of 1709) and spot days (January and August 1709) provided by Johann Heinrich Müller. We computed the most probable value and upper/lower limits of the active day fraction (ADF) from Müller's data using the hypergeometrical probability distribution. Our sample is not strictly random because Müller recorded observations in consecutive days when he observed sunspots. Therefore, our result represents an upper threshold of solar activity for 1709. We compared this result with annual values of the ADF calculated for the Dalton Minimum and the most recent solar cycles. We concluded that, although 1709 is one of the most active years in the MM, it was less active than most years both in the Dalton Minimum and in the most recent solar cycles. Therefore, the solar activity level estimated in this work for 1709 represents robust evidence of low solar activity levels in the MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All the studies of the interaction between tides and a convective flow assume that the large-scale tides can be described as a mean shear flow that is damped by small-scale fluctuating convective eddies. The convective Reynolds stress is calculated using mixing length theory, accounting for a sharp suppression of dissipation when the turnover time-scale is larger than the tidal period. This yields tidal dissipation rates several orders of magnitude too small to account for the circularization periods of late-type binaries or the tidal dissipation factor of giant planets. Here, we argue that the above description is inconsistent, because fluctuations and mean flow should be identified based on the time-scale, not on the spatial scale, on which they vary. Therefore, the standard picture should be reversed, with the fluctuations being the tidal oscillations and the mean shear flow provided by the largest convective eddies. We assume that energy is locally transferred from the tides to the convective flow. Using this assumption, we obtain values for the tidal Q factor of Jupiter and Saturn and for the circularization periods of pre-main-sequence binaries in good agreement with observations. The time-scales obtained with the equilibrium tide approximation are however still 40 times too large to account for the circularization periods of late-type binaries. For these systems, shear in the tachocline or at the base of the convective zone may be the main cause of tidal dissipation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arbitrariness attributed to the zero-point constant of the V -band bolometric corrections (BCV) and its relation to 'bolometric magnitude of a star ought to be brighter than its visual magnitude' and 'bolometric corrections must always be negative' was investigated. The falsehood of the second assertion became noticeable to us after IAU 2015 General Assembly Resolution B2, where the zero-point constant of bolometric magnitude scale was decided to have a definite value C Bol(W) = 71.197 425 ... . Since the zero-point constant of the BCV scale could be written as C 2 = C Bol − C V, where C V is the zero-point constant of the visual magnitudes in the basic definition BCV = M Bol − M V = m bol − m V, and C Bol > C V, the zero-point constant (C 2) of the BCV scale cannot be arbitrary anymore; rather, it must be a definite positive number obtained from the two definite positive numbers. The two conditions C 2 > 0 and 0 < BCV < C 2 are also sufficient for L V < L , a similar case to negative BCV numbers, which means that 'bolometric corrections are not always negative'. In sum it becomes apparent that the first assertion is misleading causing one to understand bolometric corrections must always be negative, which is not necessarily true. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Observational and theoretical evidence suggest that beams of accelerated particles are produced in flaring events of all sizes in the solar atmosphere, from X-class flares to nanoflares. Current models of these types of particles in flaring loops assume an isolated 1D atmosphere. Aims. A more realistic environment for modelling accelerated particles can be provided by 3D radiative magnetohydrodynamics codes. Here, we present a simple model for particle acceleration and propagation in the context of a 3D simulation of the quiet solar atmosphere, spanning from the convection zone to the corona. We then examine the additional transport of energy introduced by the particle beams. Methods. The locations of particle acceleration associated with magnetic reconnection were identified by detecting changes in magnetic topology. At each location, the parameters of the accelerated particle distribution were estimated from local conditions. The particle distributions were then propagated along the magnetic field, and the energy deposition due to Coulomb collisions with the ambient plasma was computed. Results. We find that particle beams originate in extended acceleration regions that are distributed across the corona. Upon reaching the transition region, they converge and produce strands of intense heating that penetrate the chromosphere. Within these strands, beam heating consistently dominates conductive heating below the bottom of the transition region. This indicates that particle beams qualitatively alter the energy transport even outside of active regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Solar Orbiter, the first mission of ESA's Cosmic Vision 2015–2025 programme and a mission of international collaboration between ESA and NASA, will explore the Sun and heliosphere from close up and out of the ecliptic plane. It was launched on 10 February 2020 04:03 UTC from Cape Canaveral and aims to address key questions of solar and heliospheric physics pertaining to how the Sun creates and controls the Heliosphere, and why solar activity changes with time. To answer these, the mission carries six remote-sensing instruments to observe the Sun and the solar corona, and four in-situ instruments to measure the solar wind, energetic particles, and electromagnetic fields. In this paper, we describe the science objectives of the mission, and how these will be addressed by the joint observations of the instruments onboard. Methods. The paper first summarises the mission-level science objectives, followed by an overview of the spacecraft and payload. We report the observables and performance figures of each instrument, as well as the trajectory design. This is followed by a summary of the science operations concept. The paper concludes with a more detailed description of the science objectives. Results. Solar Orbiter will combine in-situ measurements in the heliosphere with high-resolution remote-sensing observations of the Sun to address fundamental questions of solar and heliospheric physics. The performance of the Solar Orbiter payload meets the requirements derived from the mission's science objectives. Its science return will be augmented further by coordinated observations with other space missions and ground-based observatories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission's science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit's science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter's SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar Orbiter's in situ coordination working group met frequently during the development of the mission with the goal of ensuring that its in situ payload has the necessary level of coordination to maximise science return. Here we present the results of that work, namely how the design of each of the in situ instruments (EPD, MAG, RPW, SWA) was guided by the need for coordination, the importance of time synchronisation, and how science operations will be conducted in a coordinated way. We discuss the mechanisms by which instrument sampling schemes are aligned such that complementary measurements will be made simultaneously by different instruments, and how burst modes are scheduled to allow a maximum overlap of burst intervals between the four instruments (telemetry constraints mean different instruments can spend different amounts of time in burst mode). We also explain how onboard autonomy, inter-instrument communication, and selective data downlink will be used to maximise the number of transient events that will be studied using high-resolution modes of all the instruments. Finally, we briefly address coordination between Solar Orbiter's in situ payload and other missions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. To meet the scientific objectives of the mission, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft carries a suite of in-situ (IS) and remote sensing (RS) instruments designed for joint operations with inter-instrument communication capabilities. Indeed, previous missions have shown that the Sun (imaged by the RS instruments) and the heliosphere (mainly sampled by the IS instruments) should be considered as an integrated system rather than separate entities. Many of the advances expected from Solar Orbiter rely on this synergistic approach between IS and RS measurements. Aims. Many aspects of hardware development, integration, testing, and operations are common to two or more RS instruments. In this paper, we describe the coordination effort initiated from the early mission phases by the Remote Sensing Working Group. We review the scientific goals and challenges, and give an overview of the technical solutions devised to successfully operate these instruments together. Methods. A major constraint for the RS instruments is the limited telemetry (TM) bandwidth of the Solar Orbiter deep-space mission compared to missions in Earth orbit. Hence, many of the strategies developed to maximise the scientific return from these instruments revolve around the optimisation of TM usage, relying for example on onboard autonomy for data processing, compression, and selection for downlink. The planning process itself has been optimised to alleviate the dynamic nature of the targets, and an inter-instrument communication scheme has been implemented which can be used to autonomously alter the observing modes. We also outline the plans for in-flight cross-calibration, which will be essential to the joint data reduction and analysis. Results. The RS instrument package on Solar Orbiter will carry out comprehensive measurements from the solar interior to the inner heliosphere. Thanks to the close coordination between the instrument teams and the European Space Agency, several challenges specific to the RS suite were identified and addressed in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft will be equipped with a wide range of remote-sensing (RS) and in situ (IS) instruments to record novel and unprecedented measurements of the solar atmosphere and the inner heliosphere. To take full advantage of these new datasets, tools and techniques must be developed to ease multi-instrument and multi-spacecraft studies. In particular the currently inaccessible low solar corona below two solar radii can only be observed remotely. Furthermore techniques must be used to retrieve coronal plasma properties in time and in three dimensional (3D) space. Solar Orbiter will run complex observation campaigns that provide interesting opportunities to maximise the likelihood of linking IS data to their source region near the Sun. Several RS instruments can be directed to specific targets situated on the solar disk just days before data acquisition. To compare IS and RS, data we must improve our understanding of how heliospheric probes magnetically connect to the solar disk. Aims. The aim of the present paper is to briefly review how the current modelling of the Sun and its atmosphere can support Solar Orbiter science. We describe the results of a community-led effort by European Space Agency's Modelling and Data Analysis Working Group (MADAWG) to develop different models, tools, and techniques deemed necessary to test different theories for the physical processes that may occur in the solar plasma. The focus here is on the large scales and little is described with regards to kinetic processes. To exploit future IS and RS data fully, many techniques have been adapted to model the evolving 3D solar magneto-plasma from the solar interior to the solar wind. A particular focus in the paper is placed on techniques that can estimate how Solar Orbiter will connect magnetically through the complex coronal magnetic fields to various photospheric and coronal features in support of spacecraft operations and future scientific studies. Methods. Recent missions such as STEREO, provided great opportunities for RS, IS, and multi-spacecraft studies. We summarise the achievements and highlight the challenges faced during these investigations, many of which motivated the Solar Orbiter mission. We present the new tools and techniques developed by the MADAWG to support the science operations and the analysis of the data from the many instruments on Solar Orbiter. Results. This article reviews current modelling and tool developments that ease the comparison of model results with RS and IS data made available by current and upcoming missions. It also describes the modelling strategy to support the science operations and subsequent exploitation of Solar Orbiter data in order to maximise the scientific output of the mission. Conclusions. The on-going community effort presented in this paper has provided new models and tools necessary to support mission operations as well as the science exploitation of the Solar Orbiter data. The tools and techniques will no doubt evolve significantly as we refine our procedure and methodology during the first year of operations of this highly promising mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GREGOR telescope was inaugurated in 2012. In 2018, we began a complete upgrade, involving optics, alignment, instrumentation, mechanical upgrades for vibration reduction, updated control systems, and building enhancements, and in addition, adapted management and policies. This paper describes all major updates performed during this time. Since 2012, all powered mirrors except for M1 were exchanged. Since March 2020, GREGOR observes with diffraction-limited performance and a new optics and instrument layout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the nature of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) kink waves, the temporal behaviour of an initial kink perturbation of a typical coronal flux tube has been investigated in this paper. The flux tube has a transitional layer that separates the core region of the tube from the surrounding environment. In the transitional layer, the background density and magnetic field varies continuously from the internal to the external values. The magnetic field is straight and aligned with the tube axis in the internal and external regions of the flux tube, but is assumed to be twisted in the transitional layer. Hence, in the transitional layer the background Alfvén speed is inhomogeneous and perturbations become out of phase due to the process of phase mixing. Our result shows that as the energy of the wave transfers to the local Alfvén waves in the inhomogeneous region, the magnetic tension force becomes the dominant restoring force of the wave. The numerical results show that the nature of the small-scale oscillations in the transitional layer is determined by the ratio of the azimuthal components of the restoring forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nearby detached double-lined eclipsing binaries with most accurate data were studied and 290 systems were found with at least one main-sequence component having a metallicity of 0.008 ≤ Z ≤ 0.040. Stellar parameters, light ratios, Gaia Data Release 2 trigonometric parallaxes, extinctions and/or reddening were investigated and only 206 systems were selected as eligible to calculate empirical bolometric corrections. NASA/IPAC Galactic dust maps were the main source of extinctions. Unreliable extinctions at low Galactic latitudes | b | ≤ 5° were replaced with individual determinations, if they exist in the literature, else associated systems were discarded. The main-sequence stars of te remaining systems were used to calculate the bolometric corrections (BCs) and to calibrate the BC– T eff relation, which is valid in the range 3100–36 000 K. De-reddened (B − V)0 colours, on the other hand, allowed us to calibrate two intrinsic colour–effective temperature relations; the linear one is valid for |$T_{\rm eff}\gt 10\, 000$| K, while the quadratic relation is valid for |$T_{\rm eff}\lt 10\, 000$| K; that is, both are valid in the same temperature range in which the BC –T eff relation is valid. New BCs computed from T eff and other astrophysical parameters are tabulated, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We make use of APOGEE and |$Gaia\,$| data to identify stars that are consistent with being born in the same association or star cluster as the Sun. We limit our analysis to stars that match solar abundances within their uncertainties, as they could have formed from the same giant molecular cloud (GMC) as the Sun. We constrain the range of orbital actions that solar siblings can have with a suite of simulations of solar birth clusters evolved in static and time-dependent tidal fields. The static components of each galaxy model are the bulge, disc, and halo, while the various time-dependent components include a bar, spiral arms, and GMCs. In galaxy models without GMCs, simulated solar siblings all have JR < 122 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc, 990 < Lz < 1986 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc, and 0.15 < Jz < 0.58 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc. Given the actions of stars in APOGEE and |$Gaia\,$|⁠ , we find 104 stars that fall within this range. One candidate in particular, Solar Sibling 1, has both chemistry and actions similar enough to the solar values that strong interactions with the bar or spiral arms are not required for it to be dynamically associated with the Sun. Adding GMCs to the potential can eject solar siblings out of the plane of the disc and increase their Jz , resulting in a final candidate list of 296 stars. The entire suite of simulations indicate that solar siblings should have JR < 122 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc, 353 < Lz < 2110 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc, and Jz < 0.8 km  |$\rm s^{-1}$|  kpc. Given these criteria, it is most likely that the association or cluster that the Sun was born in has reached dissolution and is not the commonly cited open cluster M67. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Phase mixing of Alfvén waves has been studied extensively as a possible coronal heating mechanism but without the full thermodynamic consequences considered self-consistently. It has been argued that in some cases, the thermodynamic feedback of the heating could substantially affect the transverse density gradient and even inhibit the phase mixing process. Aims. In this paper, for the first time, we use magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations with the appropriate thermodynamical terms included to quantify the evaporation following heating by phase mixing of Alfvén waves in a coronal loop and the effect of this evaporation on the transverse density profile. Methods. The numerical simulations were performed using the Lagrangian Remap code Lare2D. We set up a 2D loop model consisting of a field-aligned thermodynamic equilibrium and a cross-field (background) heating profile. A continuous, sinusoidal, highfrequency Alfvén wave driver was implemented. As the Alfvén waves propagate along the field, they undergo phase mixing due to the cross-field density gradient in the coronal part of the loop. We investigated the presence of field-aligned flows, heating from the dissipation of the phase-mixed Alfvén waves, and the subsequent evaporation from the lower atmosphere. Results. We find that phase mixing of Alfvén waves leads to modest heating in the shell regions of the loop and evaporation of chromospheric material into the corona with upflows of the order of only 5-20ms-1. Although the evaporation leads to a mass increase in the shell regions of the loop, the effect on the density gradient and, hence, on the phase mixing process, is insignificant. Conclusions. This paper self-consistently investigates the effect of chromospheric evaporation on the cross-field density gradient and the phase mixing process in a coronal loop. We found that the effects in our particular setup (small amplitude, high frequency waves) are too small to significantly change the density gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In solar physics, there is a decades-old conundrum that is still unsolved. Why is the temperature of the corona so much larger than that of the surface of the Sun? To solve this, various approaches have been adopted so far, but they have certain limitations. In the present analysis, we invoke the standard Vlasov model and the steady-state Poynting theorem to unlock the mysterious coronal heating mechanism in terms of inertial and kinetic Alfvén waves whose electromagnetic energies turn into heat during wave–particle interaction. The coronal plasmas that support these waves are modelled by a non-thermal bi-kappa velocity distribution function. The non-thermal distribution function, which is assumed to pre-exist in the system, strongly influences the wave-heating process. Particularly, during heating by the waves in the inertial limit, the non-thermal features of the distribution function give rise to a unique competition (which is entirely absent in the usual Maxwellian plasmas) between waves of different perpendicular wavenumbers (kx). For small kx , when either the non-thermal parameter κ or the electron parallel temperature T ||e increases, the inertial Alfvén waves can efficiently heat the plasma in their immediate vicinity. However, for relatively large kx , an increase in either κ or T ||e enables the inertial Alfvén waves to effectively heat the plasma in remote regions in the corona. Although such competition is not seen in the kinetic limit, the non-thermal features still seem to control the heating process. The possible explanations behind the above-mentioned cases are provided by the bi-kappa velocity distribution function, which holds vital clues as to how the non-thermal features, together with kx , dictate the resonance conditions that play a crucial role in the heating process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A millenary description of the world as conceived by Chinese culture, appears in the Zhou bi Suanjing or "The book of the Gnomon and the Circular Paths of the Heaven", according Needham. Situated at Zhou (a legendary city) the dimensions of the earth and heaven, including the size of the Sun are presented in this book. The Chinese Gaì Ti'an astronomical model of a flat earth and a flat heaven, is measured with the aid of a gnomon (biao) and the application of the Pythagorean Theorem. Now, after making an adjustment to the scale of the data, the elements to locate the legendary Zhou City have been found making feasible the correspondence between the dimensions of the Zhoubi's given world and those of the actual Earth. Here I show that Zhou, centre of the world from which the measures are done, corresponds to the city Jining located in the province of Shandong, China; also, I confirm that the distance between Jining and the Pole of Zhoubi is 4,285 km as could be found with a geographical tool such as the Google-Earth program. With these results I am confident to say that: The city of Zhou appearing in the Zhoubi exists; and, that the Zhoubi was an accurate description of the Earth at the time of Zhou Dynasty (1045 - 256 BC). Moreover, the location of cities as important as Beijing (at 498 km to the north of Jining) would be related with projection of the heaven on Earth: it is about one diameter of Sun from Jining. Also, it important to know that this city is recognized as the birth place of the great philosopher Confucius, giving to my findings a relevance that goes beyond the field of Astronomy or Mathematics, in which frame the Zhoubi has been analysed through the years. These findings put new perspectives for the search in other non-mathematical or non-astronomical documents elements for these disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fastest pulsar and the slowest nova; the oldest galaxies and the youngest stars; the weirdest life forms and the commonest dwarfs; the highest energy particles and the lowest energy photons. These were some of the extremes of Astrophysics 2006. We attempt also to bring you updates on things of which there is currently only one (habitable planets, the Sun, and the Universe) and others of which there are always many, like meteors and molecules, black holes and binaries. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

Giant molecular clouds (GMCs) are believed to affect the biospheres of planets as their host star passes through them. We simulate the trajectories of stars and GMCs in the Galaxy and determine how often stars pass through GMCs. We find a strong decreasing dependence with Galactocentric radius, and with the velocity perpendicular to the Galactic plane, V |$\mathrm{ z}$| . The XY -component of the kinematic heating of stars was shown to not affect the GMC hit rate, unlike the Z -dependence (V |$\mathrm{ z}$| ) implies that stars hit fewer GMCs as they age. GMCs are locations of star formation, therefore we also determine how often stars pass near supernovae. For the supernovae the decrease with V |$\mathrm{ z}$| is steeper as how fast the star passes through the GMC determines the probability of a supernova encounter. We then integrate a set of Sun-like trajectories to see the implications for the Sun. We find that the Sun hits 1.6 ± 1.3 GMCs per Gyr which results in 1.5 ± 1.1 or (with correction for clustering) 0.8 ± 0.6 supernova closer than 10 pc per Gyr. The different the supernova frequencies are from whether one considers multiple supernovae per GMC crossing (few Myr) as separate events. We then discuss the effect of the GMC hits on the Oort cloud, and the Earth's climate due to accretion, we also discuss the records of distant supernova. Finally, we determine Galactic Habitable Zone using our model. For the thin disc, we find it to lie between 5.8 and 8.7 kpc and for the thick disc to lie between 4.5 and 7.7 kpc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Many astrophysical processes involving plasma flows are produced in the context of a gravitationally stratified atmosphere in hydrostatic equilibrium, in which strong gradients can exist with gas properties that vary in small regions by several orders of magnitude. The standard Godunov-type schemes with polynomial reconstruction used to numerically solve these problems fail to preserve the hydrostatic equilibrium owing to the appearance of spurious fluxes generated by the numerical unbalance between gravitational forces and pressure gradients. Aims. The aim of this work is to present local hydrostatic reconstruction techniques that can be implemented in existing codes with Godunov-type methods to obtain well-balanced schemes that numerically satisfy the hydrostatic equilibrium for various conditions. Methods. The proposed numerical scheme is based on the Godunov method with second order MUSCL-type reconstruction, as is extensively used in astrophysical applications. The difference between the scheme and the standard formulations is only given by calculating the pressure and density Riemann states on each intercell face and by computing the gravitational source term on each cell. Results. The local hydrostatic reconstruction scheme is implemented in the FLASH code to verify the well-balanced property for hydrostatic equilibrium with constant or linearly variable temperature and constant or variable gravity. In addition, the behavior of the scheme for hydrostatic equilibrium with arbitrary temperature distributions is also analyzed together with the ability to propagate low-amplitude waves and to capture shock waves. Conclusions. The scheme is demonstrated to be robust and relatively simple to implement in existing codes. This approach produces good results in hydrostatic equilibrium preservation, satisfying the well-balanced property for the preset conditions and strongly reducing the spurious fluxes for extreme configurations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. We carry out a solar survey with images of the photosphere, prominences, and corona at Pic du Midi observatory. This survey, named CLIMSO (for CLIchés Multiples du SOleil), is in the following spectral lines: Fe XIII corona (1.075 μm), Hα (656.3 nm), and He I (1.083 μm) prominences, and Hα and Ca II (393.4 nm) photosphere. All frames cover 1.3 times the diameter of the Sun with an angular resolution approaching one arcsecond. The frame rate is one per minute per channel (weather permitting) for the prominences and chromosphere, and one per hour for the Fe XIII corona. This survey started in 2007 for the disk and prominences and in 2015 for the corona. We have almost completed one solar cycle and hope to cover several more, keeping the same wavelengths or adding others. Aims. We seek to make the CLIMSO images easier to use and more profitable for the scientific community. Methods. At the beginning of the survey, the images that we sent to the CLIMSO database were not calibrated. We have implemented a photometric calibration for the present and future images, in order to provide "science-ready" data. The old images have been calibrated. We have also improved the contrast capabilities of our coronagraphs, which now provide images of the Fe XIII corona, in addition to previous spectral channels. We also implemented an autoguiding system based on a diffractive Fresnel array for precise positioning of the Sun behind coronagraphic masks. Results. The data, including the images and films, are publicly available and downloadable through virtual observatories and dedicated websites (use "CLIMSO" and "IRAP" keywords to find them). For the Hα and Ca II channels we calibrate the data into physical units, independent of atmospheric or instrumental conditions; we provide solar maps of spectral radiances in W m−2 sr−1 nm−1. The instrumental improvements and calibration process are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dewitt et al. derived a useful relation between the plasma screening factor for a reaction of two fusing ions and their chemical potentials, based on the plasma pair distribution functions. We show that their result can be derived in a simpler, more straightforward way, by applying the principle of detailed balance, which also enables us to generalize the relation to reactions involving N fusing ions. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of applying the principle of detailed balance, we calculate the screening factor for the pep reaction, p + e + p → 2D +ν e . For the plasma conditions near the centre of the Sun, the reaction is suppressed by roughly the same amount by which the reaction p + p → 2D + e + + ν e is enhanced. This effect may be measured in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deterministic galactic dynamics is impossible due to a lack of precise knowledge of the initial conditions and galactic potential. Instead of treating stellar orbits deterministically, we integrate not only the mean but also the covariance of a stellar orbit in the Galaxy. As a test case, we study the probabilistic dynamics of the Sun and the star GJ 710 which is expected to cross the Oort Cloud in 1.3 Myr. We find that the uncertainty in the galactic model and the Sun's initial conditions are important for understanding such stellar close encounters. Our study indicates significant uncertainty in the solar motion within 1 Gyr and casts doubt on claims of a strict periodic orbit. In order to make such calculations more practical, we investigate the utility of the linearized and unscented transformations as two efficient schemes relative to a baseline of Monte Carlo calculations. We find that the linearized transformation predicts the uncertainty propagation as precisely as the Monte Carlo method for a few million years at least 700 times faster. Around an order of magnitude slower, the unscented transformation provides relative uncertainty propagation to a very high precision for tens of millions of years. The first order linearized transformation provides an efficient method which works to Gyr time-scales for small initial uncertainty problems and for propagation over hundreds of million years for larger initial uncertainty problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. The barycentric dynamics of the Sun has increasingly been attracting the attention of researchers from several fields, due to the idea that interactions between the Sun’s orbital motion and solar internal functioning could be possible. Existing high-precision ephemerides that have been used for that purpose do not include the effects of trans-Neptunian bodies, which cause a significant offset in the definition of the solar system’s barycentre. In addition, the majority of the dynamical parameters of the solar barycentric orbit are not routinely calculated according to these ephemerides or are not publicly available. Methods. We developed a special version of the IAA RAS lunar–solar–planetary ephemerides, EPM2017H, to cover the whole Holocene and 1 kyr into the future. We studied the basic and derived (e.g., orbital torque) barycentric dynamical quantities of the Sun for that time span. A harmonic analysis (which involves an application of VSOP2013 and TOP2013 planetary theories) was performed on these parameters to obtain a physics-based interpretation of the main periodicities present in the solar barycentric movement. Results. We present a high-precision solar barycentric orbit and derived dynamical parameters (using the solar system’s invariable plane as the reference plane), widely accessible for the whole Holocene and 1 kyr in the future. Several particularities and barycentric phenomena are presented and explained on dynamical bases. A comparison with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory DE431 ephemeris, whose main differences arise from the modelling of trans-Neptunian bodies, shows significant discrepancies in several parameters (i.e., not only limited to angular elements) related to the solar barycentric dynamics. In addition, we identify the main periodicities of the Sun’s barycentric movement and the main giant planets perturbations related to them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Since April 5, 2008 and up to February 15, 2017, the SOLar SPECtrometer (SOLSPEC) instrument of the SOLAR payload on board the International Space Station (ISS) has performed accurate measurements of solar spectral irradiance (SSI) from the middle ultraviolet to the infrared (165 to 3088 nm). These measurements are of primary importance for a better understanding of solar physics and the impact of solar variability on climate. In particular, a new reference solar spectrum (SOLAR-ISS) is established in April 2008 during the solar minima of cycles 23-24 thanks to revised engineering corrections, improved calibrations, and advanced procedures to account for thermal and aging corrections of the SOLAR/SOLSPEC instrument. Aims. The main objective of this article is to present a new high-resolution solar spectrum with a mean absolute uncertainty of 1.26% at 1σ from 165 to 3000 nm. This solar spectrum is based on solar observations of the SOLAR/SOLSPEC space-based instrument. Methods. The SOLAR/SOLSPEC instrument consists of three separate double monochromators that use concave holographic gratings to cover the middle ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and infrared (IR) domains. Our best ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectra are merged into a single absolute solar spectrum covering the 165-3000 nm domain. The resulting solar spectrum has a spectral resolution varying between 0.6 and 9.5 nm in the 165-3000 nm wavelength range. We build a new solar reference spectrum (SOLAR-ISS) by constraining existing high-resolution spectra to SOLAR/SOLSPEC observed spectrum. For that purpose, we account for the di erence of resolution between the two spectra using the SOLAR/SOLSPEC instrumental slit functions. Results. Using SOLAR/SOLSPEC data, a new solar spectrum covering the 165-3000 nm wavelength range is built and is representative of the 2008 solar minimum. It has a resolution better than 0.1 nm below 1000 nm and 1 nm in the 1000-3000 nm wavelength range. The new solar spectrum (SOLAR-ISS) highlights significant di erences with previous solar reference spectra and with solar spectra based on models. The integral of the SOLAR-ISS solar spectrum yields a total solar irradiance of 1372.3 ± 16.9Wm-2 at 1σ, that is yet 11Wm-2 over the value recommended by the International Astronomical Union in 2015. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sky brightness is a critical parameter for estimating the coronal observation conditions for a solar observatory. As part of a site-survey project in Western China, we measured the sky brightness continuously at the Lijiang Observatory in Yunnan province in 2011. A sky brightness monitor (SBM) was adopted to measure the sky brightness in a region extending from 4.5 to 7.0 apparent solar radii based on the experience of the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) site survey. Every month, the data were collected manually for at least one week. We collected statistics of the sky brightness at four bandpasses located at 450, 530, 890, and 940 nm. The results indicate that aerosol scattering is of great importance for the diurnal variation of the sky brightness. For most of the year, the sky brightness remains under 20 millionths per airmass before local Noon. On average, the sky brightness is less than 20 millionths, which accounts for 40.41% of the total observing time on a clear day. The best observation time is from 9:00 to 13:00 (Beijing time). The Lijiang Observatory is therefore suitable for coronagraphs investigating the structures and dynamics of the corona. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aim to characterise the solar cycle progression simultaneously at different latitudes in each solar hemisphere using solar magnetic field data provided by the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO). We also investigate whether the features observed in the W S O data are best explained by the Babcock-Leighton (BL) mechanism and/or turbulent helicity as the a-effect in solar dynamos. Methods: We analysed the hemispheric solar-cycle progression of the Sun's magnetic field in different 15° latitudinal bands, which allow us to explore the extent of cycle overlap. We also investigated the Waldmeier Rule, and the relationship between decay rates and peak amplitudes of the same cycle. These aspects of the solar-cycle progression can be explained in different ways by solar dynamo models depending on the source of the a-effect. Results: The progression of the last four solar cycles in different latitudinal bands reveals that the degree of overlap between consecutive cycles is small and is more likely to be confined to low solar latitudes. We also found that the southern and northern solar hemispheres behave differently for the last four solar cycles, suggesting a slight decoupling between the hemispheres. The results also reveal a strong correlation between the decay rates and the peak amplitudes of the solar cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The SOLar SPECtrum (SOLSPEC) experiment is part of the Solar Monitoring Observatory (SOLAR) payload, and has been externally mounted on the Columbus module of the International Space Station (ISS) since 2008. SOLAR/SOLSPEC combines three absolutely calibrated double monochromators with concave gratings for measuring the solar spectral irradiance (SSI) from 166 nm to 3088 nm. This physical quantity is a key input for studies of climatology, planetary atmospheres, and solar physics. Aims. A general description of the instrument is given, including in-flight operations and performance of the ultraviolet (UV) channel from 175 nm to 340 nm. Methods. We developed a range of processing and correction methods, which are described in detail. For example, methods for correcting thermal behavior effects, instrument linearity, and especially the accuracy of the wavelength and absolute radiometric scales have been validated by modeling the standard uncertainties. Results. The deliverable is a quiet Sun UV reference solar spectrum as measured by SOLAR/SOLSPEC during the minimum of solar activity prior to cycle 24. Comparisons with other instruments measuring SSI are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency of Galactic stellar encounters the Solar system experienced depends on the local density and velocity dispersion along the orbit of the Sun in the Milky Way galaxy. We aim at determining the effect of the radial migration of the solar orbit on the rate of stellar encounters. As a first step, we integrate the orbit of the Sun backwards in time in an analytical potential of the Milky Way. We use the present-day phase-space coordinates of the Sun, according to the measured uncertainties. The resulting orbits are inserted in an N-body simulation of the Galaxy, where the stellar velocity dispersion is calculated at each position along the orbit of the Sun. We compute the rate of Galactic stellar encounters by employing three different solar orbits - migrating from the inner disc, without any substantial migration and migrating from the outer disc. We find that the rate for encounters within 4 × 105 au from the Sun is about 21, 39 and 63 Myr-1, respectively. The stronger encounters establish the outer limit of the so-called parking zone, which is the region in the plane of the orbital eccentricities and semi-major axes where the planetesimals of the Solar system have been perturbed only by interactions with stars belonging to the Sun's birth cluster. We estimate the outer edge of the parking zone at semimajor axes of 250-1300 au (the outwards and inwards migrating orbits reaching the smallest and largest values, respectively), which is one order of magnitude smaller than the determination made by Portegies Zwart & Jílková. We further discuss the effect of stellar encounters on the stability of the hypothetical Planet 9. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Keywords: errata; addenda; Sun: activity; Sun: general; sunspots EN errata addenda Sun: activity Sun: general sunspots 5715 5716 2 05/09/22 20220601 NES 220601 This is an erratum for our article Carrasco et al. ([1]): 'Strong evidence of low levels of solar activity during the Maunder Minimum'. Sun: activity, Sun: general, sunspots, errata, addenda The annual values of the international sunspot number index (version 2) are available on the website of the Sunspot Index and Long-term Solar Observations (http://www.sidc.be/silso/). [Extracted from the article]

We use high resolution direct numerical simulations (DNS) to show that helical turbulence can generate significant large-scale fields even in the presence of strong small-scale dynamo action. During the kinematic stage, the unified large/small-scale dynamo grows fields with a shapeinvariant eigenfunction, with most power peaked at small scales or large k, as in Subramanian & Brandenburg. Nevertheless, the large-scale field can be clearly detected as an excess power at small k in the negatively polarized component of the energy spectrum for a forcing with positively polarized waves. Its strength B, relative to the total rms field Brms, decreases with increasing magnetic Reynolds number, ReM. However, as the Lorentz force becomes important, the field generated by the unified dynamo orders itself by saturating on successively larger scales. The magnetic integral scale for the positively polarized waves, characterizing the smallscale field, increases significantly from the kinematic stage to saturation. This implies that the small-scale field becomes as coherent as possible for a given forcing scale, which averts the ReM-dependent quenching of B/Brms. These results are obtained for 1024³ DNS with magnetic Prandtl numbers of PrM = 0.1 and 10. For PrM = 0.1, B/Brms grows from about 0.04 to about 0.4 at saturation, aided in the final stages by helicity dissipation. For PrM = 10, B/Brms grows from much less than 0.01 to values of the order the 0.2. Our results confirm that there is a unified large/small-scale dynamo in helical turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground-based solar observations are strongly affected by optical turbulence. The concept of a new instrument which allows one to measure both spatial and temporal parameters of atmospheric turbulence has been proposed in the late 1990s. The instrument MISOLFA (Moniteur d'Images Solaire Franco-Alg'erien) is based on this concept and has been developed over the past 10 years in the framework of a ground-based solar astrometry programme and in parallel to the development of several night time turbulence monitors at Calern Observatory, south of France. In this paper, we first describe its instrumental concept, the technical choices that were made to meet the specifications and discuss the difficulties encountered. Using numerical simulations, we present and test the methods that can be used in order to estimate the turbulence parameters from both MISOLFA image and pupil planes. The effect of finite outer scale on Fried parameter estimation from a simple estimate of the angle-of-arrival variance is clearly shown. Finally, we present the first results obtained with the instrument fully operating in its two observing planes. We obtained a mean value of angle-of-arrival coherence time of 5.3 ms, and good agreement is found between spatial parameters obtained with image and pupil planes. First estimates of the atmospheric structure constant C2 n(h) and outer scale L0(h) profiles are also presented which illustrates the profiling capacities of the new instrument. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]