We advocate for the development of a ground-based network of robotic instruments provisionally called ngGONG to maintain critical observing capabilities for synoptic research in solar physics and for the operational space weather forecast. ngGONG will consist of 6 geographically-distributed stations, with longitudes and weather patterns selected to provide nearly continuous observations of the Sun. ngGONG instruments will include: spectropolarimeters for precise measurements of vector magnetic fields at multiple heights in the solar atmosphere; an instrument for line-of-sight Doppler velocity measurements required for studies of the solar interior and farside; rapid narrow-band images; sun-as-a-star instruments; and tunable Hα imager and limited coronagraph capabilities to monitor the violent ejecta of magnetized plasma from the Sun’s atmosphere and determine coronal magnetic topologies and plasma properties. We will discuss the requirements for such an observing system, and present its conceptual design.
The Compact Doppler Magnetograph (CDM) is a space-qualified, miniaturized Doppler magnetograph, tailored to the requirements of a solar polar mission, and designed to provide photospheric line-of-sight magnetic field and Doppler velocity measurements of the solar surface. CDM is derived from the proven GONG (Global Oscillations Network Group) instrument design (Harvey et al., 1988, 1996), with a space qualified prototype developed for the Solaris solar polar MIDEX mission (Hassler et al., 2020). CDM has roughly 1/3 the mass of current state-of-the-art Doppler magnetographs (e.g., SOHO/MDI, SDO/HMI, SolO/PHI), with greatly increased sensitivity to the magnetic field (B) and Doppler velocity (v) and the capability to perform over an expanded spacecraft orbital velocity range, which is required to fit within the mission design constraints of currently feasible high latitude solar polar missions.
During the last two decades, Liquid Crystal Variable Retarder (LCVR) technology has matured and advanced as reliable and well-understood technology for ground applications to the point of being recently integrated in space-based optical instruments for the first time. LCVR cells use nematic liquid crystals to electronically tune the birefringence of the device in order to control the polarization of the transmitted light. The possibility to modulate the light polarization by means of an applied voltage offers the advantage of replacing the conventional rotary mechanisms, dedicated to carry the polarizing optics. Consequently, LCVR cells represent an excellent electro-optic solution to include in the design of space instruments where polarized light modulation is necessary. However, to validate the applicability of a LCVR cell to a space mission it is imperative to test its survivability in its exposure to conditions representative of the space environment. In this article, we summarize the activities performed to test the survivability of two commercial LCVR samples after their exposure to space-like environment for radiation and we report the result obtained by analyzing the radiation dose impact on the cell performances. The under-test samples have been produced by Meadowlark Optics Inc and designed for operation at 547 nm. We exposed the cells to multiple levels of gamma radiation dose, measuring their response time after each dose. To verify the impact of the accumulated radiation dose on the optical performances of the LCVR, we chose as indicators the retardance versus voltage, the transmission, and the response time. We measured these quantities before and after the whole test campaign and compared the two datasets to verify if gamma rays introduced any alterations in cell performances.
Long-term synoptic observations of the Sun in different wavelength regions are essential to understand its secular behavior. Such observations have proven very important for discovery of 11 year solar activity cycle, 22 year magnetic cycle, polar field reversals, Hale’s polarity law, Joy’s law, that helped Babcock and Leighton to propose famous solar dynamo model. In more recent decades, the societal impact of the secular changes in Sun’s output has been felt in terms of solar inputs to terrestrial climate-change and space-weather hazards. Further, it has been realized that to better understand the activity phenomena such as flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) one needs synoptic observations in multiple spectral lines to enable tomographic inference of physical parameters. Currently, there are both space and ground based synoptic observatories. However, given the requirements for the long-term stability and reliability of such synoptic datasets, ground-based facilities are more preferable. Also, the ground based observatories are easy to maintain or upgrade while detailed and frequent calibrations are easily possible. The only ground-based facility that currently provides full-disk velocity and magnetic field maps of the Sun around the clock and at good cadence, is the Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) network of National Solar Observatory (NSO) which is operational since the mid 90s. Due to its aging instrumentation, operating for nearly three decades, and new requirements to obtain multiwavelength observations, a need is felt in the solar community to build a next generation synoptic observatory network. A group of international observatories have come together under the auspices of SOLARNET program, funded by European Union (EU), to carryout a preliminary design study of such a synoptic solar observing facility called “SPRING”, which stands for Solar Physics Research Integrated Network Group. In this article we will present concept of SPRING and the optical design concept of its major instruments.ts.
This paper describes develop of a two channel echelle spectrograph, Solar Chromospheric Flare Spectreograph (SCFC), to observe the optical spectra at the locations of ares and explosive events on the Sun. The SCFS will record are spectra in two channels in the wavelength range of 350-890 nm, which has several chromospheric spectral lines. The SCFS will have a multi-fiber based slit capable of observing at 100 locations of the active region magnetic field polarity inversion lines. The field of view of SCFS will be 80 x 80 arc sec with spatial resolution of 8 arc sec. The spectral resolution of 60,000 will be adequate for measuring Doppler velocities of about 5 km s-1. The instrument is designed using off-the-shelves optical and mechanical parts with minimum fabrication at an in-house machine shop. The SCFS will be integrated with the full-disk Ha telescope at the Big Bear Solar Observatory that is operating semi-automatically around the year except for weather interruptions. The SCFS observations will be mainly used to study the physics of flares, but part of the time will be devoted to classroom educational activities.
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