[HeliosphereNews] Heliosphere News - August 14, 2018

Tue Aug 14 11:01:30 EDT 2018

Heliosphere News - August 14, 2018 
http://heliospherenews.unh.edu/

A newsletter devoted to Heliospheric Science.

Editor: Nathan Schwadron (nschwadron at unh.edu) Co-Editor: Mihir Desai (mdesai at swri.edu) Co-Editor: Eric Zirnstein (ejz at princeton.edu) Co-Editor: Merav Opher (mopher at bu.edu) Co-Editor: Nick Pogorelov (np0002 at uah.edu)

Web site editor: Ken Fairchild (Ken.Fairchild at unh.edu)

If you are interested in being added to the list, being removed from the list, or posting an announcement, please send information to Nathan, Mihir, Eric, Merav, or Nick. Posts are limited to ascii text. Newsletters are archived on the following website: http://heliospherenews.unh.edu/.

******************* Announcements *******************

1. MEETING: FALL AGU, SESSIONS IN OUTER HELIOSPHERE, Dec 10-14, 2018, Washington, D.C., USA

2. MEETING: ISSS-13, Sept 6-14, 2018, UCLA, Abstract Submission and Registration Now Open

3. MEETING: International Workshop on 'Particle Acceleration and Transport: From the Sun to Extragalactic Sources', 12-16 November 2018, Universita Della Calabria, Rende, Italy

4. MEETING: 18th Annual International Astrophysics Conference, February 18-22, 2019, Pasadena, California, USA

5. OPPORTUNITY: Heliophysics POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER Opportunity at SwRI, San Antonio

******************

1. MEETING FALL AGU: SESSIONS IN OUTER HELIOSPHERE

Note: The deadline for all submissions has passed.

* SH018: Physics of a Global Heliosphere

Our Sun’s interaction with the interstellar medium creates boundaries and regions in the distant heliosphere and perturbs the local interstellar medium. Our understanding of this interaction is bolstered by in situ observations of the distant heliosphere from Voyager and remote-sensing observations from spacecraft closer to Earth e.g. IBEX, Cassini/INCA, SoHO/SWAN and HSTOF.  Other near-Earth spacecraft also measure variations in the solar wind plasma, particle distributions, and magnetic field. To obtain a full picture of the global heliosphere all of these data must be combined with theory and models of the underlying plasma physics. As we prepare for IMAP, it will be particularly important to understand how in situ measurements can be connected to remote-sensing data, and what role models can play in providing a reliable framework. We invite abstracts on data analysis, theoretical and numerical studies which give fresh insight into the physics of the global heliosphere.

Conveners: Joe Giacalone, Mihir Desai and Jacob Heerikhuisen

* SH019: Pickup Ions throughout the Heliosphere and Beyond

Since their discovery in the 1980?s pickup ions (PUI) are used to diagnose the physical state and composition of neutral gas throughout and beyond the heliosphere. Their structured injection and subsequent evolution make them excellent probes for interstellar gas flow and interplanetary dust distributions, ion transport and acceleration, and the heliospheric interface regions, where, in particular, the IBEX ribbon formation depends on PUI kinetics. In-situ and remote observations via energetic neutral atoms
demonstrate the importance of PUIs for the heliosphere dynamics. Kinetic and fluid modeling of PUI origin and transport comprise a modern toolset to tackle remaining puzzles of PUI evolution and further acceleration. Numerous past and operating missions have been contributing greatly to these advances, and, with their importance for the dynamics throughout and just outside the heliosphere, they are at the heart of upcoming heliophysics missions. We seek observational and theoretical contributions on all aspects related to PUIs.

Conveners: Eberhard Mobius, University of New Hampshire; Heather Elliott, Southwest Research Institute; Nikolai Pogorelov, University of Alabama in Huntsville; Justyna Sokol, Space Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

* SH031: The Outer Heliosphere and Local Interstellar Medium

The outer heliosphere and local interstellar medium (LISM) are being explored by in situ measurements and remote sensing observations. Models and simulations provide a framework to understand these new data. This session will cover all aspects of outer heliosphere and LISM research and provide a synopsis of recent progress in the field.

Conveners: John Richardson, MIT; Merav Opher, Boston University

* SH029: The Interstellar Probe Mission: NASA Study Findings and Next Steps

Abstract Submission:

https://agu.confex.com/agu/fm18/prelim.cgi/Session/48708

Session Description: The Interstellar Probe would be first dedicated mission to venture in to the unknown space between our star and other potentially habitable planetary systems. In 2016, congress recommended NASA to take the enabling steps for an Interstellar scientific probe. NASA has now directed a study of an Interstellar Probe targeting 1000 AU within 50 years. The study objectives are to identify science targets, develop mission concepts and evaluate critical technologies. Science targets include exploration of the Very Local Interstellar Medium and its interaction with the heliosphere, characterization of the circum-solar dust, flybys of unexplored Kuiper Belt Objects, and putting these observations in the context of other exoplanetary systems and astrospheres. This session reports on the findings spanning the science discoveries enabled by an Interstellar Probe and its mission design, but also seeks contributions on other scientific targets, enabling technologies, mission concepts and programmatic challenges.

Conveners: Pontus C. Brandt, Kathy Mandt, Dick Mewaldt, Bob Wimmer.

* SH013: Novel Measurement Techniques for Space Plasma in Heliophysics and Planetary Science

This session focuses on novel techniques for measuring and characterizing space plasma that enable new areas of science. Space plasma sciences have been advanced rapidly by emerging technologies throughout the space era, and recent technological advances provide low-cost, low-power, light-weight, high-resolution, high-cadence, high-accuracy, and wide-dynamic range solutions which can enhance the technical capabilities for the scientific closure of next generation missions in this area. The observation targets can include any types of space plasma relating to Sun, Earth, planets and bodies, interplanetary space, and interstellar media. Abstracts are solicited that investigate and develop instruments or supporting technologies for in-situ and remote sensing studies of particles and fields. A clear focus on the instrument technique is highly appreciated for abstracts in this session rather than a general description of missions. However, enabling technologies for a novel mission concept will be welcomed if the abstract focuses on the technology side.

Conveners: Keiichi Ogasawara, Southwest Research Institute; Jason A Gilbert, University of Michigan Ann Arbor; John W. Bonnell, University of California Berkeley

******************

2. MEETING: ISSS-13 Abstract Submission and Registration Now Open

From: David Schriver (dave at igpp.ucla.edu)

Abstract submission and registration for the International School/Symposium of Space Simulations (ISSS-13) is now open at https://conferences.pa.ucla.edu/ISSS13. The abstract submission deadline has passed. ISSS-13 will be held on the campus of UCLA on September 6-14, 2018. Lodging options in and around UCLA can be found on the website.

******************

3. MEETING: International Workshop on 'Particle Acceleration and Transport: From the Sun to Extragalactic Sources', 12-16 November 2018, Universita Della Calabria, Rende, Italy

The University of Calabria will host the international workshop on 'Particle acceleration and transport: from the Sun to extragalactic sources' on 2018 November 12-16 (http://astroplasmas.unical.it/workshop2018/)

Scientific rationale:

The workshop aims at presenting recent research on the longstanding problems of particle acceleration and transport in different astrophysical environments, such as the Sun, the heliosphere, galactic sources, and extragalactic sources. The purpose is to bring together experts in the fields of cosmic ray physics, plasma turbulence, acceleration processes, and particle transport, in order to stimulate cross-fertilization and to exchange scientific information among different areas. Indeed, the basic theoretical framework adopted to describe particle acceleration and transport is common to all those fields but the properties of the environments change noticeably. In addition, in-situ and remote observations often question the validity of the standard theories and prompt for further investigations to be interpreted. The availability of large datasets from new instrumentations and recent theoretical and numerical studies give the opportunity to advance the models and possibly to answer some of the basic unresolved issues. Exchange of ideas among the various fields would certainly speed up this process.

We strongly encourage to present to the different communities recent, pioneering observations, theories, and models that try to explain and describe processes of particle acceleration and transport. We try to bring together scientists who would like to understand what is happening beyond their field of specialty.

In order to promote an efficient exchange of ideas among different fields, each research area (solar, heliospheric, galactic, and extragalactic physics) will be introduced by a 40 minutes broad review talk. The majority of the talks will be upon invitation (30 minutes each), and at the end of each day a time slot of about 45 minutes will be dedicated to open discussions on the daily sessions led by a couple of scientists.

Contributed talks and poster presentations will be organized.

Main Topics:

-Observations of energetic particles in the solar, heliospheric, galactic and extragalactic environments

-Properties of cosmic ray transport and acceleration from in-situ and remote observations

-Solar flares, Crab flares, flaring phenomena in astrophysics

-Shock acceleration: problems and advances

-Particle acceleration in magnetic reconnection, including the relativistic regimes

-Particle acceleration in accretion flows and relativistic jets

-Transport and acceleration in non-linear regimes

-Magnetic turbulence in astrophysical plasmas: properties from large to small scales and effects on particle transport

-Theoretical models and numerical simulations of particle transport and acceleration

SOC:

Silvia Perri (Chair, Universita della Calabria, Rende, Italy)

Elena Amato (co-chair, INAF, Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Italy)

Gianfranco Brunetti (IRA-INAF, Bologna, Italy)

Andrey Bikov (Ioffe Institute, St. Petersburg, Russia)

Silvia Dalla (University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK)

Horst Fichtner (Ruhr-Universitat Bochum, Germany)

Natasha Jeffrey (University of Glasgow, UK)

William H. Matthaeus (University of Delaware, USA)

Reinout J. van Weeren (Leiden University, The Netherlands)

Gaetano Zimbardo (Universita della Calabria, Rende, Italy)

Contact: workshopunical2018 at gmail.com

*******************

4. MEETING: The 18th Annual International Astrophysics Conference will be held in Pasadena, California at the Sheraton Pasadena February 18 - 22, 2019. (Welcome Reception and Evening Registration begins Sunday, February 17).

The meeting will follow the same format as before with 25-minute presentations punctuated by selected 40-minute invited talks that will explore various themes in greater detail. The conference theme for the 18th AIAC is "The Physics of Energetic Particles: Universal Processes from the Solar Corona to the Very Local Interstellar Medium and the Physics they Enable." More conference details and website will be available soon. For now, mark your calendars and contact us with your interest in attending.

E-mail inquiries about the meeting should be directed to Gary Zank at garyp.zank at gmail.com or icnsmeetings at gmail.com.

*******************

5. OPPORTUNITY: Heliophysics POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER Opportunity at SwRI, San Antonio.

The Space Research Department at SwRI, San Antonio is seeking applications for a postdoctoral researcher to carry out original research addressing the origin and acceleration of energetic particles in the interplanetary medium. The candidate will analyze suprathermal and energetic particles, as well as magnetic field and solar wind plasma data from Wind, ACE, and STEREO, and the upcoming Parker Solar Probe mission. The candidate is also expected to support the development and calibration of suprathermal and energetic particle instruments to be used in upcoming heliophysics missions, publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals, and present results at scientific meetings, workshops, and conferences. The research will involve interactions with Institute Staff engaged in a broad range of observational, computational, and theoretical research in the physics of the solar wind and suprathermal and energetic particles. The candidate should have a PhD degree in Space Physics or Plasma Physics, and have graduate-level experience in the analysis and interpretation of solar wind, magnetic field, and suprathermal particle datasets. The candidate must have at least a 3.0 GPA, and demonstrate the ability to program and utilize data analysis software tools such as IDL, C, or MATLAB.

To apply for this position go to
https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01272.
For more information about SwRI visit
https://www.swri.org/technical-divisions/space-science-engineering