[HeliosphereNews] Heliosphere News - September 19, 2018

[Eric J. Zirnstein]

Heliosphere News - September 19, 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: International Workshop on 'Particle Acceleration and Transport: From the Sun to Extragalactic Sources', 12-16 November 2018, Universita Della Calabria, Rende, Italy

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

3. OPPORTUNITY: Job Openings at the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

4. OPPORTUNITY: PhD POSITION in Heliosphere Physics and Space Instrumentation at the University of Bern, Switzerland

5. OPPORTUNITY: Research Scientist I (Step 1) to work with Prof. Gary P Zank: University of Alabama in Huntsville

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1. 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

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2. MEETING: SECOND ANNOUNCEMENT: 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 theme of the meeting will be "The Physics of Energetic Particles: Universal Processes from the Solar Corona to the Very Local Interstellar Medium and the Physics they Enable" and 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.

Energetic particles are ubiquitous throughout the solar wind, being integral to the solar corona, accelerated by interplanetary shock waves, present in the quiet solar wind, possibly accelerated by magnetic flux ropes or magnetic islands in the vicinity of the heliospheric current sheet, at planetary bow shocks, present in the distant heliosphere and the heliospheric termination shock, in the inner heliosheath, and now observed by Voyager 1 in the very local interstellar medium. Although numerous mechanisms have been identified that accelerate particles, no consensus exists as to which is primary, and indeed several acceleration processes can operate simultaneously in close proximity. The acceleration of particles to large energies represents a fundamental dissipative process for the plasma and can therefore modify the underlying plasma physical processes in important ways. The meeting will explore observations, theories, and look forward to anticipated new missions that will shine a light on this theme, the Parker Solar Probe and IMAP.

Please visit the conference website for registration and abstract submission: https://www.icnsmeetings.com/conference/18thannual/index.html

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

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3. OPPORTUNITY: Job Openings at the Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA

The Department of Space Research of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas seeks candidates for positions at the postdoctoral researcher, research scientist and senior or principal research scientist levels in Heliospheric Physics. The selected candidate is expected to carry out original research addressing the origin and acceleration of energetic particles in the interplanetary medium. Research will focus on the analysis of suprathermal and energetic particle, as well as magnetic field and solar wind plasma data from the Wind, ACE, and STEREO, and Parker Solar Probe missions and 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. Propose and lead relevant scientific investigations in data analysis and modeling and publish results in peer-reviewed scientific journals, present results at scientific meetings, workshops, and conferences. 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.

Click on the following links for more information about these positions.

15-01272 Postdoctoral Researcher https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01272
 
15-01309 Sr. Research/Principal Scientist https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01309
 
15-01308 Research/Sr. Research Scientist https://resapp.swri.org/ResApp/Job_Search_Results.aspx?DETAIL=15-01308

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4. OPPORTUNITY: PhD POSITION in Heliosphere Physics and Space Instrumentation at the University of Bern, Switzerland.

The Space Science Group of the Space Research and Planetology Division at the University of Bern has an open PhD student position in heliosphere physics to offer. The successful candidate will help develop the low-energy instrument for the scientific payload of the heliosphere satellite IMAP.

For more information and to apply for this position, please visit

http://www.space.unibe.ch/about_us/jobs/phd_position_in_heliosphere_physics_and_space_instrumentation/index_eng.html

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5. OPPORTUNITY: Research Scientist I (Step 1) to work with Prof. Gary P Zank: University of Alabama in Huntsville
 
The Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research (CSPAR) and the Department of Space Science (SPA) at The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) seeking a qualified candidate for the position Research Scientist I (step 1), available beginning October 2018. The position will support Prof. Gary Zank in a combination of research, teaching, and administrative activities, examples of which include; 1) to assist in developing models that describe magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence throughout the heliosphere, including the solar corona, the supersonic solar wind, and the outer heliosheath, relating turbulence models to physical problems such as particle scattering and transport, shock waves, etc., and in other research activities; 2) to assist in his teaching activities, including the supervision of graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D. level); 3) to present results at meetings and in papers; 4) to assist with proposals and; 5) to assist in the running of both a 4-week long Space Weather Summer Camp and similar Alabama Plasma Physics Summer Camp. The position requires essential knowledge and skills of advanced plasma physics, MHD, particularly in transport theory, experience in theory and related computing, in the context of space and solar physics.  The Department of Space Science and CSPAR provides a diverse and vibrant environment for academic excellence and professional growth. SPA offers a unique academic program in space plasma physics, covering research topics ranging from solar physics to physical processes throughout the heliosphere and in 'the interstellar medium. The appointee will also benefit from close interaction with the solar physics group at the Marshall Space Flight Center, who shares the same office space. The Research Scientist I is eligible to serve as a Principal Investigator in competing for internal and external funding opportunities. The City of Huntsville, also known as the Rocket City, boasts a high quality of life and a low cost of living.  The appointment is initially for one year and is renewable for additional years.  
 
Minimum qualifications include a Master's degree in Physics or a related field, 6-9 months of experience working on MHD turbulence and Landau fluids. Must possess significant expertise in the field of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence and in turbulence simulations. Must have expertise in both the theory and simulation of Landau fluids. Ph.D. in Physics or a related field is desired.  Skills in the numerical solution of systems of ordinary and partial differential equations is preferred. Ph.D. with 24-26 months of full-time postdoctoral experience working on MHD turbulence and Landau fluids is desired. The approximate starting salary is $62,591 - $68,030 with an excellent benefits package. To ensure full consideration, applicants should submit a cover letter describing professional experience as it relates to the requirements of the position, a current resume, and names of three referees. Qualified applicants should apply on-line for the Research Scientist I (step 3)/RV4230 position at https://uah.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=102235. Further inquiries about the position can be directed to Prof. Gary P. Zank (garyp.zank at gmail.com).   
 
AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER OF MINORITIES/FEMALES/VETERANS/DISABLED