In our proposed work we will use a modified spheromak model to simulate cmes in the corona and inner heliosphere

Georgia State University Research Foundation Inc. received a $175,497 Project Grant from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Mission Directorate under CFDA 43.001 (Science) to develop and execute a three-year research project running from June 12, 2025, through June 11, 2028. The project will utilize a modified spheromak model to simulate Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) in the solar corona and inner heliosphere, creating realistic hypothetical solar wind backgrounds with varying total pressure conditions to study CME flux rope evolution and expansion dynamics.

The primary deliverable of this award is the production of advanced computational simulations and analyses examining how solar wind pressure variations impact CME expansion behavior. The research specifically aims to assess whether the developed simulation models can reproduce observations of anomalous CME expansion observed during Solar Cycle 24, contributing to improved understanding of space weather phenomena. Performance of the project will be conducted at the awardee's facility located in Atlanta, Georgia.

We will create hypothetical but realistic solar wind backgrounds of different total pressure and study the evolution of the same simulated CME through them. This work will help US assess how variations in solar wind pressure impact the expansion of the CME flux rope and whether our simulations can reproduce observations of anomalous CME expansion in solar cycle 24.