The National Science Foundation (NSF), through its Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), awarded a $335,047 Project Grant to the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) to conduct a study on photospheric bright points as drivers of solar coronal heating. The 3-year project, starting on Sep 1, 2023, will utilize observations from the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope to identify, track, and measure the properties of photospheric bright points - small, short-lived features on the solar surface that are associated with strong magnetic fields. This data will be used to constrain models of coronal heating, the phenomena in which the Sun's outer atmosphere increases in temperature, and to investigate the role of wave modes driven by bright point dynamics in transporting energy to the solar corona. The study aims to enhance the understanding of the solar atmosphere, which encompasses the Earth and other planets, and supports an early career scientist as the project lead. No sub-awards are planned for this grant.
Mod # | Description | Reason For Modification | Federal Obligation (Click to sort descending) | Date (Click to sort ascending) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Not listed | $335.0k | 8/23/23 |