EOL SEMINAR SERIES: High-Altitude Instrumentation for Infrared Observations of the Solar Corona
–> SPEAKER: Dr. Jenna Samra – Astrophysicist, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)/Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA)
–>DATE: June 16, 2020
–> TIME: 2:00-3:00 pm MDT
WEBCAST: https://www.ucar.edu/live?room=fl21022
QUESTIONS: Email questions during the talk to Ulrike Romatschke: romatsch@ucar.edu
ABSTRACT:
High-altitude infrared remote sensing is a promising new method for measuring coronal plasma and magnetic fields. This talk presents recent results from Smithsonian’s Airborne Infrared Spectrometer (AIR-Spec) and outlines concepts for future airborne and balloon-based spectrometers and spectro-polarimeters.
AIR-Spec is an imaging spectrometer that measures light over a 0.4 degree field of view in three spectral passbands between 1.4 and 3 microns. The instrument was commissioned during the 2017 total solar eclipse, when it observed five coronal emission lines from the NCAR Gulfstream V research jet. During the 2019 eclipse, significant instrument improvements enabled high-precision measurements higher in the corona. A third flight is planned for December 2020, and a new balloon-based instrument is being designed based on the results of the aircraft missions.