Coronal and heliospheric imagers for solar wind phenomena

Kevin F. Middleton; Anthony Bourdelle; Jackie A. Davies; Chris J. Eyles; Doug K. Griffin; Richard A. Harrison; Tony R. Richards; J. Kevin Rogers; S. James Tappin; Ian A. J. Tosh; Nick R. Waltham

doi:10.1117/12.2186996

21 September 2015 Coronal and heliospheric imagers for solar wind phenomena

Kevin F. Middleton, Anthony Bourdelle, Jackie A. Davies, Chris J. Eyles, Doug K. Griffin, Richard A. Harrison, Tony R. Richards, J. Kevin Rogers, S. James Tappin, Ian A. J. Tosh, Nick R. Waltham

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9604, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation VI; 96040R (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186996
Event: SPIE Optical Engineering + Applications, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

RAL Space is enhancing its program to lead the development of European capabilities in space-based visible-light coronal and heliospheric imaging instrumentation in the light of emerging opportunities such as the European Space Agency’s Space Situational Awareness program and recent S2 small-mission call. Visible-light coronal and heliospheric imaging of solar wind phenomena, such as coronal mass ejections and interaction regions, is of critical importance to space weather studies, both operationally and in terms of enabling the underpinning science. This work draws on heritage from scientific instruments such as LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph) on the SOHO spacecraft, SMEI (Solar Mass Ejection Imager) on the Coriolis spacecraft and the HI (Heliospheric Imager) instruments on STEREO. Such visible-light observation of solar wind structures relies on the detection of sunlight that has been Thomson-scattered by electrons (the so-called K-corona). The Thomson-scattered signal must be extracted from other signals that can be many orders of magnitude greater (such as that from the F-corona and the solar disc itself) and this places stringent constraints on stray-light rejection, as well as pointing stability and accuracy. We discuss the determination of instrument requirements, key design trade-offs and the evolution of base-line designs for the coronal and heliospheric regimes. We explain how the next generation of instruments will build on this heritage while also, in some cases, meeting the challenges on resources imposed on operational space weather imagers. In particular, we discuss the optical engineering challenges involved in the design of these instruments.

Citation Download Citation

Kevin F. Middleton, Anthony Bourdelle, Jackie A. Davies, Chris J. Eyles, Doug K. Griffin, Richard A. Harrison, Tony R. Richards, J. Kevin Rogers, S. James Tappin, Ian A. J. Tosh, and Nick R. Waltham "Coronal and heliospheric imagers for solar wind phenomena", Proc. SPIE 9604, Solar Physics and Space Weather Instrumentation VI, 96040R (21 September 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2186996

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
15 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Coronagraphy

Space operations

Signal to noise ratio

Curium

Diffraction

Aerospace engineering

Sensors

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years