Solar wind generation and modulation of energetic particles

Since 2006 the STEREO spacecraft have been making detailed observations of the interplanetary solar wind, including vast eruptions known as Coronal Mass Ejections and density enhancements caused by the interaction of fast and slow solar wind streams. Such features can now been tracked all the way to Earth. The magnetic fields associated with these features, along with associated energetic particles, are what drives ‘space weather’ at Earth but there is much to learn about the mechanisms involved. For example, recent work by Reading researchers has shown that high speed solar wind streams and associated energetic particles have a significant impact on lightning rates at Earth.
We propose a project to use spacecraft and ground-based instrumentation to investigate how energetic particles are modulated by the solar wind and whether this information can be used to obtain information about the magnetic properties of solar wind structures from remote-sensing data alone.

For further information, please contact Matt Owens ([Email Address Removed])