Automated Detection of Coronal Loops using a Wavelet Transform Modulus Maxima Method

We propose and test a wavelet transform modulus maxima method for the au- tomated detection and extraction of coronal loops in extreme ultraviolet images of the solar corona. This method decomposes an image into a number of size scales and tracks enhanced power along each ridge corresponding to a coronal loop at each scale. We compare the results across scales and suggest the optimum set of parameters to maximise completeness while minimising detection of noise. For a test coronal image, we compare the global statistics (e.g., number of loops at each length) to previous automated coronal-loop detection algorithms

Segmentation of Loops from Coronal EUV Images

We present a procedure which extracts bright loop features from solar EUV images. In terms of image intensities, these features are elongated ridge-like intensity maxima. To discriminate the maxima, we need information about the spatial derivatives of the image intensity. Commonly, the derivative estimates are strongly affected by image noise. We therefore use a regularized estimation of the derivative which is then used to interpolate a discrete vector field of ridge points ``ridgels'' which are positioned on the ridge center and have the intrinsic orientation of the local ridge direction. A scheme is proposed to connect ridgels to smooth, spline-represented curves which fit the observed loops. Finally, a half-automated user interface allows one to merge or split, eliminate or select loop fits obtained form the above procedure. In this paper we apply our tool to one of the first EUV images observed by the SECCHI instrument onboard the recently launched STEREO spacecraft. We compare the extracted loops with projected field lines computed from almost-simultaneously-taken magnetograms measured by the SOHO/MDI Doppler imager. The field lines were calculated using a linear force-free field model. This comparison allows one to verify faint and spurious loop connections produced by our segmentation tool and it also helps to prove the quality of the magnetic-field model where well-identified loop structures comply with field-line projections. We also discuss further potential applications of our tool such as loop oscillations and stereoscopy.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, Solar Physics, online firs

Theoretical modeling for the stereo mission

We summarize the theory and modeling efforts for the STEREO mission, which will be used to interpret the data of both the remote-sensing (SECCHI, SWAVES) and in-situ instruments (IMPACT, PLASTIC). The modeling includes the coronal plasma, in both open and closed magnetic structures, and the solar wind and its expansion outwards from the Sun, which defines the heliosphere. Particular emphasis is given to modeling of dynamic phenomena associated with the initiation and propagation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The modeling of the CME initiation includes magnetic shearing, kink instability, filament eruption, and magnetic reconnection in the flaring lower corona. The modeling of CME propagation entails interplanetary shocks, interplanetary particle beams, solar energetic particles (SEPs), geoeffective connections, and space weather. This review describes mostly existing models of groups that have committed their work to the STEREO mission, but is by no means exhaustive or comprehensive regarding alternative theoretical approaches

Coronal loop detection from solar images and extraction of salient contour groups from cluttered images.

This dissertation addresses two different problems: 1) coronal loop detection from solar images: and 2) salient contour group extraction from cluttered images. In the first part, we propose two different solutions to the coronal loop detection problem. The first solution is a block-based coronal loop mining method that detects coronal loops from solar images by dividing the solar image into fixed sized blocks, labeling the blocks as Loop or Non-Loop , extracting features from the labeled blocks, and finally training classifiers to generate learning models that can classify new image blocks. The block-based approach achieves 64% accuracy in IO-fold cross validation experiments. To improve the accuracy and scalability, we propose a contour-based coronal loop detection method that extracts contours from cluttered regions, then labels the contours as Loop and Non-Loop , and extracts geometric features from the labeled contours. The contour-based approach achieves 85% accuracy in IO-fold cross validation experiments, which is a 20% increase compared to the block-based approach. In the second part, we propose a method to extract semi-elliptical open curves from cluttered regions. Our method consists of the following steps: obtaining individual smooth contours along with their saliency measures; then starting from the most salient contour, searching for possible grouping options for each contour; and continuing the grouping until an optimum solution is reached. Our work involved the design and development of a complete system for coronal loop mining in solar images, which required the formulation of new Gestalt perceptual rules and a systematic methodology to select and combine them in a fully automated judicious manner using machine learning techniques that eliminate the need to manually set various weight and threshold values to define an effective cost function. After finding salient contour groups, we close the gaps within the contours in each group and perform B-spline fitting to obtain smooth curves. Our methods were successfully applied on cluttered solar images from TRACE and STEREO/SECCHI to discern coronal loops. Aerial road images were also used to demonstrate the applicability of our grouping techniques to other contour-types in other real applications

Computation of loop flows in electric grids with high wind energy penetration

2013 Fall.Includes bibliographical references.In a deregulated electricity market, the financial transmission rights (FTRs) and the bid-sell principle for energy trades are used to determine the expected power flows on transmission lines. Expected power flows are calculated by applying the superposition theorem on the approved electronic tags (e-tags). Multiple parallel paths in interconnected networks lead to division of power flows determined by the impedances of the parallel paths and the physical laws of electricity. The actual power flows in the network do not conform to the market expectations leading to unscheduled flows (USF) on transmission lines. USF have historically been estimated and accommodated deterministically for a given set of e-tags. However, wide-area interconnections experience variability and uncertainty due to a significant penetration of wind energy connected at the transmission level, thus imparting a stochastic nature to USF. A linear model, from the literature, has been adopted to model USF using a mathematical artifact called `minor loop flows'. This research develops an automated framework that provides accurate estimates of loop flows suitable for both market and network level accommodation of variable USF. This generic framework will be applicable to any power transmission network with intermittent energy resources. A loop detection algorithm (LDA) based on graph theory is proposed to detect loops in a transmission network of any size. The LDA is formulated as a modification of the A-star (A*) algorithm, the lowest ancestor theorem, and Dijkstra's algorithm. The LDA has an order of complexity of V2, where V is the total number of vertices or buses in the network under consideration. An application of a geographical information systems (GIS) technique has been established to obtain the transmission line layouts. The outcome of the LDA (i.e., minor loops) and line layouts (i.e., azimuth) are processed to compute the incidence matrix of the estimator. The variability due to the penetration of wind energy is accounted in the proposed framework using the probabilistic load flow analysis based on Monte Carlo simulations. Three techniques - ordinary least squares (OLS), analytic ridge regression (RR), and robust regression (M-estimators) - are used to estimate minor loop flows. The estimation techniques adhere to the auto-correction of the quality of estimates in case of ill-conditioning of the incidence matrix. Accuracy of loop flow estimates is highly significant, as they may be used for assigning economic responsibility of USF in electricity markets. Wind power generation companies (WGENCOs) employ forecasting models to participate in the primary electricity markets. Forecasting models used to predict the output of wind power plants are inherently erroneous and hence, their impacts on USF are studied. The impact of forecasting errors associated with the output of wind plants is investigated using the concept of prediction intervals rather than point accurate forecasts. Loop flow estimates corresponding to the prediction intervals of power output of wind power plants are computed to provide statistical bounds. The proposed framework is tested on the IEEE 14-bus and the IEEE 30-bus standard test systems with suitable modifications to represent wind energy penetration. Accurate loops are detected for the aforementioned test systems using the LDA. Thus, an automated and generic computation of loop flows is proposed along with a step-wise demonstration on IEEE test systems is provided. Future work and concluding remarks summarize the research work in this dissertation