Sustaining high-solar-activity research

Research efforts that require observations of high solar activity, such as multiwavelength studies of large solar flares and CMEs, must contend with the 11-year solar cycle to a degree unparalleled by other segments of heliophysics. While the "fallow" years around each solar minimum can be a great time frame to build the next major solar observatory, the corresponding funding opportunity and any preceding technology developments would need to be strategically timed. Even then, it can be challenging for scientists on soft money to continue ongoing research efforts instead of switching to other, more consistent topics. The maximum of solar cycle 25 is particularly concerning due to the lack of a US-led major mission targeting high solar activity, which could result in significant attrition of expertise in the field. We recommend the development of a strategic program of missions and analysis that ensures optimal science return for each solar maximum while sustaining the research community between maxima.Comment: White paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033; 4 pages, 1 figur

Magnetic Energy Powers the Corona: How We Can Understand its 3D Storage & Release

The coronal magnetic field is the prime driver behind many as-yet unsolved mysteries: solar eruptions, coronal heating, and the solar wind, to name a few. It is, however, still poorly observed and understood. We highlight key questions related to magnetic energy storage, release, and transport in the solar corona, and their relationship to these important problems. We advocate for new and multi-point co-optimized measurements, sensitive to magnetic field and other plasma parameters, spanning from optical to $\gamma$-ray wavelengths, to bring closure to these long-standing and fundamental questions. We discuss how our approach can fully describe the 3D magnetic field, embedded plasma, particle energization, and their joint evolution to achieve these objectives.Comment: White paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033; 16 pages, 3 figure

COMPLETE: A flagship mission for complete understanding of 3D coronal magnetic energy release

COMPLETE is a flagship mission concept combining broadband spectroscopic imaging and comprehensive magnetography from multiple viewpoints around the Sun to enable tomographic reconstruction of 3D coronal magnetic fields and associated dynamic plasma properties, which provide direct diagnostics of energy release. COMPLETE re-imagines the paradigm for solar remote-sensing observations through purposefully co-optimized detectors distributed on multiple spacecraft that operate as a single observatory, linked by a comprehensive data/model assimilation strategy to unify individual observations into a single physical framework. We describe COMPLETE's science goals, instruments, and mission implementation. With targeted investment by NASA, COMPLETE is feasible for launch in 2032 to observe around the maximum of Solar Cycle 26.Comment: White paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033; 10 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl

Improving Multi-Dimensional Data Formats, Access, and Assimilation Tools for the Twenty-First Century

Heliophysics image data largely relies on a forty-year-old ecosystem built on the venerable Flexible Image Transport System (FITS) data standard. While many in situ measurements use newer standards, they are difficult to integrate with multiple data streams required to develop global understanding. Additionally, most data users still engage with data in much the same way as they did decades ago. However, contemporary missions and models require much more complex support for 3D multi-parameter data, robust data assimilation strategies, and integration of multiple individual data streams required to derive complete physical characterizations of the Sun and Heliospheric plasma environment. In this white paper we highlight some of the 21$^\mathsf{st}$ century challenges for data frameworks in heliophysics, consider an illustrative case study, and make recommendations for important steps the field can take to modernize its data products and data usage models. Our specific recommendations include: (1) Investing in data assimilation capability to drive advanced data-constrained models, (2) Investing in new strategies for integrating data across multiple instruments to realize measurements that cannot be produced from single observations, (3) Rethinking old data use paradigms to improve user access, develop deep understanding, and decrease barrier to entry for new datasets, and (4) Investing in research on data formats better suited for multi-dimensional data and cloud-based computing.Comment: White paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033; 9 pages, 3 figure

Next-Generation Comprehensive Data-Driven Models of Solar Eruptive Events

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections are interrelated phenomena that together are known as solar eruptive events. These are the main drivers of space weather and understanding their origins is a primary goal of Heliophysics. In this white paper, we advocate for the allocation of sufficient resources to bring together experts in observations and modeling to construct and test next generation data-driven models of solar eruptive events. We identify the key components necessary for constructing comprehensive end-to-end models including global scale 3D MHD resolving magnetic field evolution and reconnection, small scale simulations of particle acceleration in reconnection exhausts, kinetic scale transport of flare-accelerated particles into the lower solar atmosphere, and the radiative and hydrodynamics responses of the solar atmosphere to flare heating. Using this modeling framework, long-standing questions regarding how solar eruptive events release energy, accelerate particles, and heat plasma can be explored. To address open questions in solar flare physics, we recommend that NASA and NSF provide sufficient research and analysis funds to bring together a large body of researchers and numerical tools to tackle the end-to-end modeling framework that we outline. Current dedicated theory and modeling funding programs are relatively small scale and infrequent; funding agencies must recognize that modern space physics demands the use of both observations and modeling to make rapid progress.Comment: White paper submitted to the Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics (Heliophysics) 2024-2033; 9 pages, 4 figure

Redefining flux ropes in heliophysics

Magnetic flux ropes manifest as twisted bundles of magnetic field lines. They carry significant amounts of solar mass in the heliosphere. This paper underlines the need to advance our understanding of the fundamental physics of heliospheric flux ropes and provides the motivation to significantly improve the status quo of flux rope research through novel and requisite approaches. It briefly discusses the current understanding of flux rope formation and evolution, and summarizes the strategies that have been undertaken to understand the dynamics of heliospheric structures. The challenges and recommendations put forward to address them are expected to broaden the in-depth knowledge of our nearest star, its dynamics, and its role in its region of influence, the heliosphere.Fil: Nieves Chinchilla, Teresa. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Pal, Sanchita. George Mason University. School Of Physics. Astronomy And Computational Sciences; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Salman, Tarik M.. George Mason University. School Of Physics. Astronomy And Computational Sciences; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Carcaboso, Fernando. Catholic University Of America; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Guidoni, Silvina E.. American University. College Of Arts & Sciences. Physics Departament.; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Cremades Fernandez, Maria Hebe. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Mendoza. Facultad de Ingenieria; ArgentinaFil: Narock, Ayris. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Balmaceda, Laura Antonia. George Mason University. School Of Physics. Astronomy And Computational Sciences; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lynch, Benjamin J.. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Al Haddad, Nada. University Of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Rodríguez García, Laura. Universidad de Alcalá; EspañaFil: Narock, Thomas W.. Goucher College; Estados UnidosFil: Dos Santos, Luiz F. G.. Shell Global Solutions; Estados UnidosFil: Regnault, Florian. University Of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Kay, Christina. Catholic University Of America; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Winslow, Réka M.. University Of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Palmerio, Erika. Predictive Science Inc.; Estados UnidosFil: Davies, Emma E.. University Of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Scolini, Camilla. University Of New Hampshire; Estados UnidosFil: Weiss, Andreas J.. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Alzate, Nathalia. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Jeunon, Mariana. Catholic University Of America; Estados Unidos. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados UnidosFil: Pujadas, Roger. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; España. National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Estados Unido

Requirements for progress in understanding solar flare energy transport: the impulsive phase

Solar flares are a fundamental component of solar eruptive events. Flare emission is the first component of a SEE to impact the Earth’s ionosphere which can set the stage for the later effects of the space weather event. In this white paper we discuss the flare impulsive phase, setting out gaps in our understanding and paths towards resolving those gaps, including specific recommendations

Requirements for progress in understanding solar flare energy transport: the gradual phase

Solar flares are a fundamental component of solar eruptive events. Flare emission is the first component of a SEE to impact the Earth’s ionosphere which can set the stage for the later effects of the space weather event. In this white paper we discuss the flare gradual phase, setting out gaps in our understanding and paths towards resolving those gaps, including specific recommendations