1. How’s a Concept Become a Proposal? (Starting out)

2. Today’s colloquium The Physical Relationship Between Microwave and Hard X-ray Bursts During Solar Flares Dr. Jeongwoo Lee Hard X-ray and microwave bursts are major diagnostics for understanding nonthermal electron acceleration during solar flares. They are conventionally considered as emitted by the same electron population and thus complement to each other. However, subtle differences between hard X-ray and microwave bursts do exist, which offers new insights into the electron kinetic process. This talk will present several recent developments in this area, including transport effects in the presence of inhomogeneous magnetic fields and anisotropic electron momentum distributions in injection, as measured by relative spectra and locations of microwave and hard X-ray sources. It will be shown that the classical paradigm called trap-and- precipitation systems is still a useful framework for understanding the relative differences in microwave and hard X-ray bursts. However, a new appreciation for the importance of anisotropic electron distributions demands a revision of the tools used to interpret the observations, and theoretical ideas on the electron acceleration mechanisms.

3. Like any experiment, it starts one of two ways: 1.We have a scientific question. Then, how do we go about addressing it? 2.We’ve learned of/thought of a new technique. Then, what interesting question can we apply it to? Examples: (1) Gravitational radiation. We know it’s there, but how can we observe it? Think of something…. (1) GRBs. What’s the best way to catch them in the act? (2) Galileo: “Gee, telescopes sure are keen. What happens if I point one over here?”

4. Either way, the proposal always starts with a question to be addressed and a technique for doing so. Most often the “technique” is a vague idea that you need to flesh out. You can win the grant if the panel is convinced: (i)The question is interesting and important to the funding agency, and (ii)The technique ought to work, with a high probability of success. (ii) is the hard part.

5. We’ll consider an example, based on a mission we designed and proposed to NASA in 2003. Question: What do we really know about magnetic dynamos in stars like the Sun? Idea: If we could monitor magnetic activity in other Sun-like stars in the same way we do for the Sun, maybe we could learn something more about dynamos in general, the solar magnetic dynamo, stellar and solar flare activity, stellar evolution, and even activity events like the Maunder Minimum and the Medieval Maximum. (Note: this is more an astrophysical project than a solar project.) Method: “So how do you intend to do that?”

6. Light curves

7. White vs. Calcium

8. Calcium through cycle

9. Calcium slice through sunspot

10. Line centers

11. What else?

12. What’s your hunch?