Solar Orbiter

Contents The mission The mission The orbit The orbit The instruments The instruments VIM: Visible-light Imager and Magnetograph VIM: Visible-light Imager and Magnetograph Helioseismology with VIM Helioseismology with VIM

Solar Orbiter: the mission Mission: Assessment phase Instruments: Concept phase Objective: Produce images of the Sun at an unprecedented resolution and perform closest in-situ measurements Launch: May 2015 End: January 2024 Cruise phase(3y), nominal phase(3y), extended phase(2y). Solar Electric Propulsion  Chemical Propulsion

Solar Orbiter

Solar Orbiter: the orbit Elliptical orbit around the Sun Proximity to the Sun  up to 0.27 A.U Inclination of up to 35º Cruise phase of approx. 3.4 year using gravity assists from Venus and Earth.  150-day-long science orbit. Close encounters with the Sun. Venus gravity assist maneuvers to increase inclination.

Solar Orbiter: the orbit Assisted by a series of Venus swing- bys, the spacecraft’s 150- day orbit will evolve gradually over the mission lifetime from an inclination of about 12 to 35 degrees to the solar equator. Assisted by a series of Venus swing- bys, the spacecraft’s 150- day orbit will evolve gradually over the mission lifetime from an inclination of about 12 to 35 degrees to the solar equator.

Solar Orbiter: the orbit

Solar Orbiter: the instruments Field Package: Field Package:  Radio and Plasma Wave Analyzer  Coronal Radio Sounding and Magnetometer Particle Package: Particle Package:  Energetic Particle detector  Dust detector  Neutron and Gamma-Ray Detector  Solar Wind Plasma Analyzer Solar remote sensing instrumentation: Solar remote sensing instrumentation:  Visible-light Imager and Magnetograph (VIM)  EUV Imager and Spectrometer  Coronagraph  Spectometer/Telescope for Imaging X-rays  Radiometer ???

Visible-Light Imager and Magnetograph (VIM) Vector magnetic field capabilities (priority). Vector magnetic field capabilities (priority). Line-of-sight velocity maps by observing 4-5 points on either side of a spectral line. Mention the possible lines  HMI, IMaX, GONG. Line-of-sight velocity maps by observing 4-5 points on either side of a spectral line. Mention the possible lines  HMI, IMaX, GONG. Two functions: Two functions: High resolution Telescope (HRT) High resolution Telescope (HRT) Full Disc Telescope (FDT) Full Disc Telescope (FDT) Using two telescopes that share filtergraph optics and detector. Magnetic field and velocities calculated on board Magnetic field and velocities calculated on board Telemetry restricted and only approx. ¼ of total VIM telemetry will be assigned to velocity data. Telemetry restricted and only approx. ¼ of total VIM telemetry will be assigned to velocity data.

Local Helioseismology with VIM Advantages Observation of high latitudes and the poles Observation of high latitudes and the poles Some very high resolution data Some very high resolution data Proximity to the sun. Not really needed for helioseismology Proximity to the sun. Not really needed for helioseismology Co-rotation (not clear what it means) Co-rotation (not clear what it means) Maybe continuous 256x256 full disk data Maybe continuous 256x256 full disk dataDisadvantages Short series of data (~10 days every 50 days) Short series of data (~10 days every 50 days) Variable resolution in a 512x512 grid (or less) Variable resolution in a 512x512 grid (or less)

Local Helioseismology with VIM Dynamic/Magnetic description of the solar subsurface at high latitudes and the poles. Dynamic/Magnetic description of the solar subsurface at high latitudes and the poles. Rings: Rings: Differential rotation close to the poles. Differential rotation close to the poles. Meridional circulation: Solve the multi-cell circulation mystery… Meridional circulation: Solve the multi-cell circulation mystery… Time Distance: Time Distance: Dynamics down to the tacholine at the poles. Dynamics down to the tacholine at the poles. Combined VIM-HMI/GONG for deep interior research. Combined VIM-HMI/GONG for deep interior research. Holography Holography Farside calibration/mapping the near side Farside calibration/mapping the near side Mapping the poles. Mapping the poles.