WINSUN - New Windows onto the Sun: Probing the Sun’s magnetic field with an array of new missions and observatories (ERC Advanced Grant)
The project WINSUN combines a new generation of observational data with computer simulations to provide a comprehensive view of the Sun's magnetic field. WINSUN will be funded by an ERC Advanced Grant and led by Sami K. Solanki from 2023 till 2028.
The Sun provides the energy necessary to sustain life on Earth, making it a star of unique importance for humanity. It is also the only star whose surface we can explore at relative proximity. The Sun’s magnetic field is intricately structured and interacts with turbulent plasma to create much of what we see on its surface and in its atmosphere. However, there are considerable gaps in our understanding of the processes that drive the evolution of the solar magnetic field.
In this newly funded research project, Sami Solanki and his team will use the latest observational equipment to answer longstanding questions about our sun’s anatomy, including the Solar Orbiter and the world's largest solar telescope, the DKIST telescope on the Hawaiian island of Maui.
His aim is to make use of the first clear views of the solar poles, and the highest spatial resolution ever in both the extreme ultraviolet and visible spectrums. The project will also explore a new spectral window onto the solar photosphere and chromosphere, all of which will contribute significantly to our understanding of the fundamental physics behind the Sun’s inner workings.