Determining Flight Platform Needs for mm-wave Observations of the Sun

Comprehension of the mechanisms dictating the flow of energy through the magnetically dynamic solar chromosphere is crucial for understanding the Sun and space weather. Nestled between radio and infrared wavelengths, the sub-millimeter (sub-mm) spectrum serves as a direct thermometer for the chromosphere, and polarimetric sub-mm observations allow magnetic field measurements. However, the sub-mm wavelength range is currently under-observed, in part due to physical limitations such as poor atmospheric transmission, instrumental cooling requirements, and the need for large apertures to obtain useful spatial resolution. Recent advances have enabled new views into this window with modern instruments at high altitudes, but existing measurements of the Sun from above the atmosphere are limited. Current sub-mm solar data are limited to lower frequency bands from the ground, are detrimentally impacted by atmospheric absorption, and do not measure polarization. Improved sub-mm observations will enable fundamental improvements in the understanding of our star, the Sun. We envision redesigning current Earth-observing sub-mm technology to be used as radio interferometers to observe the solar chromosphere. In this proposed micro-CIF concept study, we will determine how to redesign existing systems for sparse aperture interferometry and identify appropriate flight platforms to study the solar chromosphere. Specifically, we will run simulations to determine the number of antennae, and the necessary on-orbit requirements in order to obtain consistent and sufficient resolution and how the current instrumentation will need to be adjusted for solar observations. This project will enable instrumentation to spatially, spectrally, and temporally resolve the thermal and magnetic structures in the solar chromosphere. We will determine the appropriate flight platform(s) to obtain closure on compelling science questions in the solar chromosphere.

We will run Common Astronomy Software Applications (CASA - the standard framework used for interferometry by the radio astronomy community) simulations determine the number and positioning of antenna necessary for a sparse aperture interferometer to obtain sufficient spatial and temporal resolution for solar observations. These will also inform the necessary changes to existing technology for this new target. We will determine the telemetry needed to correlate the interferometric signals from multiple antennae on the ground. At the end of this disruptive technology push, we will have characterized flight characteristics needed for a future in-flight sub-mm telescope. These efforts make progress in taxonomies defined by TX08.1.1, TX08.1.2, TX08.1.4, TX08.2.2, and TX08.2.3. These resources will increase facility sub-mm capacity and will be broadly useful across SMD, and could potentially be further adapted for use in future astrophysics and heliophysics investigations.

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