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P. Penteado

Publications and source records attributed to P. Penteado.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Synthetic Remote-sensing and In-situ Observations of Fine-scale Structure in a Pseudostreamer Coronal Mass Ejection through the Solar Corona

Coronal pseudostreamer flux systems have a specific magnetic configuration that influences the morphology and evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from these regions. Here we continue the analysis of the Wyper et al. (2024, ApJ 975, 168) magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a CME eruption from an idealized pseudostreamer configuration through the construction of synthetic remote-sensing and in-situ observational signatures. We examine the pre-eruption and eruption signatures in extreme ultraviolet and white-light from the low corona through the extended solar atmosphere. We calculate synthetic observations corresponding to several Parker Solar Probe-like trajectories at $\sim$10$R_\odot$ to highlight the fine-scale structure of the CME eruption in synthetic WISPR imagery and the differences between the in-situ plasma and field signatures of flank and central CME-encounter trajectories. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of several aspects of our simulation results in the context of interpretation and analysis of current and future Parker Solar Probe data.

astro-ph.SR

Extracting the Heliographic Coordinates of Coronal Rays using Images from WISPR/Parker Solar Probe

The Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe (WISPR) onboard Parker Solar Probe (PSP), observing in white light, has a fixed angular field of view, extending from 13.5 degree to 108 degree from the Sun and approximately 50 degree in the transverse direction. In January 2021, on its seventh orbit, PSP crossed the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) near perihelion at a distance of 20 solar radii. At this time, WISPR observed a broad band of highly variable solar wind and multiple coronal rays. For six days around perihelion, PSP was moving with an angular velocity exceeding that of the Sun. During this period, WISPR was able to image coronal rays as PSP approached and then passed under or over them. We have developed a technique for using the multiple viewpoints of the coronal rays to determine their location (longitude and latitude) in a heliocentric coordinate system and used the technique to determine the coordinates of three coronal rays. The technique was validated by comparing the results to observations of the coronal rays from Solar and Heliophysics Observatory (SOHO) / Large Angle and Spectrometric COronagraph (LASCO)/C3 and Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO)-A/COR2. Comparison of the rays' locations were also made with the HCS predicted by a 3D MHD model. In the future, results from this technique can be used to validate dynamic models of the corona.

astro-ph.SR

Evolution of a Streamer-Blowout CME as Observed by Imagers on Parker Solar Probe and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory

Context: On 26-27 January 2020, the wide-field imager WISPR on Parker Solar Probe (PSP) observed a coronal mass ejection (CME) from a distance of approximately 30 solar radii as it passed through the instrument's 95 degree field-of-view, providing an unprecedented view of the flux rope morphology of the CME's internal structure. The same CME was seen by STEREO, beginning on 25 January. Aims: Our goal was to understand the origin and determine the trajectory of this CME. Methods: We analyzed data from three well-placed spacecraft: Parker Solar Probe (PSP), Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory-Ahead (STEREO-A), and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). The CME trajectory was determined using the method described in Liewer et al. (2020) and verified using simultaneous images of the CME propagation from STEREO-A. The fortuitous alignment with STEREO-A also provided views of coronal activity leading up to the eruption. Observations from SDO, in conjunction with potential magnetic field models of the corona, were used to analyze the coronal magnetic evolution for the three days leading up to the flux rope ejection from the corona on 25 January. Results: We found that the 25 January CME is likely the end result of a slow magnetic flux rope eruption that began on 23 January and was observed by STEREO-A/Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI). Analysis of these observations suggest that the flux rope was apparently constrained in the corona for more than a day before its final ejection on 25 January. STEREO-A/COR2 observations of swelling and brightening of the overlying streamer for several hours prior to eruption on January 25 led us to classify this as a streamer-blowout CME. The analysis of the SDO data suggests that restructuring of the coronal magnetic fields caused by an emerging active region led to the final ejection of the flux rope.

astro-ph.SR

Tracking solar wind flows from rapidly varying viewpoints by the Wide-field Imager for Parker Solar Probe

Aims: Our goal is to develop methodologies to seamlessly track transient solar wind flows viewed by coronagraphs or heliospheric imagers from rapidly varying viewpoints. Methods: We constructed maps of intensity versus time and elongation (J-maps) from Parker Solar Probe (PSP) Wide-field Imager (WISPR) observations during the fourth encounter of PSP. From the J-map, we built an intensity on impact-radius-on-Thomson-surface map (R-map). Finally, we constructed a latitudinal intensity versus time map (Lat-map). Our methodology satisfactorily addresses the challenges associated with the construction of such maps from data taken from rapidly varying viewpoint observations. Results: Our WISPR J-map exhibits several tracks, corresponding to transient solar wind flows ranging from a coronal mass ejection (CME) down to streamer blobs. The latter occurrence rate is about 4-5 per day, which is similar to the occurrence rate in a J-map made from $\sim1$ AU data obtained with the Heliospheric Imager-1 (HI-1) on board the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory Ahead spacecraft (STEREO-A). STEREO-A was radially aligned with PSP during the study period. The WISPR J-map tracks correspond to angular speeds of $2.28 \pm 0.7$$^{\circ}$/hour ($2.49 \pm 0.95$$^{\circ}$/hour), for linear (quadratic) time-elongation fittings, and radial speeds of about 150-300 km s$^{-1}$. The analysis of the Lat-map reveals a bifurcating streamer, which implies that PSP was flying through a slightly folded streamer during perihelion. Conclusions: We developed a framework to systematically capture and characterize transient solar wind flows from space platforms with rapidly varying vantage points. The methodology can be applied to PSP WISPR observations as well as to upcoming observations from instruments on board the Solar Orbiter mission.

astro-ph.SR

Trajectory Determination for Coronal Ejecta Observed by WISPR/Parker Solar Probe

The {\it Wide-field Imager for Solar Probe} (WISPR) on {\it Parker Solar Probe} (PSP), observing in white light, has a fixed angular field of view, extending from 13.5$^{\circ}$ to 108$^{\circ}$ from the Sun and approximately 50$^{\circ}$ in the transverse directions. Because of the highly elliptical orbit of PSP, the physical extent of the imaged coronal region varies directly as the distance from the Sun, requiring new techniques for analysis of the motions of observed density features. Here, we present a technique for determining the 3D trajectory of CMEs and other coronal ejecta moving radially at a constant velocity by first tracking the motion in a sequence of images and then applying a curve-fitting procedure to determine the trajectory parameters (distance vs. time, velocity, longitude and latitude). To validate the technique, we have determined the trajectory of two CMEs observed by WISPR that were also observed by another white-light imager, either LASCO/C3 or STEREO-A/HI1. The second viewpoint was used to verify the trajectory results from this new technique and help determine its uncertainty.

astro-ph.SR

Goals and strategies in the global control design of the OAJ Robotic Observatory

There are many ways to solve the challenging problem of making a high performance robotic observatory from scratch. The Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre (OAJ) is a new astronomical facility located at the Sierra de Javalambre (Teruel, Spain) whose primary role will be to conduct all-sky astronomical surveys. The OAJ control system has been designed under a global point of view including not only astronomical subsystems but also infrastructure and other facilities. Three main factors have been considered in the design of a global control system for the robotic OAJ: quality, reliability and efficiency. We propose CIA (Control Integrated Architecture) design and OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) as a key performance indicator in order to improve operation processes, minimizing resources and obtain high cost reduction maintaining quality requirements. The OAJ subsystems considered for the control integrated architecture are the following: two wide-field telescopes and their instrumentation, active optics subsystems, facilities for sky quality monitoring (seeing, extinction, sky background, sky brightness, clouds distribution, meteorological station), domes and several infrastructure facilities such as water supply, glycol water, water treatment plant, air conditioning, compressed air, LN2 plant, illumination, surveillance, access control, fire suppression, electrical generators, electrical distribution, electrical consumption, communication network, Uninterruptible Power Supply and two main control rooms, one at the OAJ and other remotely located in Teruel at 40km from the observatory, connected through a microwave radio-link. Here we present the OAJ strategy in control design to achieve maximum quality efficiency for the observatory processes and operations, giving practical examples of our approach.

astro-ph.IM