Richard Morton
@rjmorton-solar.bsky.social
Solar guy, astrophysicist, Dad. Currently working on infrared spectra from the Cryo-NIRSP instrument @ DKIST and Upgraded Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (uCoMP) instrument @ MLSO. Chronicling the journey of Alfvénic waves in the Sun's atmosphere
The modelling results are excellent! The data is fit extremely well which means we can extract the details of the coronal line profile (in purple).
While maybe not that exciting by itself, once we repeat this for all the spectra in the data set (over 6 million!), we get some fantastic results.
11/n
While maybe not that exciting by itself, once we repeat this for all the spectra in the data set (over 6 million!), we get some fantastic results.
11/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The modelling results are excellent! The data is fit extremely well which means we can extract the details of the coronal line profile (in purple).
While maybe not that exciting by itself, once we repeat this for all the spectra in the data set (over 6 million!), we get some fantastic results.
11/n
While maybe not that exciting by itself, once we repeat this for all the spectra in the data set (over 6 million!), we get some fantastic results.
11/n
The dips at different wavelengths (and even where the coronal line is) are due to scattered photospheric light and absoprtion by water in the Eath's atmosphere.
Here I indicate locations of the photospheric lines and their potential source. These lines are taken from a modelled spectral atlas.
9/n
Here I indicate locations of the photospheric lines and their potential source. These lines are taken from a modelled spectral atlas.
9/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The dips at different wavelengths (and even where the coronal line is) are due to scattered photospheric light and absoprtion by water in the Eath's atmosphere.
Here I indicate locations of the photospheric lines and their potential source. These lines are taken from a modelled spectral atlas.
9/n
Here I indicate locations of the photospheric lines and their potential source. These lines are taken from a modelled spectral atlas.
9/n
Turns out the corona was there after all! The bright strip near 1074.7 nm is a coronal emission line (Iron XIII).
The details are best seen by plotting an individual spectrum. The coronal line is indicated by the arrow.
There is lots of other information in the spectrum, not all of it wanted!
8/n
The details are best seen by plotting an individual spectrum. The coronal line is indicated by the arrow.
There is lots of other information in the spectrum, not all of it wanted!
8/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Turns out the corona was there after all! The bright strip near 1074.7 nm is a coronal emission line (Iron XIII).
The details are best seen by plotting an individual spectrum. The coronal line is indicated by the arrow.
There is lots of other information in the spectrum, not all of it wanted!
8/n
The details are best seen by plotting an individual spectrum. The coronal line is indicated by the arrow.
There is lots of other information in the spectrum, not all of it wanted!
8/n
Cryo-NIRSP is a slit-based spectropolarimeter, so we only get a narrow band across a fraction of the Sun (shown by red line in previous part of post).
Hence, each data file contains the results of a slit exposure, so is wavelength verus slit location. There are two beams, so two similar images.
7/n
Hence, each data file contains the results of a slit exposure, so is wavelength verus slit location. There are two beams, so two similar images.
7/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
Cryo-NIRSP is a slit-based spectropolarimeter, so we only get a narrow band across a fraction of the Sun (shown by red line in previous part of post).
Hence, each data file contains the results of a slit exposure, so is wavelength verus slit location. There are two beams, so two similar images.
7/n
Hence, each data file contains the results of a slit exposure, so is wavelength verus slit location. There are two beams, so two similar images.
7/n
The first step was to provide some context for the Cryo-NIRSP data. I used data from NASA's SDO and GOES SUVI, plotting the expected location that DKIST was observing over the top.
Cryo-NIRSP observed an open field region, catching an active region and a streamer base on either edge.
6/n
Cryo-NIRSP observed an open field region, catching an active region and a streamer base on either edge.
6/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The first step was to provide some context for the Cryo-NIRSP data. I used data from NASA's SDO and GOES SUVI, plotting the expected location that DKIST was observing over the top.
Cryo-NIRSP observed an open field region, catching an active region and a streamer base on either edge.
6/n
Cryo-NIRSP observed an open field region, catching an active region and a streamer base on either edge.
6/n
I then recieved the email saying the data had been taken 🥳
The team attached an image of the data, reporting they could see the corona....
My honest first reaction was 'What the hell?!?' 🤨
I didn't know what to make of it. I am used to working with pretty images, so felt a bit morose 😢 😂
4/n
The team attached an image of the data, reporting they could see the corona....
My honest first reaction was 'What the hell?!?' 🤨
I didn't know what to make of it. I am used to working with pretty images, so felt a bit morose 😢 😂
4/n
January 8, 2025 at 1:48 PM
I then recieved the email saying the data had been taken 🥳
The team attached an image of the data, reporting they could see the corona....
My honest first reaction was 'What the hell?!?' 🤨
I didn't know what to make of it. I am used to working with pretty images, so felt a bit morose 😢 😂
4/n
The team attached an image of the data, reporting they could see the corona....
My honest first reaction was 'What the hell?!?' 🤨
I didn't know what to make of it. I am used to working with pretty images, so felt a bit morose 😢 😂
4/n
Cryo-NIRSP is a type of spectrometer. Its focus is on measuring coronal spectral lines that are found in the infrared.
It provides multiple spectra at different positions along a slit, so can focus only on a narrow strip of the Sun at any one time.
It provides multiple spectra at different positions along a slit, so can focus only on a narrow strip of the Sun at any one time.
December 9, 2024 at 4:06 PM
Cryo-NIRSP is a type of spectrometer. Its focus is on measuring coronal spectral lines that are found in the infrared.
It provides multiple spectra at different positions along a slit, so can focus only on a narrow strip of the Sun at any one time.
It provides multiple spectra at different positions along a slit, so can focus only on a narrow strip of the Sun at any one time.
The plot shows the Hydrogen alpha absorption line from the spectrum. Note scale is only 1 nm! This line is formed in the chromosphere.
Maybe not so impressive by itself. The image shows what the Sun looks like if we only look at light from this line. Beautiful! You can see a sunspot and filaments.
Maybe not so impressive by itself. The image shows what the Sun looks like if we only look at light from this line. Beautiful! You can see a sunspot and filaments.
December 9, 2024 at 4:06 PM
The plot shows the Hydrogen alpha absorption line from the spectrum. Note scale is only 1 nm! This line is formed in the chromosphere.
Maybe not so impressive by itself. The image shows what the Sun looks like if we only look at light from this line. Beautiful! You can see a sunspot and filaments.
Maybe not so impressive by itself. The image shows what the Sun looks like if we only look at light from this line. Beautiful! You can see a sunspot and filaments.
I am starting with some basics, so hopefully everyone can follow along.
The Sun emits light across a range of wavelengths. Most of the light is in the optical part of the spectrum, wavelengths of 400 nm to 800 nm, shown in the picture of the Solar Irradiance.
The Sun emits light across a range of wavelengths. Most of the light is in the optical part of the spectrum, wavelengths of 400 nm to 800 nm, shown in the picture of the Solar Irradiance.
December 9, 2024 at 4:06 PM
I am starting with some basics, so hopefully everyone can follow along.
The Sun emits light across a range of wavelengths. Most of the light is in the optical part of the spectrum, wavelengths of 400 nm to 800 nm, shown in the picture of the Solar Irradiance.
The Sun emits light across a range of wavelengths. Most of the light is in the optical part of the spectrum, wavelengths of 400 nm to 800 nm, shown in the picture of the Solar Irradiance.