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Tomographic analysis and visualization of remotely-sensed heliospheric data
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proposed project consists of two intimately related tasks. The first is
the development of a generic tomographic deconvolution tool, capable of
reconstructing the global, 3D density and velocity structure of the
solar wind in the inner heliosphere using remote sensing data. The
technique takes a novel approach by including outward motion of
structures in the solar wind to obtain the different perspectives
required for a tomographic analysis. Observations from a single vantage
point are needed only, making the technique applicable to e.g.
interplanetary scintillation (IPS) observations, Thomson scattering
data from the HELIOS photometers, coronagraphs (e.g. SOHO/LASCO), and
future all-sky imagers such as the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI)
and imagers on missions such as STEREO, Solar Probe and the Solar Polar
Sail Mission. Proper understanding of tomographic results requires
advanced visualization tools designed to deal with a 3D plasma
environment in a heliospheric context. The second task is the
development of tools for displaying and manipulating the 3D tomography
results. This will target a system capable of simultaneously displaying
density, velocity and magnetic field, and will allow the user to
interactively explore the heliospheric model from any desired
perspective. We will also experiment with advanced techniques, such as
stereoscopy, drawing on the experience and hardware at the VisLab of
the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC). The proposed tools have the
potential to become crucially important to researchers active in
heliospheric remote sensing. The CASS scientists on this proposal have
worked with remote sensing data for many years, including HELIOS
photometer and IPS observations, and, more recently, the SOHO/LASCO
coronagraph data. They are involved in the construction of SMEI, and
have contributed to the design of prospective all-sky imagers for Solar
Probe and the Solar Polar Sail Mission as co-investigators in
NASA-funded concept studies. |
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