Solar magnetism eXplorer (SolmeX)

TL;DR

SolmeX is a proposed solar space observatory designed to provide the first comprehensive measurements of magnetic fields in the upper solar atmosphere through advanced polarimetric remote sensing, enhancing understanding of solar dynamics and their effects on Earth.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mission concept with dual spacecraft and multiple instruments dedicated to measuring solar magnetic fields via polarimetry, filling a crucial observational gap.

Findings

Design of a dual-spacecraft mission with coronagraphs and spectro-polarimeters.

First comprehensive measurements of magnetic field strength and direction in the upper solar atmosphere.

Integration of EUV, IR, and UV observations for detailed solar magnetic field mapping.

Abstract

The magnetic field plays a pivotal role in many fields of Astrophysics. This is especially true for the physics of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere is crucial to understand the nature of the underlying physical processes that drive the violent dynamics of the solar corona -- that can also affect life on Earth. SolmeX, a fully equipped solar space observatory for remote-sensing observations, will provide the first comprehensive measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere. The mission consists of two spacecraft, one carrying the instruments, and another one in formation flight at a distance of about 200m carrying the occulter to provide an artificial total solar eclipse. This will ensure high-quality coronagraphic observations above the solar limb. Solmex integrates two spectro-polarimetric coronagraphs for off-limb observations, one in the EUV and one in the IR, and three instruments for observations on the disk. The latter comprises one imaging polarimeter in the EUV for coronal studies, a spectro-polarimeter in the EUV to investigate the low corona, and an imaging spectro-polarimeter in the UV for chromospheric studies. SOHO and other existing missions have investigated the emission of the upper atmosphere in detail (not considering polarization), and as this will be the case also for missions planned for the near future. Therefore it is timely that SolmeX provides the final piece of the observational quest by measuring the magnetic field in the upper atmosphere through polarimetric observations.