Solar and Heliospheric Physics with the Square Kilometre Array

TL;DR

The paper discusses how the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will revolutionize solar and heliospheric physics by enabling high-resolution, sensitive radio observations that can reveal fundamental plasma processes and improve space weather forecasting.

Contribution

It highlights the potential of SKA to provide unprecedented insights into solar and heliospheric phenomena through advanced radio imaging and spectral analysis.

Findings

Enhanced understanding of impulsive energy releases

Improved tracking of solar radio bursts

Better modeling of solar wind and transients

Abstract

The fields of solar radiophysics and solar system radio physics, or radio heliophysics, will benefit immensely from an instrument with the capabilities projected for SKA. Potential applications include interplanetary scintillation (IPS), radio-burst tracking, and solar spectral radio imaging with a superior sensitivity. These will provide breakthrough new insights and results in topics of fundamental importance, such as the physics of impulsive energy releases, magnetohydrodynamic oscillations and turbulence, the dynamics of post-eruptive processes, energetic particle acceleration, the structure of the solar wind and the development and evolution of solar wind transients at distances up to and beyond the orbit of the Earth. The combination of the high spectral, time and spatial resolution and the unprecedented sensitivity of the SKA will radically advance our understanding of basic physical processes operating in solar and heliospheric plasmas and provide a solid foundation for the forecasting of space weather events.