Science with an ngVLA: Observations of the Solar Wind

TL;DR

This paper discusses how the ngVLA radio telescope can be used to study the solar wind and corona by observing radio signals affected by solar plasma, providing global insights complementary to spacecraft data.

Contribution

It introduces the use of ngVLA for mapping solar wind properties through radio propagation phenomena, enhancing solar wind characterization methods.

Findings

Mapping plasma properties via angular broadening and scintillations.

Determining solar wind velocity and turbulence characteristics.

Probing disturbances like coronal mass ejections.

Abstract

The ngVLA has the potential to play a significant role in characterizing properties of the outer corona and the heating and acceleration of the solar wind into the inner heliosphere. In particular, using distant background sources to transilluminate the foreground corona and solar wind, a variety of radio propagation phenomena can be used to map plasma properties as a function of solar elongation and position angle throughout the solar cycle. These include angular broadening, interplanetary scintillations, and differential Faraday rotation, which can be used to map the solar wind velocity, determine properties of solar wind turbulence, and constrain the solar wind magnetic field. These observations will provide a global characterization of the solar wind that will be highly complementary to in situ observations made by various spacecraft. In addition, such observations can be used to probe disturbances in the solar wind -- coronal mass ejections, for example -- that may impact the near-Earth environment.