Critical Science Plan for the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST)

TL;DR

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) is poised to significantly advance solar physics by providing unprecedented observational capabilities, enabling new scientific insights into the Sun's structure and dynamics.

Contribution

This paper presents a comprehensive science plan outlining the unique scientific opportunities enabled by DKIST's advanced instrumentation.

Findings

Anticipated breakthroughs in understanding solar magnetic fields.

Enhanced imaging of the Sun's atmosphere.

New opportunities for solar physics research.

Abstract

The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) will revolutionize our ability to measure, understand and model the basic physical processes that control the structure and dynamics of the Sun and its atmosphere. The first-light DKIST images, released publicly on 29 January 2020, only hint at the extraordinary capabilities which will accompany full commissioning of the five facility instruments. With this Critical Science Plan (CSP) we attempt to anticipate some of what those capabilities will enable, providing a snapshot of some of the scientific pursuits that the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope hopes to engage as start-of-operations nears. The work builds on the combined contributions of the DKIST Science Working Group (SWG) and CSP Community members, who generously shared their experiences, plans, knowledge and dreams. Discussion is primarily focused on those issues to which DKIST will uniquely contribute.