Space Weather Research using Spectropolarimetric Radio Imaging Combined With Aditya-L1 and PUNCH Missions

TL;DR

This paper discusses advances in low-frequency radio imaging techniques, utilizing new instruments and missions like Aditya-L1 and PUNCH, to improve space weather observations and modeling, including magnetic field measurements of CMEs and heliospheric Faraday rotation.

Contribution

It introduces a new high-fidelity radio imaging pipeline and demonstrates its application in measuring CME magnetic fields and heliospheric Faraday rotation, enhancing space weather research capabilities.

Findings

Successful measurement of CME plasma and shock magnetic fields.

First measurements of heliospheric Faraday rotation with new radio imaging.

Enhanced sensitivity and resolution in space weather observations.

Abstract

Low-frequency radio observations have been expected to serve as a powerful tool for Space Weather (SW) observations for decades. Radio observations are sensitive to a wide range of SW-related observations ranging from emissions from coronal mass ejections (CMEs) to the solar wind. Ground-based radio observatories allow one gathering of high-sensitivity data at high time and spectral resolution for an extended period, which remains a challenge for most space-based observatories. While radio techniques like Interplanetary Scintillation (IPS) are well established, radio imaging studies have remained technically challenging. This is now changing with the confluence of data from instruments, like the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), and robust unsupervised analysis pipelines. This pipeline delivers full Stokes radio images with unprecedented fidelity and dynamic range. This will serve as a powerful tool for coronal and heliospheric studies. We present the recent developments and achievements to measure the magnetic fields of the CME plasma and shock front at coronal heights and also share the current status of the objective to measure the heliospheric Faraday rotation towards numerous background linearly polarised radio sources with the Sun in the field of view. We envision that in the coming years, the availability of new-generation radio instruments combined with the Aditya-L1 and PUNCH mission will mark the start of a new era in Space Weather modeling and prediction.