SOLAR PHYSICS

The course is aimed at providing the student the basic knowledge and the state of the art of the knowledge in Solar Physics: knowledge of the methods used to investigate the solar interior and its atmosphere; knowledge of the mechanisms of interaction between a plasma and localized magnetic fields; concept of magnetic reconnection applied to transient phenomena taking place in the solar atmosphere; knowledge of the mechanisms of interaction between magnetized plasma and the Earth magnetosphere in the framework of Space Weather.

The solar interior: nucleus, radiative zone, convective zone. The solar atmosphere: photosphere, chromosphere, transition region, corona. Solar differential rotation. Magnetic structures in the solar atmosphere: active regions, sunspots, faculae, prominences, loops. coronal holes. Solar wind. Techniques of observation of the various layers of the solar atmosphere. Solar telescopes. Spectrographs. Filters. Methods of reduction. Standard solar model. Reactions of nuclear fusion. Measure of the solar neutrinos flux. Heliosismology. Oscillations as a diagnostic tool for the inner structure and dynamics of the Sun. Emergence of magnetic flux in the solar atmosphere. Formation of the active regions. Sunspots: physical and morphologic characteristics. The 11-year cycle of solar activity. The dynamo model. Chromospheric-coronal heating. Flares: observational characteristics. Coronal Mass Ejections. Space Weather.

Presentations (ppt or pdf) used during the lectures will be distributed to students.

Textbooks:

• H. M. Antia, A. Bhatnagar, P Ulmschneider : Lectures on Solar Physics, Lecture Notes in Physics, Springer Verlag, 2003

• M. Aschwanden : Physics of the solar corona: an introduction, Springer, Praxis Pub. Ltd, 2004

• R. J. Bray, L. E. Cram, C. J. Durrant, R. E. Loughhead : Plasma loops in the solar corona, Cambridge University Press, 1991

• K. R. Lang : The Sun from Space, Springer, 2000

• E. R. Priest : Solar magnetohydrodynamics, Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, 1984

• E. R. Priest : Solar system magnetic fields, Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, 1985

• E. Tandberg-Hanssen, A. G. Emslie : The physics of solar flares, Cambridge University Press, 1988