Spectroscopic diagnostics of solar eruptive events

About the program

The NASA Postdoctoral Program (NPP) offers unique research opportunities to highly-talented scientists to engage in ongoing NASA research projects at a NASA Center, NASA Headquarters, or at a NASA-affiliated research institute. These one- to three-year fellowships are competitive and are designed to advance NASA’s missions in space science, Earth science, aeronautics, space operations, exploration systems, and astrobiology.

Description

Solar flares are often associated with coronal mass ejections, and the combined event is referred to as a solar eruptive event (SEE). Ultraviolet (UV), extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray spectra provide a wide range of plasma diagnostics with which to probe the heated, thermal plasma during the flare, and measure the speed of the erupting plasma. These spectroscopic diagnostics provide critical constraints on physical models of SEEs.

This opportunity has a particular focus on data from the Hinode EUV Imaging Spectrometer: identifying key datasets from the 18-year mission; performing plasma diagnostics; and confronting theoretical plasma models of SEEs. In addition to density, temperature, element abundance and velocity diagnostics, recent work has identified a unique diagnostic for the coronal magnetic field.

Field of Science

Heliophysics Science

Advisors

Not specified

Eligibility

• U.S. Citizens;
• U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR);
• Foreign Nationals eligible for an Exchange Visitor J-1 visa status;
• Applicants for LPR, asylees, or refugees in the U.S. at the time of application with 1) a valid EAD card and 2) I-485 or I-589 forms in pending status

Qualifications

• PhD in Solar Physics or a related discipline, or be within one year of completing a PhD.
• Expertise in ultraviolet spectroscopy would be favorable for the candidate.

Contact

Questions about this opportunity? Please email npp@orau.org

Application Requirements

• Research proposal
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official doctoral transcript documents