Letters of Intent received in 2024

LoI 2026-2224
New look at Solar and Stellar Coronae

Topics

• New look with the new generation of instruments
• Solar and stellar coronal heating

• Solar and stellar coronal seismology

• Solar and stellar fares, eruptions and CMEs

• Fine structuring of the plasma: loops, thread, rains, jets

• Solar and stellar radio bursts

• Machine Learning in the analysis of coronal observational data.
• Advanced numerical modelling of processes in the corona

Rationale

Coronae of the Sun and cool stars attract continuously growing attention as the birthplaces of most powerful energy releases in the solar and stellar systems, such as coronal mass ejections and flares, with important implications for space weather and the estimation of habitable zones of exoplanets. In addition, the solar corona is a plasma environment open to high-resolution multi-wavelength observations, and hence is a natural laboratory for the study of a manifold of plasma physics processes. The array of recently commissioned dedicated ground-based and spaceborne observational facilities, such as Parker Solar Probe, Solar Orbiter, SURTI, ASO-S, DKIST, SRH, NVST, e-OVSA, CHASE, and FAST have offered the research community a new look at the corona of the Sun. In particular, a major progress is being reached in the detection and modelling of coronal magnetohydrodynamic wave processes, coronal thermodynamics including coronal rain and prominence formation, various instabilities, including the initiation of coronal mass ejections, plasma jets, and solar radiophysics. Likewise, there is a rapid development of theoretical models, including massive ab initio numerical simulations and novel data analysis approaches. A novel research avenue is the use of the machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques and methods. Data of the upcoming missions and facilities, such as Aditya, DSRT, Proba-3, and SKA, are anticipated to further revolutionise our understanding of physical processes operating in the corona. Moreover, the new generation of night sky survey telescopes and radio instruments, such as NGTS, TESS, ASKAP, allows for the study of stellar coronae, opening promising perspectives for the comparative study of solar and stellar coronal processes and exploiting the solar-stellar analogy. Both solar and stellar research is expected to benefit from such a study, especially in the context of flaring energy releases including superflares, solar and stellar winds, coronal heating, estimation of habitable zones of exoplanets.

The primary aim of the proposed symposium is to establish a forum for the specialists working on various aspects of solar and stellar coronal physics; to identify similarities and differences in solar and stellar coronal processes, stimulate the knowledge transfer, to set up effective research collaboration; and to broaden research experience of young researchers.

The choice of the symposium location reflects the activity and rapid growth of the solar and stellar coronal research communities in Asia, including China, India, Japan and South Korea. The proposed location is easily accessible via three major international airports, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou, which are well linked with Europe, America and Australia. The local organising committee will consist of scientifically active colleagues from the Institute of Space Science and Applied Technology at the Shenzhen campus of Harbin Institute of Technology. A number of local Master and PhD students will act as helpers and chaperones. The symposium venue, the seashore Haishe Holiday Hotel, is in the outskirt of the city of Shenzhen, one of the most modern and advanced cities in China. The venue is fully equipped with all facilities including conference hall and restaurant required for the symposium.

The proposed SOC Chair, Professor Valery M Nakariakov of the University of Warwick, United Kingdom, has vast experience in organising scientific meetings. In particular, he chaired the SOC of the 14th European Solar Physics Meeting in Dublin, Ireland, in 2014, and the international workshop “Oscillatory processes in solar and stellar coronae” in Beijing, China in 2019. The LOC Chair, Dr Ding Yuan has successfully organised the international workshop “Dynamic processes in the solar atmosphere” in Lijiang, China, 2023, and the IRIS-10 scientific meeting in Bangalore, India, 2019.

The social programme of the symposium will include a trip to the Astronomical Observatory of Shenzhen, and the ancient Dapeng Fortress (a historical military port for the coast defence built in 1394). The vibrant and modern downtown of Shenzhen with magnificent nightlife, and world-famous touristic attractions, such as the Window of the World, the Splendid China Folk Village, Happy Valley, OCT East, and OCT Harbour could be readily reached by affordable taxies or public transport. Shenzhen has been ranked second on the list of top 10 cities to visit in 2019' by Lonely Planet.