We present a new correlation method for deriving the F-corona intensity distribution, which is based on the analysis of the evolution of the total and polarized visible light (VL) images. We studied the one-month variation profiles of the total and polarized brightness acquired with Large Angle Spectrometric COronagraph and found that in some regions they are highly correlated. Assuming that the F-corona does not vary significantly on a timescale of one month, we estimated its intensity in the high-correlation regions and reconstructed the corresponding intensity maps both during the solar-minimum and solar-maximum periods. Systematic uncertainties were estimated by performing dedicated simulations. We compared the resulting F-corona images with those determined using the inversion technique and found that the correlation method provides a smoother intensity distribution. We also obtained that the F-corona images calculated for consecutive months show no significant variation. Finally, we note that this method can be applied to the future high-cadence VL observations carried out with the Metis/Solar Orbiter coronagraph.

Context. The determination of solar wind H I outflow velocity is fundamental to shedding light on the mechanisms of wind acceleration occurring in the corona. Moreover, it has implications in various astrophysical contexts, such as in the heliosphere and in cometary and planetary atmospheres. Aims. We aim to study the effects of the chromospheric Lyα line profile shape on the determination of the outflow speed of coronal H I atoms via the Doppler dimming technique. This is of particular interest in view of the upcoming measurements of the Metis coronagraph aboard the Solar Orbiter mission. Methods. The Doppler dimming technique exploits the decrease of coronal Lyα radiation in regions where H I atoms flow out in the solar wind. Starting from UV observations of the coronal Lyα line from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), aboard the UltraViolet Coronagraph Spectrometer, and simultaneous measurements of coronal electron densities from pB coronagraphic observations, we explored the effect of the profile of the pumping chromospheric Lyα line. We used measurements from the Solar UV Measurement of Emitted Radiation, aboard SOHO, the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter, aboard the Solar Maximum Mission, and the Laboratoire de Physique Stellaire et Planetaire, aboard the Eight Orbiting Solar Observatory, both from representative on-disc regions, such as coronal holes and quiet Sun and active regions, and as a function of time during the solar activity cycle. In particular, we considered the effect of four chromospheric line parameters: line width, reversal depth, asymmetry, and distance of the peaks. Results. We find that the range of variability of the four line parameters is of about 50% for the width, 69% for the reversal depth, and 35% and 50% for the asymmetry and distance of the peaks, respectively. We then find that the variability of the pumping Lyα profile affects the estimates of the coronal H I velocity by about 9−12%. This uncertainty is smaller than the uncertainties due to variations of other physical quantities, such as electron density, electron temperature, H I temperature, and integrated chromospheric Lyα radiance. Conclusions. Our work suggests that the observed variations in the chromospheric Lyα line profile parameters along a cycle and in specific regions negligibly affect the determination of the solar wind speed of H I atoms. Due to this weak dependence, a unique shape of the Lyα profile over the solar disc that is constant in time can be adopted to obtain the values of the solar wind H I outflow velocity. Moreover, the use of an empirical analytical chromospheric profile of the Lyα, assumed uniform over the solar disc and constant in time, is justifiable in order to obtain a good estimate of the coronal wind H I outflow velocity using coronagraphic UV images.

Context. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft will be equipped with a wide range of remote-sensing (RS) and in situ (IS) instruments to record novel and unprecedented measurements of the solar atmosphere and the inner heliosphere. To take full advantage of these new datasets, tools and techniques must be developed to ease multi-instrument and multi-spacecraft studies. In particular the currently inaccessible low solar corona below two solar radii can only be observed remotely. Furthermore techniques must be used to retrieve coronal plasma properties in time and in three dimensional (3D) space. Solar Orbiter will run complex observation campaigns that provide interesting opportunities to maximise the likelihood of linking IS data to their source region near the Sun. Several RS instruments can be directed to specific targets situated on the solar disk just days before data acquisition. To compare IS and RS, data we must improve our understanding of how heliospheric probes magnetically connect to the solar disk.Aims. The aim of the present paper is to briefly review how the current modelling of the Sun and its atmosphere can support Solar Orbiter science. We describe the results of a community-led effort by European Space Agency's Modelling and Data Analysis Working Group (MADAWG) to develop different models, tools, and techniques deemed necessary to test different theories for the physical processes that may occur in the solar plasma. The focus here is on the large scales and little is described with regards to kinetic processes. To exploit future IS and RS data fully, many techniques have been adapted to model the evolving 3D solar magneto-plasma from the solar interior to the solar wind. A particular focus in the paper is placed on techniques that can estimate how Solar Orbiter will connect magnetically through the complex coronal magnetic fields to various photospheric and coronal features in support of spacecraft operations and future scientific studies.Methods. Recent missions such as STEREO, provided great opportunities for RS, IS, and multi-spacecraft studies. We summarise the achievements and highlight the challenges faced during these investigations, many of which motivated the Solar Orbiter mission. We present the new tools and techniques developed by the MADAWG to support the science operations and the analysis of the data from the many instruments on Solar Orbiter.Results. This article reviews current modelling and tool developments that ease the comparison of model results with RS and IS data made available by current and upcoming missions. It also describes the modelling strategy to support the science operations and subsequent exploitation of Solar Orbiter data in order to maximise the scientific output of the mission.Conclusions. The on-going community effort presented in this paper has provided new models and tools necessary to support mission operations as well as the science exploitation of the Solar Orbiter data. The tools and techniques will no doubt evolve significantly as we refine our procedure and methodology during the first year of operations of this highly promising mission.

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission’s science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit’s science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter’s SAP through a series of examples and the strategy

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission's science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit's science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter's SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed.

Solar Orbiter is the first space mission observing the solar plasma both in situ and remotely, from a close distance, in and out of the ecliptic. The ultimate goal is to understand how the Sun produces and controls the heliosphere, filling the Solar System and driving the planetary environments. With six remote-sensing and four in-situ instrument suites, the coordination and planning of the operations are essential to address the following four top-level science questions: (1) What drives the solar wind and where does the coronal magnetic field originate?; (2) How do solar transients drive heliospheric variability?; (3) How do solar eruptions produce energetic particle radiation that fills the heliosphere?; (4) How does the solar dynamo work and drive connections between the Sun and the heliosphere? Maximising the mission’s science return requires considering the characteristics of each orbit, including the relative position of the spacecraft to Earth (affecting downlink rates), trajectory events (such as gravitational assist manoeuvres), and the phase of the solar activity cycle. Furthermore, since each orbit’s science telemetry will be downloaded over the course of the following orbit, science operations must be planned at mission level, rather than at the level of individual orbits. It is important to explore the way in which those science questions are translated into an actual plan of observations that fits into the mission, thus ensuring that no opportunities are missed. First, the overarching goals are broken down into specific, answerable questions along with the required observations and the so-called Science Activity Plan (SAP) is developed to achieve this. The SAP groups objectives that require similar observations into Solar Orbiter Observing Plans, resulting in a strategic, top-level view of the optimal opportunities for science observations during the mission lifetime. This allows for all four mission goals to be addressed. In this paper, we introduce Solar Orbiter’s SAP through a series of examples and the strategy being followed.

We derived maps of the solar wind outflow velocity of coronal neutral hydrogen atoms at solar minimum in the altitude range 1.5–4.0 R⊙. We applied the Doppler dimming technique to coronagraphic observations in the UV H I Lyα line at 121.6 nm. The technique exploits the intensity reduction in the coronal line with increasing velocities of the outflowing plasma to determine the solar wind velocity by iterative modelling. The Lyα line intensity is sensitive to the wind outflow velocity and also depends on the physical properties of coronal particles and underlying chromospheric emission. Measurements of irradiance by the chromospheric Lyα radiation in the corona are required for a rigorous application of the Doppler dimming technique, but they are not provided by past and current instrumentations. A correlation function between the H I 121.6 nm and He II 30.4 nm line intensities was used to construct Carrington rotation maps of the non-uniform solar chromospheric Lyα radiation and thus to compute the Lyα line irradiance throughout the outer corona. Approximations concerning the temperature of the scattering H I atoms and exciting solar disc radiation were also adopted to significantly reduce the computational time and obtain a faster procedure for a quick-look data analysis of future coronagraphic observations. The effect of the chromospheric Lyα brightness distribution on the resulting H I outflow velocities was quantified. In particular, we found that the usual uniform-disc approximation systematically leads to an overestimated velocity in the polar and mid-latitude coronal regions up to a maximum of about 50−60 km s−1 closer to the Sun. This difference decreases at higher altitudes, where an increasingly larger chromospheric portion, including both brighter and darker disc features, contributes to illuminate the solar corona, and the non-uniform radiation condition progressively approaches the uniform-disc approximation.

The magnetic field shapes the structure of the solar corona, but we still know little about the interrelationships between the coronal magnetic field configurations and the resulting quasi-stationary structures observed in coronagraphic images (such as streamers, plumes, and coronal holes). One way to obtain information on the large-scale structure of the coronal magnetic field is to extrapolate it from photospheric data and compare the results with coronagraphic images. Our aim is to verify whether this comparison can be a fast method to systematically determine the reliability of the many methods that are available for modeling the coronal magnetic field. Coronal fields are usually extrapolated from photospheric measurements that are typically obtained in a region close to the central meridian on the solar disk and are then compared with coronagraphic images at the limbs, acquired at least seven days before or after to account for solar rotation. This implicitly assumes that no significant changes occurred in the corona during that period. In this work, we combine images from three coronagraphs (SOHO/LASCO-C2 and the two STEREO/SECCHI-COR1) that observe the Sun from different viewing angles to build Carrington maps that cover the entire corona to reduce the effect of temporal evolution to about five days. We then compare the position of the observed streamers in these Carrington maps with that of the neutral lines obtained from four different magnetic field extrapolations to evaluate the performances of the latter in the solar corona. Our results show that the location of coronal streamers can provide important indications to distinguish between different magnetic field extrapolations.

We investigated the capability of mapping the solar wind outflow velocity of neutral hydrogen atoms by using synergistic visible-light and ultraviolet observations. We used polarised brightness images acquired by the LASCO/SOHO and Mk3/MLSO coronagraphs, and synoptic Lyα line observations of the UVCS/SOHO spectrometer to obtain daily maps of solar wind H I outflow velocity between 1.5 and 4.0 R⊙ on the SOHO plane of the sky during a complete solar rotation (from 1997 June 1 to 1997 June 28). The 28-days data sequence allows us to construct coronal off-limb Carrington maps of the resulting velocities at different heliocentric distances to investigate the space and time evolution of the outflowing solar plasma. In addition, we performed a parameter space exploration in order to study the dependence of the derived outflow velocities on the physical quantities characterising the Lyα emitting process in the corona. Our results are important in anticipation of the future science with the Metis instrument, selected to be part of the Solar Orbiter scientific payload. It was conceived to carry out near-sun coronagraphy, performing for the first time simultaneous imaging in polarised visible-light and ultraviolet H I Lyα line, so providing an unprecedented view of the solar wind acceleration region in the inner corona.

We investigate the behaviour of the HI Ly alpha spectral line widths measured by UVCS/SOHO in polar coronal holes at minimum of solar magnetic activity. The line widths are reported to significantly increase up to 3 R-circle dot, while above 3 R-circle dot there is observational evidence of either nearly constant or slightly decreasing values. We adopt empirical models of polar coronal holes at solar activity minimum reported in the literature and calculate the characteristic timescales relevant to different processes coupling neutral hydrogen atoms and protons, which are heated and accelerated in the outflowing plasma. This analysis leads us to believe that the progressive decoupling of the two sets of particles below 10 R-circle dot, caused by the decrease of the plasma density due to the rapid expansion of the wind, cannot explain the behaviour of the Ly alpha line profile observed in polar coronal holes. We also synthesise the intensity and profile of the Ly alpha line as a function of heliocentric distance from the coronal hole models, adopting HI densities computed in non-equilibrium ionisation with the aim of satisfactorily reproducing the UVCS Ly alpha observations reported in the literature. Our analysis shows that the coronal Ly alpha emission decreases with heliocentric distance, down to values below the interplanetary Ly alpha emission, owing to the decrease of the plasma density and to non-equilibrium ionisation effects in the expanding plasma. This can lead to the predominance of the interplanetary emission, which is characterised by HI velocity distributions corresponding to temperatures about one order of magnitude lower than the coronal temperatures, and to the narrowing of the resulting coronal profile at higher heliocentric distances. This scenario can be a plausible explanation for the behaviour of the Ly alpha line profile with height observed in polar coronal holes at solar activity minimum.

Context. Synergistic visible light and ultraviolet coronagraphic observations are essential to investigate the link of the Sun to the inner heliosphere through the study of the dynamic properties of the solar wind.Aims. We perform spectroscopic mapping of the outer solar corona to constitute a statistically significant database of neutral hydrogen coronal temperatures, which is suitable for overcoming the lack of spectrometric information in observations performed by coronagraphs that are solely equipped for visible light and ultraviolet imaging; these include the forthcoming Metis instrument on board Solar Orbiter.Methods. We systematically analysed neutral hydrogen Ly alpha line data that was obtained by UVCS/SOHO observations of the extended solar corona relevant to a lot of polar, mid-latitude and equatorial structures at different phases of solar activity, and collected far longer than a whole solar cycle (1996 2012).Results. We created a database consisting in both the neutral hydrogen temperature components, which are perpendicular and parallel to the radially symmetric coronal magnetic field lines, as a function of the heliocentric distance and polar angle and for different phases of the solar activity cycle. We validated the reliability of the constituted neutral hydrogen temperature database, investigating a new set of UVCS Ly alpha data with the Doppler dimming technique. The solar wind outflow velocities obtained by adopting both the neutral hydrogen temperature distribution directly derived from the observed Ly alpha profiles and those taken from our database well agree within the uncertainties.

The present work studies the characteristics of an equatorial streamer visible above the east limb of the Sun on March 2008, during the most recent minimum of solar activity. We analysed the visible light coronagraphic images of SOHO/LASCO and the ultraviolet observations in the HI Lya spectral line obtained by SOHO/UVCS, and exploited the Doppler dimming effect of the coronal Lya line to derive the outflow velocity profile of the scattering neutral hydrogen atoms in the streamer region. Taking advantage of the synergy between visible light and ultraviolet observations, we were able to determine all the properties of the coronal structure. In particular, the actual extent of the streamer along the line of sight has been evaluated for the first time. In so doing, the solar wind outflow velocity turned out to be the only free parameter in the theoretical modelling of the Lya intensity. We found nearly static conditions below 3.5 R-circle dot along the streamer axis, whereas the solar wind flows at velocities from 40 km s(-1) to 140 km s(-1) in the altitude range 2.5-5.0 R-circle dot along the southern boundary of the streamer. We also derived the intensity distribution of the F coronal component in the LASCO C2 field of view, by combining total and polarized brightness data. Finally, we investigated the dependence of the Lya resonant scattering process on the kinetic temperature of the coronal neutral hydrogen atoms and found that the value of this temperature mostly affects the scattering process at low heliocentric distances, where the solar wind flows with low velocity.

In this work we study the kinematics of three small-scale (0.01 R-circle dot) blobs of chromospheric plasma falling back to the Sun after the huge eruptive event of June 7, 2011. From a study of 3D trajectories of blobs made with the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) data, we demonstrate the existence of a significant drag force acting on the blobs and calculate two drag coefficients, in the radial and tangential directions. The resulting drag coefficients C-D are between 0 and 5, comparable in the two directions, making the drag force only a factor of 0.45-0.75 smaller than the gravitational force. To obtain a correct determination of electron densities in the blobs, we also demonstrate how, by combining measurements of total and polarized brightness, the H alpha contribution to the white-light emission observed by the COR1 telescopes can be estimated. This component is significant for chromospheric plasma, being between 95 and 98% of the total white-light emission. Moreover, we demonstrate that the COR1 data can be employed even to estimate the H alpha polarized component, which turns out to be in the order of a few percent of H alpha total emission from the blobs. If the drag forces acting on small-scale blobs reported here are similar to those that play a role during the CME propagation, our results suggest that the magnetic drag should be considered even in the CME initiation modelling.

This research note extends a previous work focused on the 2D reconstruction of the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the plasma density fluctuations in the outer solar corona and based on STEREO COR1-A white-light observations. By using the corresponding total brightness images obtained in the same observational period with the coronagraph COR1-B onboard the “Behind” twin STEREO-B spacecraft, and adopting the same methodological approach as for COR1-A data, it was possible to confirm the results of the previous work and argue for the 3D configuration of the fluctuations of the coronal plasma. This provides further evidence in support of a scenario in which the fluctuating features, which are recurrent and spatially coherent, are localized along the magnetic field lines and points out the crucial role played by the 3D magnetic field topology in the confinement and evolution of the plasma density fluctuations.

We investigated the substantial restructuring of the outer solar corona in the aftermath of the halo CME that occurred on 9 March 2012. To perform our analysis, we used SOHO/LASCO, STEREO/COR1 and SDO/AIA data, which provide observations from different viewpoints. In particular, we applied the polarization ratio technique to the COR1 calibrated images to derive the three-dimensional structure of the CME and determine its direction and speed of propagation. We also estimated the CME mass from a sequence of four observations of the event and obtained values of up to 2.2 x 10(16) g. The COR1 images show a brightness decrease in the coronal sector where the CME propagates. We verified that this intensity reduction is due to a plasma depletion. Moreover, the combined analysis performed by the two STEREO satellites allowed us to deduce that a preexisting streamer is located along the propagation direction of the CME and disappears after the passage of the event. The coronal mass loss associated with the plasma depletion is much lower than the mass expelled from the Sun in the COR1-B data. Conversely, the COR1-A obsevations allowed us to infer that the mass of the streamer carried away from the outer corona corresponds to about half of the CME mass. The results highlight the importance of stereoscopic observations in the study of corona restructuring in the aftermath of a CME event.

Aims. Ultra compact HII (UCHII) regions are indicators of high-mass star formation sites and are distributed mainly in the Galactic plane. They exhibit a broad band spectrum with significant emission between near-IR and radio wavelengths. We intend to investigate the possible contribution of the forthcoming ESA Planck mission to the science of UCHII regions by evaluating the possibility of detecting UCHIIs that are bright in the radio regime.Methods. We performed new 7 mm observations of a sample of UCHII regions. The observations were designed to acquire high-frequency radio spectra. For each source in our sample, the free-free radio spectrum has been modeled. Along with far-IR measurements, our spectra allow us to estimate the flux densities of the sources in the millimeter and sub-millimeter bands. We extrapolated and summed the ionized-gas (free-free radio emission) and dust ( thermal emission) contributions in the afore mentioned wavelength ranges. The possibility of Planck detecting the selected sources can be assessed by comparing the estimated flux densities to the expected sensitivity in each Planck channel. To obtain a realistic estimation of the noise produced by the Galactic emission, the Planck sky model software package was used.Results. For each target source, from our new 7 mm data and other radio measurements from the literature, important physical parameters such as electron density and their spatial distribution, source geometry and emission measure were derived. We conclude that, in the case of the present sample, located close to the Galactic center, Planck will have a very low detection rate. In contrast, assuming that our sample is representative of the whole UCHII-region population, we derive a very high probability of detecting this kind of source with Planck if located instead close to the anticenter. From the analysis of the ionized-gas properties, we suggest that the selected sample could also be contaminated by other kinds of Galactic objects.

Aims. We present 43 GHz ( 7 mm) observations of a sample of radio-bright Planetary nebulae aimed to obtain, together with far-IR measurements ( IRAS), reliable estimates of the fluxes emitted in the millimetre and sub-millimetre band, and, therefore, to test their detectability by the forthcoming ESA PLANCK mission. This spectral range, even though very important to constrain the physics of circumstellar environments, is still far from being completely exploited.Methods. The new millimetre 43 GHz observations were obtained by using the 32 m INAF- IRA Noto Radiotelescope. To estimate the millimetre and sub-millimetre fluxes, we extrapolated and summed the ionized gas ( free- free radio emission) and dust ( thermal emission) contributions in this frequency range. By comparison of the derived flux densities to the predicted sensitivity we investigate the possible detection of such source for all the channels of PLANCKResults. We conclude that almost 80% of our sample will be detected by PLANCK, with a higher detection rate in the higher frequency channels, where there is a good combination of brighter intrinsic flux from the sources and reduced extended Galactic foregrounds contamination despite poorer instrumental sensitivity. From the new 43 GHz, combined with single- dish 5 GHz observations from the literature, we derive radio spectral indexes, which are consistent with optically thin free- free nebula. This result indicates that the high frequency radio spectrum of our sample sources is dominated by thermal free- free, and other emissions, if present, are negligible.

Aims. We present 43 GHz (7 mm) observations of a sample of radio-bright Planetary nebulae aimed to obtain, together with far-IR measurements (IRAS), reliable estimates of the fluxes emitted in the millimetre and sub-millimetre band, and, therefore, to test their detectability by the forthcoming ESA PLANCK mission. This spectral range, even though very important to constrain the physics of circumstellar environments, is still far from being completely exploited.