Investigating Energetic Photons from Solar Flares at Mars
Ali Rahmati, Research Scientist
Space Sciences Laboratory
Applications for Fall 2025 are closed for this project.
Solar flares are large sudden eruptions on the Sun's surface, resulting in the release of energy in the form of particle acceleration (electrons and ions) and electromagnetic radiation (photons). The focus of this work is on Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) and X-ray photons produced by solar flares. These photons travel throughout the solar system with the speed of light, affecting the planetary environments as they encounter each solar system body. One such body is planet Mars from which data is being taken by the orbiting MAVEN spacecraft. Similar to the Earth orbiting satellites, MAVEN carries an EUV Monitor (EUVM) that is designed to measure the spectrum and intensity of solar flares. However, the EUVM instrument has a narrow Field of View (FOV) and often misses certain flares when MAVEN's altitude is not favorable. In order to fill in the gaps in the EUVM measurements of flares, this project aims to utilize data from another instrument on MAVEN that was originally designed to measure Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs). In addition to ions and electrons, the SEP instrument can also measure X-rays from strong flares and we aim to explore such flares using the SEP data.
Role: The student will start by learning about Mars, MAVEN, Solar flares, and the influence of the Sun on the solar system bodies in general and Mars in particular. The student will then continue the project by loading, plotting, analyzing, and manipulating space mission datasets using the IDL software to be able to utilize the MAVEN EUVM and SEP instruments in order to investigate the flux and energy of solar flares at Mars. Next we will take advantage of data from other space mission assets that have the capability to measure solar flares, such as GOES X-ray monitor at Earth as well as Solar Orbiter STIX instrument in order to complement the flare measurements at Mars. Lastly, we will carry out intercomparisons between all these datasets and put together a catalog of solar flares containing their timing, flux, and energy levels, which will ultimately enhance the science output of the MAVEN mission.
Qualifications: None other than interest in space physics!
Hours: to be negotiated
Off-Campus Research Site: Space Sciences Laboratory