Letters of Intent received in 2012

LoI 2014-142
Solar and Stellar Activity

Date: 21 July 2014 to 25 July 2014
Category: Non-GA Symposium
Location: Kodaikenal, India
Contact: Debi Prasad Choudhary (debiprasad.choudhary@csun.edu)
Coordinating division: Division II Sun & Heliosphere
Other divisions: Division IV Stars
Division V Variable Stars
Division IX Optical & Infrared Techniques
Co-Chairs of SOC: Debi Prasad Choudhary (California State University Northridge)
Donald B. Melrose (The University of Sydney )
Suzanne L. Hawley (University of Washington)
Kazunari Shibata (Kyoto University)
Heidi Korhonen (University of Copenhagen)
Co-Chairs of LOC: S. P. Bagare (Indian Institute of Astrophysics)
G. C. Anupama (Indian Institute of Astrophysics)
P. Venkatkrishnan (Physical Research Laboratory)
S. Seetha (Indian Space Research Organization)
Jeewan Pandey (Aryabhatta Research Institute Of Observational Sciences)

 

Topics

(1) Solar and Stellar Activity: Flares, CME and Filaments
(2) Sun and Star Spot Activity: Kepler, SDO and Hinode Observations
(3) Magnetic Field in Sun and Active Stars
(4) Plasma Physics of Solar and Stellar Activity. Are they same?
(5) Observational Techniques

 

Rationale

Use of powerful observational tools with space and ground based telescopes such as Hinode & SDO mission and Dunn telescope of National Solar Observatory have provided data leading to much understanding of the physical processes involved in the storage and release of energy in solar flares that were discovered about 150 years ago. On the other hand unprecedented observations of stellar light curve with Kepler mission have provided abundant data to study flares and other explosive events on other stars. These results are leading to much sophisticated observational plans with advanced spectrographs at larger telescopes. Next two years are likely to witness exciting scientific research in the field of Astrophysical Flare Physics. We think that as a result of these activities it would be appropriate to hold an IAU symposium in the summer of 2014. This symposium would bring the solar and stellar astronomers along with plasma physicists around the world to take advantage of detailed high spatial resolution magnetic field observations of the sun and properties of large number of stellar light curves to advance our understanding of flare physics.

In the past years, solar and stellar astronomers gather more often leading to direct mutual understanding of the research in complementary fields. IAU Symposium 273 on the “Physics of Sun and Star Spots”, IAU Colloquium 104 on “Coronal and Stellar Mass Ejection” and April 2011 meeting of American Physical Society on “Astrophysical Flares” are the examples of such gathering. The meetings on “Cool Stars” also provide such an opportunity. However, dedicated meetings on the subject, which were held more than 20 years back such as IAU Colloquium 104 on “Solar and Stellar Flares” in 1988 and IAU Colloquium 151 on “”Flares and Flashes” in 1994, gives perfect venue of intense discussion of the subject. Considering the time line of IAU sponsored meetings on this subject, we propose to hold a IAU Symposium on “Solar and Stellar Activity” in 2014.

We propose to hold this symposium in Kodaikenal, India at the observatory venue of Indian Institute of Astrophysics. This venue has been the host of many international meetings on astrophysics including those sponsored by IAU. India is centrally located for most countries in Asia and Europe. There are direct flights from several air ports in USA to Bangalore, where the headquarters of Kodaikenal Observatory is located. The observatory guest house and large lecture halls are recently renovated offering a much convenient symposium location at reasonable costs. The town of Kodaikenal has a range of hotel accommodations that can cater participants of broad economic background. This venue also would provide opportunity to a growing large number of younger astronomers in southern Asian countries at an affordable cost.