The project (named SolarIC) aims to study the problem of how cosmic rays interact with the Sun. Gamma rays from the Sun has recently been detected, and has many interesting properties. However, detailed theoretical understanding is lacking, which limits the potential of using these gamma rays as a probe of cosmic rays physics in the solar system as well as physics of the Sun. The overall goal of SolarIC is, through both observational and theoretical studies, to realize gamma-ray observation as a novel probe of the Sun as well as cosmic-ray propagation in the solar system.
There are two main problems that this project could address. 1) Current gamma-ray observations of the Sun lacks theoretical understanding, and lacks detailed observational exploration. In particular, many of the gamma-ray observations from the solar atmosphere itself is unexplained. 2) These gamma ray production depends on cosmic-ray propagation in the solar system, in particular in the volume between the Earth and the Sun. The properties of the cosmic rays propagation in this volume is poorly understood, and difficult send detector to directly study. Gamma rays could therefore provide an indirect mean to study this.
Understanding this problem is important, as the activities in the solar atmosphere and the how charged particles propagate in the solar system are important components of space weather, which significantly affects satellite operation, astronaut safety, and terrestrial electrical infrastructures. Gamma rays could be a new tool to study this problem, which may offer new insights for better and more accurate space weather modeling.
