Parkes observations for project P1189 semester 2024OCTS_03

The solar wind and space weather events have a significant impact on the solar system and can pose hazards to both space and Earth-based technologies. Understanding the origins of the solar wind and space weather is therefore essential to comprehend how these events are driven and to enhance space weather prediction efforts. Magnetic structures such as coronal holes, helmet streamers, and prominences in the lower corona are believed to be key drivers of the winds and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). However, there are very few observational constraints on the solar wind and space weather events at low solar altitudes (< 20 solar radii), as this region is inaccessible to space probes. In this proposal, we aim to monitor a set of pulsars as they pass within 5.7 degrees of the Sun. Using the UWL receiver on the Parkes Radio Telescope, we will make precision measurements of the dispersive group delay and Faraday rotation of the pulses. This will enable us to investigate the densities and magnetic fields of the coronal structures driving the wind and to observe approximately $6 \\pm 4$ CMEs as they pass by the pulsars serendipitously. We will integrate this data with complementary efforts to study the solar wind via interplanetary scintillation, constraints from space probes, and simulations. This approach provides an exciting opportunity to develop a comprehensive understanding of the solar wind and space weather.太阳风与空间天气事件对太阳系具有显著影响，同时会对航天系统及地面技术设施构成威胁。因此，探明太阳风与空间天气的起源，对于理解这类事件的驱动机制、提升空间天气预报能力至关重要。学界普遍认为，低日冕中的冕洞、盔状冕流与日珥等磁结构，是驱动太阳风与日冕物质抛射（CMEs）的核心因素。然而，由于该区域无法通过空间探测器直接抵达，目前针对太阳低高度区域（<20倍太阳半径）内的太阳风与空间天气事件的观测约束数据极为匮乏。在本研究提案中，我们计划对一批运行至与太阳角距不超过5.7度范围内的脉冲星开展监测。依托帕克斯射电望远镜的UWL接收机，我们将对脉冲信号的色散群时延与法拉第旋转量进行高精度测量。此举将帮助我们研究驱动太阳风的日冕结构的密度与磁场，并偶然观测到约6±4次掠过脉冲星的日冕物质抛射事件。我们将把本项目的观测数据，与通过行星际闪烁研究太阳风的相关工作、空间探测器的观测约束以及数值模拟结果进行整合。该研究方案为我们全面深入理解太阳风与空间天气的整体机制提供了极具前景的契机。