First Ten Years of Hinode Solar On-Orbit Observatory

This book provides the latest scientific understanding of the Sun, sharing insights gleaned from the international solar physics project Hinode. The authors (who are the main project contributors) review, from the various viewpoints, the discoveries and advances made by the on-orbit operations of the Hinode spacecraft in its first decade. Further, they present a wealth of scientifically important photographs and data from Hinode.

Launched in September 2006, Hinode is the third Japanese solar observatory on orbit, and employs three highly advanced telescopes jointly developed and operated with international partners. The book describes the background of these research topics, how the Hinode telescopes have tackled various challenges, and the scientific achievements and impacts in the first 10 years. Furthermore, it explores future perspective of researches in Japan.

The book will benefit undergraduate students interested in recent advance in the solar research, as well as graduate students and researchers working in solar physics, the space sciences, astronomy, and plasma physics.

Part I Reviews on 10 Years of Hinode

A Brief History of Hinode – Toward the Success in Orbit

1 Birth of Hinode

2 Instrument Overview

3 Science Achievements

4 International Collaboration

5 As On-Orbit Solar Observatory

6 Ups and Downs in Operations

7 Future Prospects

References

Hinode’s Contributions to Solar Physics

1 High Resolution Observation of the Sun in the Visible Wavelengths

2 Discovery of Various Waves and Corona Heating

4 Outlook for the Future

References

Ten-Year Results of Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) Onboard Hinode

1 Scientific Objectives of Solar Optical Telescope

2 Resolution of Photospheric Magnetic Structures in Quiet Sun

4 Summary

References

X-ray Telescope (XRT) aboard Hinode: Key instrumental features and scientific highlights

1 Scientific Background of XRT and Key Instrumental Features

2 Some Scientific Highlights from XRT

References

Solar Extreme Ultraviolet Spectroscopy: zur NachEISzeit

1 EISberg before Hinode (“Sunrise”)

2 Ice-breaking (EISbrechend) scientific problems

3 Scientific objectives for post-gracial age (NachEISzeit)

References

Part II Coronal Heating and Solar Wind

Coronal Heating: issues revealed from Hinode observations

1 Introduction

2 Before the birth of Hinode

3 From Yohkoh to Hinode

5 Concluding Remarks

References

Importance of MHD Waves Observed with Hinode

1 Introduction

2 Discoveries of waves

3 Energy flux estimation using numerical simulation

4 Estimation of magnetic field using MHD waves

5 Waves or mass loss?

6 Summary

References

Hinode Investigations of Microflares and Nanoflares

1 Small flares in the Sun

2 Physical processes of microflares and nanoflares

3 Investigating signatures of unresolved nanoflares

4 Summary and future observations

References

The Origin of the Solar Wind

1 Introduction

2 Fast Wind

3 Slow Wind

4 Future Prospects

References

Part III Magnetism of Solar Atmosphere

New Insights into Sunspots through Hinode Observations

1 Sunspot Studies before Hinode

2 Sunspot Fine-scale Structures

3 Sunspot Formation

4 Sunspot Decay

5 Future Works

References

Three-Dimensional Coronal Magnetic Field Based on the Photospheric Magnetic Field by Hinode/SP Observation

1 Introduction

3 NLFFF Extrapolation Based on the Observed Magnetic Field

4 Current State and Future

References

New Approach to Solar Flare Trigger Process with Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope

1 Solar Flare Trigger Problem

3 Future Direction

References

Hinode Observations of Flows and Heating Associated with Magnetic Reconnection during Solar Flares

1 Introduction

2 Flows

3 Heating

4 Conclusions and Future Prospects

References

The First Decade of Hinode: understanding Coronal Mass Ejections

1 Introduction

2 The build-up to a CME

3 Observations of the CME

4 Propagation of the CME

5 Summary

References

Understanding Magneto-Convection on Solar Surface with Hinode Satellite Observation

1 Why do we prefer smaller scale?

2 Observational results and new knowledge obtained by Hinode

3 Future tasks in the following 10 years

References

Hinode Observation of the Sun’s Polar Magnetic Field and Solar Cycle Variation

1 Introduction

2 Polar region monitoring by Hinode

3 Future solar cycle variation and polar region monitoring

References

Local Helioseismology Analyses with Hinode/SOT Datasets

1 Introduction

2 Advantages of SOT Local Helioseismology

3 Significant Results of SOT Helioseismology

4 Outlook

References

Part IV Newly Opened Physics and Future Observations

Penumbral Microjets in Sunspot Chromospheres: Evidence of Magnetic Reconnection

1 Dynamic Chromosphere Revealed by Hinode

2 Discovery of Penumbral Microjets

3 Influence on Heating of the Transition Region and Corona

4 Summary and Future Direction

References

Physics of Partial Ionization in the Solar Chromosphere Revealed by the Solar Optical Telescope on board Hinode

1 Introduction

2 Plasma parameters and theoretical treatments

3 Brief overview of the SOT results

4 Concluding Remark

Thermal Non-equilibrium Plasma Observed by Hinode

1 Introduction

2 Ion Temperature in a Solar Active Region

3 Non-equilibirum Ionization During a Solar Flare

4 Summary and Future Perspectives

References

From Hinode to the Next-Generation Solar Observation Missions

1 Introduction

2 The SOLAR-C Project

3 Small Size Space Missions

4 Ground-based Observations

5 Summary

References 

Part V Science Center and Public Outreach

Hinode Science Center at NAOJ - from the preparations of the establishment to the issues for the future -

1 Particularity of solar observation data in astrophysical studies

2 Data analysis system for solar observing satellites

3 Preparation for establishing the Hinode Science Center

4 10 years of Hinode Science Center

5 Issues for the future

References

Public Outreach and Education Activities of Solar Mission Hinode in Japan

1 Introduction

2 Working Group for Public Use of Hinode Data

3 Let’s look at the Sun with Hinode!

4 A Lot of Thought into Our Outreach Activities

5 Conclusion

References

A Hinode Image Gallery

A.1 Quiet Sun

A.2 Sunspots

A.3 Chromosphere

A.4 Corona

A.5 Flares and Eruptions

A.6 Astronomical Events

Index

Toshifumi Shimizu is an associate professor at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. He received his doctor of science degree from the University of Tokyo in 1995 and was awarded the Zeldovich Medal in 2002 by the Russian Academy of Science and Committee on Space Research.

His work primarily focuses on solar physics and the development of space-borne instruments and spacecrafts. In particular, his research interest is in the phenomena on solar atmosphere such as solar flares and corona heating.

Shinsuke Imada is an assistant professor at the Institute for Space-Earth Environmental Research, Nagoya University. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo’s Department of Earth and Planetary Science in 2006. After serving as a researcher at National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, and as a project researcher at Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, he was appointed to his present position in 2012.

Prof. Imada’s work mainly focuses on magnetic reconnection in the solar corona and also geomagnetic tail.

Masahito Kubo is an assistant professor at the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tokyo’s Department of Astronomy in 2005. After serving as a project researcher at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and as a Post Graduate Scientist at the High Altitude Observatory, he was appointed to his present position in 2010.

Dr. Kubo’s research mainly focuses on the solar magnetism as well as the development of space-born instruments.