Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network: the next generation

Hale, Steven James ORCID: 0000-0002-6402-8382 (2019). Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network: the next generation. University of Birmingham. Ph.D.

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Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to ensure the continued operation and possible expansion of the Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network (BiSON) through development of a new instrumentation paradigm known as BiSON-Mini.

The first half of the thesis discusses the emergence of the field of helioseismology, and the history of the BiSON network. A comparison baseline is described by assessing the historic network performance in terms of duty cycle and noise levels, and in terms of atmospheric extinction. The baseline informs performance to be matched, or ideally exceeded, while developing prototype miniaturised instrumentation to complement the existing network.

With a performance baseline described, in the second half of the thesis we develop prototype instrumentation that meets the requirements of simplicity and reduced physical footprint. The overall noise characteristics of the prototype system were assessed during an observing campaign over summer 2018 at Izana, Tenerife, and found to be comparable with the large-scale existing BiSON infrastructure allowing seamless integration. Following the results from this project, BiSON is certainly well placed to observe the next solar cycle and beyond.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Doctorates > Ph.D.)

Award Type:

Doctorates > Ph.D.

Supervisor(s):