Objectives
The major breakthrough of the SPIA project is to investigate the physical consequences of the very low degree of ionization of the solar atmospheric plasma on its dynamics, and on the energy propagation and release. With this novel approach the following scientific questions are pursued:
- What is the role of the magnetic field in the coupling between sub-photospheric layers, photosphere and chromosphere? How is the energy transport through the magnetized solar atmosphere affected by the presence of a layer of almost neutral gas in the upper photosphere and chromosphere? How important are the additional energy dissipation mechanisms and heating due to non-ideal plasma effects? What is the role of plasma partial ionization in the formation of localized magnetic field concentrations such as flux tubes and sunspots, and in maintaining their stability?
- What is the structure and energy balance of the solar chromosphere related to the magnetic field? Can chromospheric energy losses be balanced by mechanical energy provided by the shock wave dissipation and by magnetic energy released by electric currents, enhanced in the presence of the neutral component? What is the influence of the plasma partial ionization on the formation and dynamics of chromospheric structures such as fibrils, mottles, bright points, prominences, spicules, etc, revealed by high resolution observations?