Hows a Concept Become a Proposal

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Hows a Concept Become a Proposal?

• (Starting out)

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Todays colloquium
The Physical Relationship Between Microwave and
Hard X-ray Bursts During Solar Flares Dr.
Jeongwoo Lee Hard X-ray and microwave bursts are
major diagnostics for understanding nonthermal
electron acceleration during solar flares. They
are conventionally considered as emitted by the
same electron population and thus complement to
each other. However, subtle differences between
hard X-ray and microwave bursts do exist, which
offers new insights into the electron kinetic
process. This talk will present several recent
developments in this area, including transport
effects in the presence of inhomogeneous magnetic
fields and anisotropic electron momentum
distributions in injection, as measured by
relative spectra and locations of microwave and
hard X-ray sources. It will be shown that the
classical paradigm called trap-and-precipitation
systems is still a useful framework for
understanding the relative differences in
microwave and hard X-ray bursts. However, a new
appreciation for the importance of anisotropic
electron distributions demands a revision of the
tools used to interpret the observations, and
theoretical ideas on the electron acceleration
mechanisms.
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• Like any experiment, it starts one of two ways
• We have a scientific question. Then, how do we
  go about addressing it?
• Weve learned of/thought of a new technique.
  Then, what interesting question can we apply it
  to?

Examples (1) Gravitational radiation. We know
its there, but how can we observe it? Think of
something. (1) GRBs. Whats the best way to
catch them in the act? (2) Galileo Gee,
telescopes sure are keen. What happens if I
point one over here?
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• Either way, the proposal always starts with a
  question to be addressed and a technique for
  doing so.
• Most often the technique is a vague idea that
  you need to flesh out.
• You can win the grant if the panel is convinced
• The question is interesting and important to the
  funding agency, and
• The technique ought to work, with a high
  probability of success.

(ii) is the hard part.
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Well consider an example, based on a mission we
designed and proposed to NASA in 2003.
Question What do we really know about magnetic
dynamos in stars like the Sun? Idea If we could
monitor magnetic activity in other Sun-like stars
in the same way we do for the Sun, maybe we could
learn something more about dynamos in general,
the solar magnetic dynamo, stellar and solar
flare activity, stellar evolution, and even
activity events like the Maunder Minimum and the
Medieval Maximum. (Note this is more an
astrophysical project than a solar
project.) Method So how do you intend to do
that?
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Light curves
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White vs. Calcium
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Calcium through cycle
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Calcium slice through sunspot
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Line centers
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What else?
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Whats your hunch?