The Visible-Light Imager and Magnetograph (VIM) on Solar Orbiter

S. K. Solanki (MPS, Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany) V. Martinez Pillet (IAC, La Laguna, Spain) J. Woch (MPS, Katlenburg-Lindau) and the VIM Team

Solar Orbiter is the next solar mission of ESA, scheduled for launch in 2013. It will explore the uncharted innermost regions of our solar system, from as close as 0.22 AU from the Sun. In the first, near-Sun phase, Solar Orbiter will examine the Sun from a nearly co-rotating vantage point. The Orbiter will then progress to orbits as high as 35deg, and obtain observations of the Sun's polar region. The spacecraft will carry a comprehensive payload consisting of in-situ and remote sensing instruments, among those the Visible-Light Imager and Magnetograph (VIM). VIM will measure magnetic and velocity fields in the photosphere with a resolution of 150 km. With its vector magnetic field capabilities VIM will allow the morphology, dynamics, and strength of the magnetic elements to be studied. It will also enable the quantitative inference of the magnetic field in the chromosphere and corona which are vital for the interpretation of the data obtained with the other remote sensing and in situ instruments onboard Solar Orbiter. Furthermore, Dopplergrams and magnetograms will be used to deduce, through local helioseismology techniques, subsurface flows. The internal structure and dynamics of the near-polar regions of the Sun is of considerable importance for our understanding of the solar cycle.

Correspondence

Solanki, Sami K., Max-Planck-Institut fuer Sonnensystemforschung. (Germany)

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