The VAULT2.0 Observing Campaign: A Comprehensive Investigation of the Chromosphere-Corona Interface at Sub-arcsecond scales

Angelos Vourlidas1, Clarence Korendyke2, Samuel dionicio Tun-Beltran3, Ignacio Ugarte-Urra4, Jeff S Morrill3, Harry P Warren5, Peter Young6, Bart De Pontieu7, Gianna Gauzzi8 and Kevin Reardon9, (1)Applied Physics Laboratory Johns Hopkins, Space Department, Laurel, MD, United States, (2)Space System Research Corporation, Alexandria, United States, (3)Naval Research Lab DC, Washington, DC, United States, (4)US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States, (5)Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC, United States, (6)George Mason University Fairfax, Fairfax, VA, United States, (7)Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, Palo Alto, CA, United States, (8)National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, NM, United States, (9)National Solar Observatory, Tucson, United States
Abstract:
We report the first results from an observing campaign in support of the VAULT2.0 sounding rocket launch on September 30, 2014. VAULT2.0 is a Lya (1216Å) spectroheliograph capable of 0.3” (~250 km) spatial resolution. The objective of the VAULT2.0 project is the study of the chromosphere-corona interface. This interface has acquired renewed emphasis over the last few years, thanks to high-resolution observations from Hinode/SOT and EIS instruments and the Lya imaging from the two VAULT flights. The observations have shown that the upper chromosphere may play a more important role in heating the corona and in affecting EUV observations that previously thought: (1) by supplying the mass via Type-II spicules and, (2) by absorbing coronal emission. Many of the required clues for further progress are located in sub-arcsecond structures with temperatures between 10000 and 50000 K, a regime not accessible by Hinode or SDO. Lyman-alpha observations are, therefore, ideal, for filling in this gap.

The observing campaign in support of the VAULT2.0 is closely coordinated with the Hinode and IRIS missions to study the mass/energy flow from the chromosphere to the corona with joint observations of type-II spicules, and the magnetic connectivity of coronal loops using the full imaging and spectral capabilities of IRIS, Hinode and SDO. Several ground-based observatories also provide important observations (IBIS, BBSO, SOLIS).

The VAULT2.0 project is funded by the NASA LCAS program.

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