Models and data analysis tools for the Solar Orbiter mission

Abstract

Context. The Solar Orbiter spacecraft will be equipped with a wide range of remote-sensing (RS) and in-situ (IS) instruments to record novel andunprecedented measurements of the solar atmosphere and the inner heliosphere. To take full advantage of these new datasets, tools and techniquesmust be developed to ease multi-instrument and multi-spacecraft studies. In particular the currently inaccessible low solar corona below two solarradii can only be observed remotely. Furthermore techniques must be used to retrieve coronal plasma properties in time and in three dimensional(3D) space. Solar Orbiter will run complex observation campaigns that provide interesting opportunities to maximise the likelihood of linking ISdata to their source region near the Sun. Several RS instruments can be directed to specific targets situated on the solar disk just days before dataacquisition. To compare IS and RS, data we must improve our understanding of how heliospheric probes magnetically connect to the solar disk.Aims. The aim of the present paper is to briefly review how the current modelling of the Sun and its atmosphere can support Solar Orbiter science.We describe the results of a community-led effort by European Space Agency (ESA)’s Modelling and Data Analysis Working Group (MADAWG)to develop different models, tools, and techniques deemed necessary to test different theories for the physical processes that may occur in thesolar plasma. The focus here is on the large scales and little is described with regards to kinetic processes. To exploit future IS and RS data fully,many techniques have been adapted to model the evolving 3D solar magneto-plasma from the solar interior to the solar wind. A particular focusin the paper is placed on techniques that can estimate how Solar Orbiter will connect magnetically through the complex coronal magnetic fields to various photospheric and coronal features in support of spacecraft operations and future scientific studies.Methods. Recent missions such as STEREO, provided great opportunities for RS, IS, and multi-spacecraft studies. We summarise the achievementsand highlight the challenges faced during these investigations, many of which motivated the Solar Orbiter mission. We present the new tools andtechniques developed by the MADAWG to support the science operations and the analysis of the data from the many instruments on Solar Orbiter.Results. This article reviews current modelling and tool developments that ease the comparison of model results with RS and IS data madeavailable by current and upcoming missions. It also describes the modelling strategy to support the science operations and subsequent exploitationof Solar Orbiter data in order to maximise the scientific output of the mission.Conclusions. The on-going community effort presented in this paper has provided new models and tools necessary to support mission operationsas well as the science exploitation of the Solar Orbiter data. The tools and techniques will no doubt evolve significantly as we refine our procedureand methodology during the first year of operations of this highly promising mission