The Sun is an active star that emits radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum. At radio wavelengths, large-scale eruptions can produce intense bursts of radio waves associated with accelerated electrons and shocks. In collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, we operate a number of instruments dedicated to studying solar radio bursts and their effects on Earth at the Rosse Observatory in Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Ireland. The observatory includes the Irish Low Frequency Array , eCallisto solar radio burst monitors operating at 10-400 MHz, ionospheric monitors, and a magnetometer (the magnetometer is operated with DIAS Geophysics). We use these instruments in coordination with observations from spacecraft such as ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to study the Sun and its impacts on Earth and the wider Heliosphere.
Solar Orbiter
Solar Orbiter is an ESA/NASA mission to examine how the Sun creates and controls the Heliosphere, the vast bubble of charged particles blown by the solar wind into the interstellar medium. The spacecraft combines in situ and remote sensing instruments to gain new information about the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, solar energetic particles, transient interplanetary disturbances and the Sun’s magnetic field.
We are involved in writing software and scientific support for the Solar-Telescope Imaging X-rays (STIX) instrument. This instrument will enable us to obtain X-ray images and spectra emitted by solar flares and to study fundamental processes in solar flares, such as energy release and electron acceleration and propagation.
Solar Eruption Forecasting
Solar flares and coronal mass ejections originate in magnetic fields of the Sun’s atmosphere. Using measurements of the Sun’s surface magnetic field from spacecraft such as NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, we develop methods to characterise and monitor magnetic fields in sunspots (e.g., via the Horizon 2020 FLARECAST project). These enable us to examine the changing topology of sunspots as they emerge, flare and decay. We are also developing techniques to improve the forecasting of solar flares using ensemble-based techniques, and investigating the first steps towards CME onset prediction using machine learning.
Geomagnetic Storms
Solar wind streams and coronal mass ejections can cause storms in the Earth’s magnetosphere called geomagnetic storms. These storms can be associated with beautiful auroral displays but they can also cause unwanted electrical currents to flow through ground-based systems, such as power grids.
We have set up the Magnetometer Network of Ireland (MagIE) to monitor geomagnetic storms in near-realtime and to give warnings of geomagnetic storms in Ireland. We have also developed theoretical models to predict the electric fields and currents generated in response to magnetic variations across Ireland and the UK, in collaboration with the British Geological Survey and the UK Met Office.
SolarMonitor.org
SolarMonitor.org is a leading on-line tool which automatically reads, calibrates and displays solar data from numerous ground- and space-based observing platforms. SolarMonitor not only acts as a source for distributing data, but provides secondary products such as region flaring probabilities, which are essential to satellite operators, human space-flight, military operations, and the communications industry in general. We have received over 20 million visitors to the site since its launch.
Solar Physics and Space Weather research at DIAS is supported by the Irish Research Council , Enterprise Ireland/ESA/PRODEX, Science Foundation Ireland and the European Commission/Horizon 2020.
We are delighted to announce that the DIAS Astrophysics Summer Studentship programme is now open! Read how to apply on our website: dias.ie/astro-students… . Application deadline is 23rd April 2021.
Dr Pauline McGinnis is a Research Fellow working on the ERC-funded EASY project studying ejection and accretion Structures in young stellar objects dias.ie/2019/09/06/dr-…
Dr Sophie Murray @drsophiemurray is a solar and space weather expert working at DIAS and TCD, leading a number of international space weather forecasting activities dias.ie/2018/10/31/ast…
Dr Caitriona Jackman @cm_jackman leads the Planetary Magnetospheres Research Group working on data-intensive space physics from ESA and NASA spacecraft dias.ie/2019/11/27/pro…
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Solar Physics and Space Weather
Group Head: Prof. Peter Gallagher
Schrödinger Fellow: Dr Eoin Carley
Research Fellows: Dr Sophie Murray, Dr Shane Maloney
Research Students: Aoife Maria Ryan, Pearse Murphy, Ciara Maguire, Brendan Clarke, John Malone-Leigh, Luis Alberto Cañizares, David McKenna, Jeremy Rigney
Refereed Publications: SAO/NASA Astrophysics Data System
Solar Radio Physics
The Sun is an active star that emits radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum. At radio wavelengths, large-scale eruptions can produce intense bursts of radio waves associated with accelerated electrons and shocks. In collaboration with Trinity College Dublin, we operate a number of instruments dedicated to studying solar radio bursts and their effects on Earth at the Rosse Observatory in Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Ireland. The observatory includes the Irish Low Frequency Array , eCallisto solar radio burst monitors operating at 10-400 MHz, ionospheric monitors, and a magnetometer (the magnetometer is operated with DIAS Geophysics). We use these instruments in coordination with observations from spacecraft such as ESA/NASA’s Solar Orbiter and NASA’s Parker Solar Probe to study the Sun and its impacts on Earth and the wider Heliosphere.
Solar Orbiter
Solar Orbiter is an ESA/NASA mission to examine how the Sun creates and controls the Heliosphere, the vast bubble of charged particles blown by the solar wind into the interstellar medium. The spacecraft combines in situ and remote sensing instruments to gain new information about the solar wind, the heliospheric magnetic field, solar energetic particles, transient interplanetary disturbances and the Sun’s magnetic field.
We are involved in writing software and scientific support for the Solar-Telescope Imaging X-rays (STIX) instrument. This instrument will enable us to obtain X-ray images and spectra emitted by solar flares and to study fundamental processes in solar flares, such as energy release and electron acceleration and propagation.
Solar Eruption Forecasting
Solar flares and coronal mass ejections originate in magnetic fields of the Sun’s atmosphere. Using measurements of the Sun’s surface magnetic field from spacecraft such as NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, we develop methods to characterise and monitor magnetic fields in sunspots (e.g., via the Horizon 2020 FLARECAST project). These enable us to examine the changing topology of sunspots as they emerge, flare and decay. We are also developing techniques to improve the forecasting of solar flares using ensemble-based techniques, and investigating the first steps towards CME onset prediction using machine learning.
Geomagnetic Storms
Solar wind streams and coronal mass ejections can cause storms in the Earth’s magnetosphere called geomagnetic storms. These storms can be associated with beautiful auroral displays but they can also cause unwanted electrical currents to flow through ground-based systems, such as power grids.
We have set up the Magnetometer Network of Ireland (MagIE) to monitor geomagnetic storms in near-realtime and to give warnings of geomagnetic storms in Ireland. We have also developed theoretical models to predict the electric fields and currents generated in response to magnetic variations across Ireland and the UK, in collaboration with the British Geological Survey and the UK Met Office.

SolarMonitor.org
SolarMonitor.org is a leading on-line tool which automatically reads, calibrates and displays solar data from numerous ground- and space-based observing platforms. SolarMonitor not only acts as a source for distributing data, but provides secondary products such as region flaring probabilities, which are essential to satellite operators, human space-flight, military operations, and the communications industry in general. We have received over 20 million visitors to the site since its launch.
Astronomy and Astrophysics
DIAS will host a number of Summer Studentships in 2021,which are now open for application✍️ 💫DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics closes on 23rd April 2021📡 #DIASdiscovers #jobfairy #studentships #astrophysics RTs encouraged! @PhysicsNUIG @tcdastro @UCD_physics @WITPhysics twitter.com/DIASAstronomy/… Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
@DIASAstronomy and @DIASDunsink have a nice Citizen Science project ongoing in relation to meteors. Learn more here: dunsink.dias.ie/citizen-scienc… (2/2) #DIASdiscovers #darkskies #CitizenScience Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
We are delighted to announce that the DIAS Astrophysics Summer Studentship programme is now open! Read how to apply on our website: dias.ie/astro-students… . Application deadline is 23rd April 2021.
Got a minute? - We'd really appreciate your help and insight into some of our activities. Survey takes about 3 minutes and closes tomorrow Friday 02 April. ➡️surveymonkey.com/r/NC92H86 - 🔃RTs encouraged! 🔃Many Thanks! #DIASdiscovers #IAS #survey #insights #comms Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
Did you miss the IOP Tyndall Lecture on Monday with @DIASAstronomy's @petertgallagher ? Great news it's now available on YouTube. #DIASdiscovers twitter.com/IOP_Ireland/st… Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
Did you catch Head of @DIASAstronomy @petertgallagher on @TodayFM on Monday? DIAS has an ongoing #CitizenScience meteorites project. Have you seen something in the sky? Tell us more: dunsink.dias.ie/citizen-scienc… todayfm.com/podcasts/dermo… #DIASdiscovers #Meteorite #aurora #solar Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
We are collaborators with @MetEireann and @DIASAstronomy in 'Space Weather' research and we are recording natural magnetic and electric field variations in County Kerry to assist this exciting research. #DIASdiscovers #worldmetday Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
Have you ever wondered are alone in the Universe? 👽🛸 Join our #SpringEquinox chat w Dr Andrew Siemion leading the effort to ans that q @BerkeleySETI Learn about collab w Irish researchers to search for life beyond Earth FREE & suitable for all Info & tix lofar.ie/springequinox2… Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
@Ollopa Hi! please find the unroll here: Happy International Women's Day from all of us in DIAS Astrophysics.… threadreaderapp.com/thread/1368900… Share this if you think it's interesting. 🤖 Retweeted by DIAS Astronomy & Astrophysics
Aoife Ryan @aoife_m_ryan is a DIAS/TCD PhD student using LOFAR to study the structure of the solar corona dias.ie/2018/10/25/ast…
Maria Moutzouri @MMoutzouri is a PhD Student studying shocks around massive stars using radio telescopes dias.ie/cp-geophysics/…
Eileen Flood @EileenFloodRyan is a Technical Officer, proving technical support for researchers and students in the Astrophysics Section.
Ciara Maguire @ciara_a_maguire is a PhD Student at DIAS/TCD using LOFAR to study solar radio bursts and shocks in the solar corona dias.ie/2018/12/14/cia…
Dr Alexandra Fogg studios the solar wind and how it interacts with the Earth's magnetosphere and ionosphere dias.ie/2021/01/15/ast…
Camile Stock is a DIAS/TCD PhD Student working in the star formation group dias.ie/2017/10/19/ast…
Marie Nelisson is a Hamilton Scholar PhD Student working in the star formation group dias.ie/2018/10/25/ast…
Prof. Antonella Natta is an Honorary Professor at DIAS working on star and planet formation, circumstellar disks dias.ie/2010/08/19/ast…
Dr Pauline McGinnis is a Research Fellow working on the ERC-funded EASY project studying ejection and accretion Structures in young stellar objects dias.ie/2019/09/06/dr-…
Dr Sophie Murray @drsophiemurray is a solar and space weather expert working at DIAS and TCD, leading a number of international space weather forecasting activities dias.ie/2018/10/31/ast…
Dr Caitriona Jackman @cm_jackman leads the Planetary Magnetospheres Research Group working on data-intensive space physics from ESA and NASA spacecraft dias.ie/2019/11/27/pro…