GROUND-BASED SOLAR RESEARCH: AN ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY FOR THE FUTURE -- Copyright -- Preface -- Acknowledgment of Reviewers -- Contents -- Executive Summary -- THE ROLE OF GROUND-BASED PROGRAMS IN SOLAR RESEARCH -- THE CURRENT U.S. GROUND-BASED SOLAR RESEARCH PROGRAM -- Major Solar Observational Facilities -- Data, Theory, and Modeling -- People, Programs, and Institutions -- A STRATEGY TO STRENGTHEN GROUND-BASED SOLAR RESEARCH -- Recommendations Regarding Facilities -- Recommendations Regarding Data, People, Programs, and Institutions -- Chapter 1 Ground-based Solar Research: A Scientific Synopsis -- THE SUN AMONG STARS -- SCIENTIFIC CHALLENGES FOR SOLAR RESEARCH -- THE ROLE OF GROUND-BASED PROGRAMS IN A BALANCED PROGRAM OF SOLAR RESEARCH -- Chapter 2 Assessment of Current and Approved Ground-based Solar Research Programs -- MAJOR SOLAR OBSERVATIONAL FACILITIES -- The National Solar Observatory -- NSO Sacramento Peak -- NSO Kitt Peak -- The Global Oscillations Network Group -- Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigation of the Sun -- Other Major Solar Optical Observatories -- Big Bear Solar Observatory -- High Altitude Observatory-Mauna Loa Solar Observatory -- Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory -- Marshall Space Flight Center -- Mees Solar Observatory -- Mt. Wilson Observatory-University of California at Los Angeles -- Mt. Wilson Observatory-University of Southern California -- San Fernando Solar Observatory -- U.S. Air Force Solar Optical Observing Network -- Wilcox Solar Observatory-Stanford University -- Major Solar Radio Observatories -- Owens Valley Radio Observatory -- Very Large Array -- Berkeley Illinois Maryland Association -- Solar Optical Observatories Outside the United States -- Huairou Solar Station -- Hida Observatory -- Hiraiso Solar Terrestrial Research Center -- Kanzelhöhe Solar Observatory.

Kiepenheuer Institute for Solar Physics -- Lomnicky Stit Observatory -- Observatoire de Meudon -- National Astronomical Observatory of Japan -- Pic-du-Midi -- Rome Astronomical Observatory -- Teide Observatory -- Télescope Héliographique pour l'Etude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires -- Selected Solar Radio Telescopes Outside the United States -- Nançay Radioheliograph -- Nobeyama Solar Radio Telescope -- Discussion -- DATA, THEORY, AND MODELING -- PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, AND INSTITUTIONS -- The Demographics of Ground-based Solar Research -- The Fiscal Context for Ground-based Solar Research -- Research Bases -- Chapter 3 Strategy for the Future -- RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING FACILITIES -- SOLIS -- GONG -- Advanced Solar Telescope -- Rationale for the AST -- Development of Adaptive Optics -- Cost of the AST -- Siting of the AST -- International Collaboration and the AST -- Timetable for AST Development -- Exploratory Development-FASR -- RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING DATA, PEOPLE, PROGRAMS, AND INSTITUTIONS -- Toward a New National Solar Observatory -- People, Programs, and Institutions -- Appendixes -- Appendix A Statement of Task -- Prospects for Ground-Based Solar Research -- Appendix B Meeting Agendas -- APRIL 28-30, 1997, MEETING -- JULY 28-30, 1997, MEETING -- SEPTEMBER 22-24, 1997, MEETING -- Appendix C Task Group Biographies -- Appendix D A Primer on the Sun -- THE SOLAR CORONA -- THE MAGNETIC CYCLE -- ENERGETIC PARTICLES -- SOLAR INTERIOR -- SOLAR NEUTRINOS -- THE SOLAR DRIVER -- SOLAR SURFACE AND ATMOSPHERE -- FLARES -- MASS LOSS -- SOLAR VARIABILITY -- SUN-EARTH CONNECTIONS -- Appendix E A Frequency-Agile Solar Radio Telescope -- WHAT IS FASR? -- WHY FASR? -- MAIN SCIENCE OBJECTIVES -- KEY ARRAY CHARACTERISTICS -- KEY RECEIVER CHARACTERISTICS -- KEY IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS -- OPERATION.

Appendix F The Demographics of Ground-based Solar Research -- Appendix G Summary of the NSF FY 1998 Funding for Solar and Solar-related Research -- OVERVIEW -- Appendix H A Large-Aperture Solar Telescope -- A LARGE-APERTURE SOLAR TELESCOPE - SOME SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS -- Executive Summary -- 1 Introduction -- 1.1 Why Study the Sun? -- 1.2 Key Goals for Solar Research -- 2 Key Goals for a Large-Aperture Solar Telescope -- 3 Justification for a Large Aperture -- 3.1 Representative Goals Requiring High Resolution -- The Production and Nature of Strong Magnetic Field Intermittency -- Flare Energy Buildup and Release -- Origin of Fine Structure Above the Photosphere -- 4 Justification for Low Scattered Light -- 4.1 Representative Goals Requiring Low Scattered Light -- Coronal Magnetic Fields -- Testing Different Coronal Heating Mechanisms -- Testing the Rope Model of CMEs -- Prominences and Filaments -- 5 Justification for Access to the Thermal Infrared -- 5.1 Representative Goals Requiring the Infrared -- Weak Magnetic Fields: the Dark Matter of Solar Physics? -- The Origin of Chromospheres -- 5.2 Other Applications of Infrared Measurements -- Temperature -- Density -- Chemical Composition -- The Frontier -- 6 Technical Issues -- 6.1 Angular Resolution -- 6.2 Photon Flux -- 6.3 Low Scattered Light -- 6.4 Infrared -- 7 Conclusion -- Appendix I Infrared Solar Physics -- INFRARED SOLAR PHYSICS BEYOND 2.5 µM: WHY AND HOW -- 1 Summary -- 2 Two Key Scientific Goals -- 2.1 Weak Magnetic Fields: the Dark Matter of Solar Physics? -- 2.2 The Origin of Chromospheres -- 3 OTHER APPLICATIONS OF INFRARED MEASUREMENTS -- 3.1 Temperature -- 3.2 Density -- 3.3 Chemical Composition -- 4 THE FRONTIER -- 5 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS -- 6 NEAR-TERM SCIENTIFIC OBJECTIVES AT THE MCMATH-PIERCE -- REFERENCES -- Appendix J Solar Magnetism Initiative - A Synopsis.

SYNOPSIS -- PREFACE -- UNDERSTANDING THE SUN AS A SYSTEM: PROGRESS AND OPPORTUNITY -- THE SMI RECOMMENDATION -- SCIENTIFIC GOAL -- COMPONENTS OF THE SMI PROGRAM -- THE SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS -- The Solar Interior -- The Photosphere -- The Corona and Heliosphere -- PROSPECTIVE SMI FOCUS PROGRAMS -- INSTRUMENTATION AND OBSERVATIONS -- SMI DATASETS AND ANALYSIS -- MODELING -- COMPUTING REQUIREMENTS -- Appendix K Acronyms.