Fundamental solar processes – such as the solar dynamo, magnetic field reconnection, atmospheric heating, solar flares, and space weather – are directly linked to the transport of magnetic fields by plasma flows. The transport in solar plasma can be quantified and assessed by identifying Lagrangian Coherent Structures (LCS), which are naturally created by the flow dynamics. LCS are unique surfaces in a fluid that can attract/repel nearby particles or shear and rotate fluid elements, helping to define the plasma flow and acting as transport barriers. LCS is well established for non-magnetised fluids, but existing methods have limited applicability regarding the Sun’s highly magnetised and dynamic environment. Thus, developing new ways to identify LCS in compressible and magnetised flows is essential to achieve breakthroughs in the investigation of solar/space plasma dynamics especially in the era of high-resolution space- and ground-based observations provided by, e.g. Hinode, Solar Orbiter, SUNRISE, IRIS, DKIST, SST. Our ISSI team will work on the development of new LCS methods for studying the Sun’s magnetic plasma flows. The main goal of this team is to answer a key question in solar physics:
How can dynamical, coherent structures, which act as building blocks of solar plasma flows, be identified?
By answering this question, we can gain new insights into the fundamental processes driving solar activity and space weather.