Ainar Drews

• Drews, Ainar & Voort, Luc Rouppe van der (2020). A multi-diagnostic spectral analysis of penumbral microjets. Astronomy and Astrophysics (A & A). ISSN 0004-6361. 638. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202037911. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Context. Penumbral microjets (PMJs) are short-lived, jet-like objects found in the penumbra of sunspots. They were first discovered in chromospheric lines and have later also been shown to exhibit signals in transition region (TR) lines. Their origin and manner of evolution is not yet settled. Aims. We perform a comprehensive analysis of PMJs through the use of spectral diagnostics that span from photospheric to TR temperatures to constrain PMJ properties. Methods We employed high-spatial-resolution Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope observations in the Ca II 8542 Å and H α lines, IRIS slit-jaw images, and IRIS spectral observations in the Mg II h & k lines, the Mg II 2798.75 Å & 2798.82 Å triplet blend, the C II 1334 Å & 1335 Å lines, and the Si IV 1394 Å & 1403 Å lines. We derived a wide range of spectral diagnostics from these and investigated other secondary phenomena associated with PMJs. Results. We find that PMJs exhibit varying degrees of signal in all of our studied spectral lines. We find low or negligible Doppler velocities and velocity gradients throughout our diagnostics and all layers of the solar atmosphere associated with these. Dark features in the inner wings of H α and Ca II 8542 Å imply that PMJs form along pre-existing fibril structures. We find evidence for upper photospheric heating in a subset of PMJs through emission in the wings of the Mg II triplet lines. There is little evidence for ubiquitous twisting motion in PMJs. There is no marked difference in onset-times for PMJ brightenings in different spectral lines. Conclusions. PMJs most likely exhibit only very modest mass-motions, contrary to earlier suggestions. We posit that PMJs form at upper photospheric or chromospheric heights at pre-existing fibril structures.

• Voort, Luc Rouppe van der; Pontieu, Bart Walter De; Carlsson, Mats; Rodriguez, Jaime de la Cruz; Bose, Souvik & Chintzoglou, Georgios [Show all 33 contributors for this article] (2020). High-resolution observations of the solar photosphere, chromosphere, and transition region: A database of coordinated IRIS and SST observations. Astronomy and Astrophysics (A & A). ISSN 0004-6361. 641. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/202038732. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) provides high-resolution observations of the solar atmosphere through ultraviolet spectroscopy and imaging. Since the launch of IRIS in June 2013, we have conducted systematic observation campaigns in coordination with the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope (SST) on La Palma. The SST provides complementary high-resolution observations of the photosphere and chromosphere. The SST observations include spectropolarimetric imaging in photospheric Fe  I lines and spectrally resolved imaging in the chromospheric Ca  II 8542 Å, H α , and Ca  II K lines. We present a database of co-aligned IRIS and SST datasets that is open for analysis to the scientific community. The database covers a variety of targets including active regions, sunspots, plages, the quiet Sun, and coronal holes.

• Pozuelo, Sara Esteban; Rodriguez, Jaime de la Cruz; Drews, Ainar; Voort, Luc Rouppe van der; Scharmer, Göran B. & Carlsson, Mats (2019). Observationally Based Models of Penumbral Microjets. The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ). ISSN 0004-637X. 870(2). doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/aaf28a. Full text in Research Archive
• Voort, Luc Rouppe van der & Drews, Ainar (2019). Penumbral microjets at high spatial and temporal resolution. Astronomy and Astrophysics (A & A). ISSN 0004-6361. 626. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201935343. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Context. Sunspot observations in chromospheric spectral lines have revealed short-lived linear bright transients that are commonly referred to as penumbral microjets (PMJs). Details on the origin and physical nature of PMJs are to a large extend still unknown. Aims. We aim to characterize the dynamical nature of PMJs to provide guidance for future modeling efforts. Methods. We analyzed high spatial (0.̋1) and temporal resolution (1 s) Ca II H filtergram (0.1 nm bandwidth) observations of a sunspot that were obtained on two consecutive days with the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope. Results. We find that PMJs appear to be the rapid brightening of an already existing (faint) fibril. The rapid brightening is the fast increase (typically less than 10 s) in intensity over significant length (several hundreds of kilometers) of the existing fibril. For most PMJs, no clear root or source from where the brightening appears to originate can be identified. After the fast onset, about half of the PMJs have tops that move with an apparent velocity of between 5 and 14 km s−1, most of them upward. No significant motion of the top is observed in the other PMJs. About one-third of the PMJs split into two parallel and coevolving linear features during the later phases of their lifetimes. Conclusions. We conclude that mass flows can play only a limited role in the onset phase of PMJs. It is more likely that we see the effect of a fast heating front. ESO 2019

• Drews, Ainar & Voort, Luc Rouppe van der (2017). Microjets in the penumbra of a sunspot. Astronomy and Astrophysics (A & A). ISSN 0004-6361. 602. doi: 10.1051/0004-6361/201630312. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Context. Penumbral microjets (PMJs) are short-lived jets found in the penumbra of sunspots, first observed in wide-band Ca ii H line observations as localized brightenings, and are thought to be caused by magnetic reconnection. Earlier work on PMJs has focused on smaller samples of by-eye selected events and case studies. Aims. It is our goal to present an automated study of a large sample of PMJs to place the basic statistics of PMJs on a sure footing and to study the PMJ Ca ii 8542 Å spectral profile in detail. Methods. High spatial resolution and spectrally well-sampled observations in the Ca ii 8542 Å line obtained from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST) were reduced by a principle component analysis and subsequently used in the automated detection of PMJs using the simple machine learning algorithm k-nearest neighbour. PMJ detections were verified with co-temporal Ca ii H line observations. Results. We find a total of 453 tracked PMJ events, 4253 PMJs detections tallied over all timeframes, and a detection rate of 21 events per timestep. From these, an average length, width and lifetime of 640 km, 210 km and 90 s are obtained. The average PMJ Ca ii 8542 Å line profile is characterized by enhanced inner wings, often in the form of one or two distinct peaks, and a brighter line core as compared to the quiet-Sun average. Average blue and red peak positions are determined at − 10.4 km s-1 and + 10.2 km s-1 offsets from the Ca ii 8542 Å line core. We find several clusters of PMJ hot-spots within the sunspot penumbra, in which PMJ events occur in the same general area repeatedly over time. Conclusions. Our results indicate smaller average PMJs sizes and longer lifetimes compared to previously published values, but with statistics still in the same orders of magnitude. The investigation and analysis of the PMJ line profiles strengthens the proposed heating of PMJs to transition region temperatures. The presented statistics on PMJs form a solid basis for future investigations and numerical modelling of PMJs. © ESO, 2017

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• Haraldsen, Ira Hebold; Hatlestad-Hall, Christoffer; Marra, Camillo; Renvall, Hanna; Maestú, Fernando & Acosta-Hernández, Jorge [Show all 69 contributors for this article] (2023). Intelligent digital tools for screening of brain connectivity and dementia risk estimation in people affected by mild cognitive impairment: the AI-Mind clinical study protocol. Frontiers in Neurorobotics. 17. doi: 10.3389/fnbot.2023.1289406. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  More than 10 million Europeans show signs of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a transitional stage between normal brain aging and dementia stage memory disorder. The path MCI takes can be divergent; while some maintain stability or even revert to cognitive norms, alarmingly, up to half of the cases progress to dementia within 5 years. Current diagnostic practice lacks the necessary screening tools to identify those at risk of progression. The European patient experience often involves a long journey from the initial signs of MCI to the eventual diagnosis of dementia. The trajectory is far from ideal. Here, we introduce the AI-Mind project, a pioneering initiative with an innovative approach to early risk assessment through the implementation of advanced artificial intelligence (AI) on multimodal data. The cutting-edge AI-based tools developed in the project aim not only to accelerate the diagnostic process but also to deliver highly accurate predictions regarding an individual’s risk of developing dementia when prevention and intervention may still be possible. AI-Mind is a European Research and Innovation Action (RIA H2020-SC1-BHC-06-2020, No. 964220) financed between 2021 and 2026. First, the AI-Mind Connector identifies dysfunctional brain networks based on high-density magneto- and electroencephalography (M/EEG) recordings. Second, the AI-Mind Predictor predicts dementia risk using data from the Connector, enriched with computerized cognitive tests, genetic and protein biomarkers, as well as sociodemographic and clinical variables. AIMind is integrated within a network of major European initiatives, including The Virtual Brain, The Virtual Epileptic Patient, and EBRAINS AISBL service for sensitive data, HealthDataCloud, where big patient data are generated for advancing digital and virtual twin technology development. AI-Mind’s innovation lies not only in its early prediction of dementia risk, but it also enables a virtual laboratory scenario for hypothesis-driven personalized intervention research. This article introduces the background of the AI-Mind project and its clinical study protocol, setting the stage for future scientific contribution.

• Drews, Ainar; Voort, Luc Rouppe van der & Carlsson, Mats (2021). On microjets in sunspot penumbrae. Universitetet i Oslo. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Penumbral microjets (PMJs) are intriguing flashes of light found in the twilight region of sunspots, the penumbra, and they have typical lengths of hundreds of kilometres. Quite some finesse is required to tease out the origins, precise properties, and how PMJs actually move through the Sun’s plasma. PMJs are likely caused by the process of magnetic reconnection, in which “tangled” magnetic field lines suddenly “snap” and realign, releasing energy. This process is typically associated with much larger solar flares. Accordingly, the study of PMJs offers insight into this process at a much smaller scale. The thesis focuses on highly detailed observations from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope and NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph. A wide range of advanced methods were used, including an automated detection scheme for PMJs involving the machine-learning algorithm k-Nearest Neighbour. Multiple sets of observations were analysed using detailed spectral diagnostics, ranging across many spectral lines. Ultimately, the work accomplished great strides forward in the characterization of PMJs, especially in how they move through the atmosphere and how they evolve in time.

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