The 3-Dimensional Structure of the Corona and Solar Wind
(IMPACT's role in mapping interplanetary stream structure back to its source.) The twin STEREO spacecraft offer the possibility of relating features seen by the coronagraph on one spacecraft with structure in the slow solar wind detected by IMPACT on the other.

Origins of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
(IMPACT will help to solve the problem of CME genesis). IMPACT observations test models that predict how ICMEs from various CME generation mechanisms should differ. What is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)? The HESSI satellite's Principal Investigator Bob Lin explains (11.2 MB, .mov).
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Interplanetary Evolution of CME/ICME disturbances
(Understanding how CME's evolve between the Sun and 1 AU with IMPACT.) Questions about ICME evolution left unanswered because of the incompleteness of Sun-to-1 AU observations and models can be addressed by STEREO with IMPACT.

Coupling to Earth
(Investigating the "geoeffectiveness" of CME's imaged at the Sun with IMPACT.) Ground magnetic perturbations, levels of ionospheric disturbance, and auroral activity are just a few of the commonly used measures of the "geoeffectiveness" of interplanetary conditions. IMPACT observations in the STEREO configuration with an ever-widening baseline between spacecraft provide a controlled experiment for solar wind structures, including ICMEs and solar wind stream features.

SEP (Solar Energetic Particles) Acceleration and Transport
(IMPACT diagnostics of solar energetic particle (SEP) sources and CME connections.) IMPACT investigation will allow in-depth analysis of flare acceleration process signatures for contrast with ICME acceleration signatures. SEP electrons and radio bursts can be compared at two points. Mapping the onset times back to the Sun, we can remotely probe the structure of the injection site. STEREO IMPACT provides the opportunity to study abundances with SEP composition measurements.

The Solar Magnetic Flux Cycle
(Using IMPACT measurements to study the role of CME's in the solar cycle.) IMPACT magnetometer measurements during the ascending phase of next solar cycle(24) allow comparisons of the properties of the transient fields with those obtained by WIND during the previous cycle ascent and decline providing an improved basis for comparisons with solar dynamo models and their coronal counterparts. What are solar cycles and what is solar maximum about? Impact's Principal Investigator Janet Luhmann answers these questions and more in this short video clip (8.76 MB, .mov).
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Space Weather Applications
Impact will monitor and predict local space weather disturbances. Should we be concerned about Solar Max? In this short interview, Impact Principal Investigator Dr. Janet Luhmann tells us how Solar Max affects us on Earth (4.16 MB, .mov).
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Solar Energetic Particle Events
In this short interview, IMPACT Principal Investigator Dr. Janet Luhmann tells us how particles in the solar wind accelerate to dangerous speeds when a CME heads toward Earth. She explains the timing of the different parts of the CME: first these very fast particles, solar energetic particles (SEPs), reach Earth. Next, the CME arrives with the slower relatively high density particles and magnetic fields (5.91 MB, .mov).
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Getting a 3D Perspective
In this short interview, IMPACT Principal Investigator Dr. Janet Luhmann tells us about the benefit of using two spacecraft to study Coronal Mass Ejections. Images from two spacecraft can provide a three-dimensional view of the CME as it travels through the steady solar wind (2.47 MB, .mov).
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