Scientific Rationale

The Sun is the nearest star, and detailed knowledge on the Sun and the interplanetary space is a key to understanding of the stars and astrophysical plasmas. Solar and heliospheric physics has been experiencing spectacular advances recently, and new views on the Sun and the interplanetary space are emerging.

The major research targets of solar/stellar physics include the generation mechanism of magnetic fields (the dynamo mechanism), their manifestations on the one hand as the heating of the upper atmosphere and the generation of outflows (winds), and on the other hand as violent energy release of magnetic energy in the form of flare explosions. The disturbances from the Sun affect the environment of the earth (the space weather), and long-term variation of solar radiation may influence the climate of the earth.

The researches into the Sun's magnetic fields and their surface and interplanetary manifestations have been conducted by combining space missions, ground-based observations, theoretical studies and numerical simulations. The new data from space missions Hinode and STEREO, plus the upcoming SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory) mission will mark the beginning of a new era in solar physics research. The year 2009 is timely after three years of operation of both the Hinode and STEREO missions.

The ground-based solar telescopes are evolving into a new phase with one meter or bigger aperture and the state-of-the-art adaptive optics system to fully utilize their large aperture. The advances in computer technology have made it possible to simulate realistic plasma dynamics and radiation processes in the solar atmosphere in the computers. The combination of observational data and computer simulation results is a powerful tool for the understanding of basic physical processes in solar and astrophysical plasmas, and will even be more so in the future.

This is the third Hinode symposium following the Hinode-1 in Dublin (2007) and Hinode-2 in Boulder (2008). The symposium is not restricted to the Hinode-related researches but will include the recent results from other space missions, ground-based instruments, and theoretical researches. Prospects of the future missions and ground-based instrumentation will also be discussed.