The Ultraviolet Spectro-Coronagraph (UVSC) Pathfinder Experiment for the Remote Detection of Suprathermal Seed Particles: Instrument Status

The largest solar energetic particle (SEP) storms are produced by fast coronal mass ejection (CME) shocks. Efficient shock acceleration of ambient particles requires a near sun reservoir of suprathermal (proton) seed particles. However, the requisite seed particle reservoir has not been detected near the sun where CME shocks first appear. We are developing the Ultraviolet Spectro-Coronagraph (UVSC) Pathfinder space experiment to test for the presence or absence of the requisite suprathermal proton seed particle population within 3 solar radii of sun-center. In this poster, we present the instrument design concept, its development status, and the expected experimental results. The ultimate goal for the experiment is to demonstrate how such measurements can be used as a part of a future SEP space weather warning system. UVSC Pathfinder is scheduled to be launched in 2019 by the DoD Space Test Program. It is supported by funds from the Chief of Naval Research (via the NRL basic research program) and from NASA (via NDPR NNG13WF951 and NNH16AC29I).