Rationale 
High-resolution observations of the Sun are essential for understanding the physical processes that govern the structure, dynamics, and magnetic activity of the solar atmosphere. Fine-scale processes such as magnetoconvection, magnetic flux emergence and cancellation, active-region evolution, and magnetic reconnection govern how magnetic energy is stored, transported, and released through flares and eruptions, ultimately causing space weather. India's capability in this area is entering a decisive phase. The 50-cm Multi-Application Solar Telescope (MAST) at the Udaipur Solar Observatory has enabled high-resolution studies of the photosphere and chromosphere for the last few years. This capability is set to expand substantially, as the Government of India recently approved the National Large Solar Telescope (NLST), a 2-meter-class facility to be built by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at Merak in Ladakh. NLST will be one of India's most important ground-based solar observatories, will complement the space-based Aditya-L1 mission, and is expected to become operational within the next few years.

With NLST now moving from a proposed facility to a funded project, this is an opportune time to begin building the community that will use it, particularly students and early-career researchers who will need to formulate science questions, design observations, and analyze high-resolution data once the facility becomes operational. Because that kind of readiness takes years to build, preparation needs to start well ahead of commissioning. This workshop is designed to begin that process.

Workshop Objectives

  • Introduce key open questions in solar physics that require high spatial, temporal, spectral, and polarimetric resolution.
  • Familiarize participants with the techniques, instrumentation, and challenges of ground-based high-resolution solar observations, including adaptive optics and spectropolarimetry.
  • Connect fine-scale photospheric/chromospheric processes to flare and eruption initiation and the solar origins of space weather.
  • Give participants hands-on experience with analyzing high-resolution solar data.
  • Strengthen community preparedness for MAST and NLST facilities, with special encouragement for student participation.

Program

Four thematic sessions will combine invited/tutorial talks with discussion: three one-hour presentation-based sessions followed by a dedicated ~2-hour hands-on/interactive session.

Session 1 – Science Drivers for High-Resolution Solar Observations: Magnetoconvection, small-scale magnetic structures, flux emergence and cancellation, active-region evolution, chromospheric dynamics, and reconnection, etc.
Session 2 – Ground-Based Instrumentation: Capabilities and Challenges: Atmospheric seeing, aperture and resolution, adaptive optics and image reconstruction, imaging spectropolarimetry, and magnetic-field measurements, drawing on MAST experience and opportunities with NLST.
Session 3 – From Magnetic Fine Structure to the Solar Origins of Space Weather: Magnetic flux evolution, energy buildup and release, active-region complexity, reconnection, and flare/eruption signatures, including coordinated ground-based and space-based observations.
Session 4 – Hands-on: From Science Questions to Observations and Data: Small-group exercises on designing a high-resolution observing program and a guided tutorial using real solar datasets, covering calibration, image reconstruction, basic analysis, and interpretation.

Target Participants and Expected Numbers
The workshop primarily targets PhD students, postdoctoral researchers, and early-career scientists working in or interested in solar physics, solar instrumentation, and space-weather science. We expect approximately 50 participants, inclusive of organizers and resource persons.

Tentative Speakers
Speakers will be drawn from researchers working on MAST and NLST- related instrumentation, as well as solar and space-weather science, from institutes such as IIA, USO, IUCAA, ARIES, IISERs, and IITs, to give participants a broad view of current capabilities and future opportunities.

Organizing Institutes
Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru; Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO), Udaipur; Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital

Organizers
Wageesh Mishra (IIA, Bengaluru), Ravindra B. (IIA, Bengaluru), S. P. Rajaguru (IIA, Bengaluru),
Shibu K. Mathew (USO-PRL, Udaipur), Raja Bayanna (USO-PRL, Udaipur), and S. Krishna
Prasad (ARIES, Nainital)