Abstract

We have developed a suite of forward-modeling IDL codes (FORWARD) to convert analytic models or simulation data cubes into coronal observables, allowing a direct comparison with observations. Observables such as extreme ultraviolet, soft X-ray, white light, and polarization images from the Corona... Show moreWe have developed a suite of forward-modeling IDL codes (FORWARD) to convert analytic models or simulation data cubes into coronal observables, allowing a direct comparison with observations. Observables such as extreme ultraviolet, soft X-ray, white light, and polarization images from the Coronal Multichannel Polarimeter (CoMP) can be reproduced. The observer's viewpoint is also incorporated in the FORWARD analysis and the codes can output the results in a variety of forms in order to easily create movies, Carrington maps, or simply observable information at a particular point in the plane of the sky. We present a newly developed front end to the FORWARD codes which utilizes IDL widgets to facilitate ease of use by the solar physics community. Our ultimate goal is to provide as useful a tool as possible for a broad range of scientific applications. Show less