April 19, 2024

How Crazy Magnetic Fields Drive the Sun Mad

Typically the Sun has a fairly sedate but effective magnetic field. As the Sun rotates it can tangle up that magnetic field, requiring the field lines to twist up on themselves into thick ropes.
We can see when the electromagnetic fields get incredibly tangled, since when bundles of magnetic field lines pierce the surface we see it as a sunspot. Eventually these twisted magnetic field lines get so captured up in themselves that they snap, releasing a huge amount of energy. This is the system behind the release of solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

Solar coronal jets are quick moving plumes of plasma that appear suddenly from the polar areas of the Sun. Astronomers think that these assistance warm up the solar corona, however the physics behind the development of these jets is improperly comprehended. Recently a team of astronomers have utilized observations with the Solar Dynamic Observatory and the Solar Orbiter to find that numerous intertwining magnetic fields that reconnect and connect can power these fast moving jets.

Remove All Ads on Universe Today

Join our Patreon for as low as $3!

Get the ad-free experience for life

A group of astronomers recently used multiple wavelengths of radiation to study jets at various times with both the Solar Orbiter spacecraft and the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Solar coronal jets are quick moving plumes of plasma that erupt all of a sudden from the polar regions of the Sun. Astronomers believe that these aid heat up the solar corona, however the physics behind the formation of these jets is badly comprehended. Just recently a group of astronomers have used observations with the Solar Dynamic Observatory and the Solar Orbiter to find that numerous linking magnetic fields that reconnect and link can power these fast moving jets.

And comparable procedures are most likely behind coronal jets, a minimum of according to brand-new observations. A group of astronomers just recently used numerous wavelengths of radiation to study jets at various times with both the Solar Orbiter spacecraft and the Solar Dynamics Observatory. They found that the bulk of the product in the jet was moving between 100 and 200 km/s, but with a few of the features within the jet reaching speeds of over 700 km/s.
They also observed kinks, bends, and pinches in the jet. The team interpreted these features as places where the magnetic field is pinching highly on the jet or in the process of breaking, where it can launch its energy to continue powering the plasma.
This research assists possibly comprehend the nature of the solar corona. The corona is the thin, tenuous atmosphere that extends beyond the surface area of the Sun. Regardless of its country miles from the solar surface, it has a temperature level of over a million Kelvin. Thats much hotter than the surface area of the Sun itself. Astronomers do not yet totally comprehend how the corona gets so hot. But observations like these recommend that coronal jets may contribute, due to the fact that they release a huge amount of energy directly into that region.
Like this: Like Loading …