Indian researchers using the Aditya-L1 mission, have made new breakthroughs in understanding Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)—massive bursts of solar plasma and magnetic fields ejected from the Sun’s outer atmosphere.
The findings published in 'The Astrophysical Journal Letters' provide key insights into the Sun’s corona and its influence on space weather.
On July 16, 2024, with the help of the spacecraft's Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC), researchers observed a CME—a massive release of solar wind and magnetic fields from the Sun's corona—occurring alongside a strong solar flare.
VELC allowed scientists to observe the Sun's atmosphere by focusing on light emitted at a specific green wavelength of 5303 Å. The unique "green light," emitted by iron atoms at extremely high temperatures in the solar corona (over one million degrees Celsius), enabled researchers to track the movement of solar material during the CME, revealing temperatures beyond one million degrees Celsius.
A CME releases large amounts of charged particles and plasma into space at speeds that can exceed millions of kilometers per hour. When it reaches Earth, it can interact with our magnetic field, potentially causing disturbances in satellite communications, GPS, and power grids.
The researchers observed that during the CME, the Sun's corona displayed "coronal dimming," where the brightness in a specific area dropped by about 50% due to the ejection of solar material. This dimming lasted for around six hours, providing valuable insights into the Sun’s dynamic processes.
The CME also led to a 30% rise in temperature in the surrounding region, accompanied by increased turbulence. They recorded heightened chaotic plasma movement, measuring at 24.87 km/s, indicating the Sun’s intensified magnetic activity during the event.
This turbulence, driven by the Sun’s magnetic fields, offers critical insights into the conditions leading to such eruptions.
Additionally, the CME’s ejected plasma was redshifted, moving away from the observer at a speed of 10 km/s, indicating that the Sun’s magnetic field had deflected it. This information is crucial for predicting the CME’s trajectory as it moves through the solar system, potentially affecting Earth and other planets.
The findings highlight Aditya-L1's crucial role in uncovering the mysteries of the Sun's corona, a region much hotter than its surface and a major influence on space weather.
These observations enhance our knowledge of solar activity and its extensive impact on the interplanetary environment, marking a significant milestone in India’s solar exploration efforts.
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