This groundbreaking achievement will improve our understanding of the Sun’s atmosphere and shed light on how its changing conditions affect our technology-dependent society.
The Inouye Solar Telescope has released the first map of the magnetic field signal in the solar corona measured using the Zeeman effect. Image courtesy of NSF/NSO/AURA/NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory.
The Earth’s magnetic field protects us from the solar wind, protects our atmosphere and makes life possible.
But electromagnetic fields and high-energy particles from extreme solar activity could disrupt satellites, power grids, and other systems necessary for an increasingly technological society.
Understanding these dynamic interactions, which change on timescales ranging from days to centuries, is crucial to safeguarding our infrastructure and current ways of life.
Measuring the magnetic properties of the Sun’s corona, or outer atmosphere, has long challenged astronomers and the limits of technology.
today, Daniel K. Inouye Solar TelescopeLocated near the summit of Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui, the facility is a state-of-the-art facility designed to study coronas.
The satellite has produced the first and most detailed map of the coronal magnetic field to date, taking an important first step in solving these mysteries.
“Inoue’s achievements in mapping the Sun’s coronal magnetic field are a testament to the innovative design and capabilities of this pioneering and unique observatory,” said Dr. Tom Shad, NSF National Solar Observatory investigator.
“This groundbreaking discovery is expected to greatly improve our understanding of the Sun’s atmosphere and its impact on the solar system.”
The researchers used the Zeeman effect, which measures magnetic properties by observing the splitting of spectral lines, to create a detailed map of the magnetic field of the solar corona.
“Spectral lines are distinct lines that appear at particular wavelengths in the electromagnetic spectrum and represent light absorbed or emitted by atoms and molecules,” they explained.
“These lines are unique to each atom and molecule and act like a fingerprint. By looking at the spectrum, scientists can determine the chemical composition and physical properties of an object.”
“When exposed to a magnetic field like the Sun’s, these lines split apart, giving us insight into the magnetic properties of the object.”
Previous attempts to detect such signals, last reported 20 years ago, have lacked the detail and regularity needed for widespread scientific investigation.
Now, Inouye’s unparalleled capabilities make it possible to study these important signals in detail and on a regular basis.
The solar corona can usually only be seen during a total solar eclipse, when most of the Sun’s light is blocked and Earth’s sky becomes dark.
But the Inouye Telescope uses a technique called coronagraphy to create an artificial eclipse that allows it to detect extremely faint polarized signals, highlighting its unparalleled sensitivity and cementing its status as a unique window into viewing our home star.
This telescope is Cryogenic near-infrared spectropolarimeter (Cryo-NIRSP) is one of the telescope’s main instruments used to study the corona and map its magnetic field.
“Just as detailed maps of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere have improved the accuracy of weather forecasts, this remarkably complete map of the magnetic field of the Sun’s corona will help us more accurately predict solar storms and space weather,” said Dr. Carrie Black, program director for NSF’s National Solar Observatory.
“The invisible yet incredibly powerful forces captured in this map will continue to drive solar physics for the next century and beyond.”
“Mapping the strength of the corona’s magnetic field is a fundamental scientific advance not only for solar research but for astronomy in general,” said Dr. Christoph Keller, director of the National Solar Observatory.
“This marks the beginning of a new era in understanding how stars’ magnetic fields affect planets in our solar system and the thousands of exoplanetary systems currently known.”
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This article has been edited from an original release by the National Solar Observatory.
Source: www.sci.news
