The image of the Solar Orbiter Probe helps explain the “switches” that direct the sun’s magnetic fields

Images collected by the Solar Orbiter helped decipher another mystery of the universe. This time, clues about the origin of a magnetic phenomenon and how its physical formation process can help accelerate the solar wind. This phenomenon has already been identified as Solar recoilor switch, in Portuguese.

Solar Orbiter managed to capture The first image in the history of one of these sudden oscillations, in the direction of the magnetic field in the solar corona. “The new observation provides a complete view of the structure, and in this case confirms that it has an S-shape,” the scientists already predicted. The European Space Agency adds that “the global perspective provided by the Solar Orbiter data indicates that these rapidly changing magnetic fields may have their origin near the surface of the Sun.”

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in Photos were taken on March 25, 2022when the Solar Orbiter was only a day away from a pass close to the Sun, and it was captured with the Metis instrument, which blocks the glare of the Sun’s surface, in order to image the Sun’s outer atmosphere, known as the corona.

The scientist who observed the picture, Danielle Teloni do The National Institute of Astrophysics – Astrophysical Observatory in Turin, Italy, believes that it could be a reflection of solar energy, which has been confirmed.

Pictures revealed a A phenomenon that occurs over an active area, classified as AR 12972, is characterized by sunspots and magnetic activity. Near the Sun, especially above the active regions, there are open and closed magnetic field lines.

“in closed lines They are magnetic rings that elongate in the solar atmosphere before disappearing back into the sun. Very little plasma can escape into space above these lines, so the speed of the solar wind tends to be slow here.”

“in Open field lines It is the opposite, emanating from the sun and associated with the interplanetary magnetic field of the solar system. They are magnetic highways along which plasmas can flow freely and lead to fast solar winds. “

An investigation of photos collected in March showed that Changes in magnetic field direction occur when there is an interaction between the region of the open field lines and the region of the closed field lines.. When lines cluster together, they can reconnect in more stable configurations. “A bit like breaking a whip, this releases energy and causes an S-shaped turbulence that travels into space,” Also refers to the European Space Agency.

Remember to file Solar Orbiter aims to study the relationship between the Sun and the heliospherethe space “bubble” that extends beyond the planets of the solar system.
This “bubble” is filled with electrically charged particles, most of which are expelled by the Sun, forming the solar wind. The motion of these particles and their associated solar magnetic fields create the atmospheric conditions of space, as described in the ESA blog.

The images that made it possible to access this new data were Captured in March Closer than ever to the sun to gather scientific information. The next major approach of the sun is sunset on October 13.