Recent research gives SwRI scientists a close-up view of the energetic
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SAN ANTONIO — May 15, 2023 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists observe the first close-up of a source of energetic particles ejected from the Sun, viewing them from just half an astronomical unit (AU), or about 46.5 million miles. This high-resolution image of the solar event was provided by ESA’s Solar Orbiter, a solar observing satellite launched in 2020.
“In 2022, the Solar Orbiter detected six repeated injections of energetic ions. Particles radiate along jets, signatures of magnetic reconnection involving field lines opening into interplanetary space,” said Dr. Radoslav Bucik of SwRI, lead author of a new study published this month in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters. “The Solar Orbiter often detects this type of activity, but this period shows a very unusual elemental composition.”
In a single injection of ions, the intensity of the rare isotope Helium-3 exceeds that of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the Sun, and its iron content is similar to that of the isotope Helium-4, the second most abundant element in the Sun. . In another injection two days later, the amount of Helium-3 had significantly decreased to an almost negligible amount.
“Our analysis shows that elemental and spectral variations in repeated injections are associated with the shape of the beam, the size of the beam source, and the distribution of the underlying photospheric field that evolves over time,” said Bucik. “We believe that understanding the variability in the repeated occurrence of a single source explains the acceleration mechanism in solar flares.”
The observations made by the Solar Orbiter are unique in that propagation effects that can affect abundance can be minimized near the Sun. A distance of only 0.5 AU has given scientific teams an incredibly detailed view of solar events.
“When we are closer, we have much better spatial resolution,” said Bucik. “We were able to gain more insight into the source of these energetic particles because we were able to see the internal structures associated with the accelerating process as the injection progresses. Observations from twice that distance, 1 AU, don’t really compare.”
Bucik and his colleagues hope to learn even more from Solar Orbiter’s closest approach to the Sun at 0.3 AU.
“This observation can help predict solar energetic particle events in the future,” said Bucik. “These particles can damage satellites and equipment and potentially harm astronauts. We want to understand how they accelerate away from the Sun and what are the acceleration conditions.”
The paper “Repeat 3Rich injection of solar energetic particles observed by Solar Orbiter at ~0.5 au,” appears in Astronomy & Astrophysics (Letter to the Editor): https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&doi=10.1051/0004 -6361/202345875
For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/heliophysics.
Credit: Southwest Research Institute
SAN ANTONIO — May 15, 2023 — Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) scientists observe the first close-up of a source of energetic particles ejected from the Sun, viewing them from just half an astronomical unit (AU), or about 46.5 million miles. This high-resolution image of the solar event was provided by ESA’s Solar Orbiter, a solar observing satellite launched in 2020.
“In 2022, the Solar Orbiter detected six repeated injections of energetic ions. Particles radiate along jets, signatures of magnetic reconnection involving field lines opening into interplanetary space,” said Dr. Radoslav Bucik of SwRI, lead author of a new study published this month in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters. “The Solar Orbiter often detects this type of activity, but this period shows a very unusual elemental composition.”
In a single injection of ions, the intensity of the rare isotope Helium-3 exceeds that of hydrogen, the most abundant element in the Sun, and its iron content is similar to that of the isotope Helium-4, the second most abundant element in the Sun. . In another injection two days later, the amount of Helium-3 had significantly decreased to an almost negligible amount.
“Our analysis shows that elemental and spectral variations in repeated injections are associated with the shape of the beam, the size of the beam source, and the distribution of the underlying photospheric field that evolves over time,” said Bucik. “We believe that understanding the variability in the repeated occurrence of a single source explains the acceleration mechanism in solar flares.”
The observations made by the Solar Orbiter are unique in that propagation effects that can affect abundance can be minimized near the Sun. A distance of only 0.5 AU has given scientific teams an incredibly detailed view of solar events.
“When we are closer, we have much better spatial resolution,” said Bucik. “We were able to gain more insight into the source of these energetic particles because we were able to see the internal structures associated with the accelerating process as the injection progresses. Observations from twice that distance, 1 AU, don’t really compare.”
Bucik and his colleagues hope to learn even more from Solar Orbiter’s closest approach to the Sun at 0.3 AU.
“This observation can help predict solar energetic particle events in the future,” said Bucik. “These particles can damage satellites and equipment and potentially harm astronauts. We want to understand how they accelerate away from the Sun and what are the acceleration conditions.”
The paper “Repeat 3Rich injection of solar energetic particles observed by Solar Orbiter at ~0.5 au,” appears in Astronomy & Astrophysics (Letter to the Editor): https://www.aanda.org/component/article?access=doi&doi=10.1051/0004 -6361/202345875
For more information, visit https://www.swri.org/heliophysics.
DOI
10.1051/0004-6361/202345875
Research methods
observational study
Research Subjects
Not applicable
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