Scientists have made a breakthrough in unraveling the mystery of the Sun's excessive heat. They have directly detected invisible magnetic waves—Alfvén waves—in the Sun's outer layer, the corona, for the first time. These waves are generated by the motions of the Sun's interior and transfer energy to the outer layers. As a result, the Sun's outer layer is millions of degrees hotter than its surface.
-This discovery helps explain the million-degree temperature of the sun's corona
The observation was made using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, the world's largest solar telescope.
The study was led by Professor Richard Morton of Northumbria University in the UK. The research report says that using the telescope's advanced technology, the Cryogenic Near Infrared Spectropolarimeter, scientists were able to detect tiny twisting movements in the sun's hot plasma.
Professor Morton said that it is like finding a missing link after decades of research. The research is published in the international journal Nature Astronomy.
Nobel laureate Hannes Alfvén first proposed the concept of Alfvén waves in 1942. He showed that these waves move through a magnetic field like the vibrations of a guitar string. Although these waves have been seen during large solar storms, this is the first time that scientists have directly detected these tiny and permanent 'torsional Alfvén waves' in the regular environment of the sun.
The researchers say their new analysis method allows them to distinguish the effects of these waves from other motions in the sun's plasma. It shows changes in red and blue, indicating whether the waves are moving towards or away from Earth.
The discovery helps explain the million-degree temperatures in the sun's corona and provides new insights into the origin of the solar wind, which is emitted from the sun. The international study, funded by the UK, China and the European Union, will play a key role in future solar energy research and space weather forecasting.
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