NASA probe data suggests a more complex sun's magnetic engine
Why it matters: Understanding this complex magnetic engine is critical for predicting hazardous space weather events that disrupt power grids and satellite systems.
- A Southwest Research Institute-led study found that protons and heavy ions exhibit different acceleration patterns during solar magnetic reconnection, contradicting existing models.
- NASA's Parker Solar Probe collected the crucial data by flying through the sun's corona, providing unique measurements of particle acceleration.
- Dr. Mihir Desai (SwRI), lead author, emphasizes that protons create scattering waves, while heavy ions maintain a beam-like trajectory, rewriting our understanding of reconnection.
- Magnetic reconnection is a universal phenomenon that converts magnetic energy into kinetic energy, powering solar events and impacting Earth's space weather.
New data from NASA's Parker Solar Probe reveals that the sun's magnetic engine is far more complex than previously understood, with protons and heavy ions reacting distinctly to magnetic reconnection events. While heavy ions shoot out in focused beams, protons generate waves that scatter subsequent particles, challenging current models that assume uniform particle behavior.
