ESA’s Solar Orbiter Reveals Origins of Energetic Solar Particles
The European Space Agency’s Solar Orbiter has made a breakthrough in understanding the origins of energetic particles emitted by the Sun. Launched in 2020 as a joint ESA-NASA mission, the probe has captured unprecedented images of the Sun’s poles and traced the sources of Solar Energetic Electrons (SEEs). These findings provide crucial vital information about space weather phenomena that impact Earth and space technology.
Solar Orbiter Mission Achievements
Solar Orbiter is the first spacecraft to image the Sun’s poles. It orbits closer to the Sun than any previous mission. Equipped with ten instruments, it measures solar wind and observes solar surface features remotely. Between November 2020 and December 2022, it detected over 300 bursts of energetic electrons. This data helps scientists link specific solar events to particle emissions.
Types of Solar Energetic Electrons
There are two main types of SEEs. The first type is associated with solar flares, which are sudden explosions on small patches of the Sun’s surface. The second type relates to coronal mass ejections (CMEs), large eruptions of plasma and magnetic fields from the Sun’s outer atmosphere. CMEs release particles gradually but carry higher energy and greater potential for disruption.
Tracing the Source of Energetic Particles
Solar Orbiter flew through streams of energetic electrons while simultaneously observing their solar sources. Scientists observed a delay between solar events and particle detection in space. This lag occurs due to the time taken for particles to escape the Sun and the scattering caused by turbulence in space. This was the first clear evidence linking energetic electrons in space to their solar origins.
Implications
Space weather includes solar flares, CMEs, solar particle events, and solar wind. These phenomena affect satellite communication, GPS navigation, and power grids on Earth. CMEs are particularly as they carry more energetic particles and pose greater risks to technology and astronauts. Understanding particle origins helps predict and mitigate these effects.
Future Prospects and Scientific Goals
Solar Orbiter aims to answer fundamental questions about the Sun’s behaviour. It studies the Sun’s 11-year magnetic cycle and the heating of its corona to millions of degrees. It also investigates how solar wind forms and accelerates to high speeds. These insights will improve knowledge of how solar activity influences Earth’s space environment.
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