Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph (SNIFS)
NASA and international solar physicists aim to unlock the mysteries of the Sun’s chromosphere with the Solar EruptioN Integral Field Spectrograph (SNIFS). This mission targets the highly dynamic chromosphere, a vital layer in understanding solar activity and the heating of the solar corona.
The Chromosphere
The chromosphere is a thin, reddish layer between the Sun’s visible surface (photosphere) and its million-degree corona. It hosts solar flares, plasma jets, and intense energy flows. Temperatures here range from 6,000°C to over a million degrees Celsius. Understanding this region is key to solving why the corona is much hotter than the Sun’s surface.
The SNIFS Spectrograph
SNIFS is the first ultraviolet integral field spectrograph flown to study the Sun. It captures high-resolution spectral data across a full two-dimensional field of view. This creates a three-dimensional data set, with a complete spectrum for every pixel in real time. The instrument focuses on the hydrogen Lyman-alpha line, the brightest ultraviolet line from the Sun’s upper chromosphere.
Scientific Goals and Data Collection
By analysing the Lyman-alpha line, scientists can calculate plasma temperatures, velocities, and densities. The chromosphere’s complex magnetic and plasma interactions make it difficult to model. SNIFS aims to provide detailed observations to improve these models and clarify how energy moves through this layer to heat the corona.
Challenges in Chromosphere Observation
The chromosphere consists of ionised plasma with charged and neutral particles. Its behaviour under magnetic fields defies standard thermodynamic assumptions. This complexity has limited detailed study until now. Improved observations will help decode energy supply and dissipation mechanisms within this layer.
Collaborating Institutions and Mission Details
The mission involves NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the University of Colorado, and Queen’s University Belfast, UK. The sounding rocket flight will last less than ten minutes but promises to deliver unprecedented data on the chromosphere’s dynamics. This brief window is critical for capturing real-time solar activity.
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