Astronomers managed to capture the break in the lines of the solar magnetic field, which is caused by a loop-shaped prominence. Research results are published in an article in The Astrophysical Journal.
Observations were made by astrophysicists from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration at the Solar Dynamic Observatory. In this case, the latest equipment was used.
The change in the magnetic field of the Sun is caused by the so-called loop-shaped prominence. This is a dense clot of a substance having a relatively lower temperature. It is located for some time above the chromosphere. When a star closest to us falls onto the surface, it causes a shift in the lines of the magnetic field. The temperature at the center of the discharge could reach 2 million degrees. This is several times higher than the temperature at the epicenter of a nuclear explosion.
Astrophysicists have long known that as a result of the formation of loop-like prominences, changes in the magnetic field of the star are possible. Observations of them have been conducted for 15 years. Many processes taking place on the Sun are still a mystery to scientists. Recently, they managed to see for the first time what a break in the magnetic field looks like.
The phenomenon has been called internal reconnection. This distinguishes it from the so-called spontaneous reconnections. Interestingly, they can be observed both on the Sun and on Earth.
Presumably, this discovery will help to find out what is the source of such enormous heat in the solar corona. This outer layer of the star’s atmosphere is thousands of times higher than the photosphere — the shell of the Sun visible from Earth, emitting bright light. But its temperature is about 6 thousand. A temperature of several million degrees is not the only secret of this shell.
Interestingly, the magnetic field lines of the nearest star are impossible to see. But they succumb to the effects of superheated particles of ionized plasma, which is located on the Sun. The latest equipment made it possible to study in more detail the behavior of ionized high-temperature plasma.
Understanding the nature of the rupture of the magnetic field will help to understand how the atmosphere of the Sun is arranged. It will also make it possible to make space "weather", in particular, magnetic storms, dangerous for our planet. It is likely that different types of changes in the lines of the magnetic field of the Sun are far from the only phenomena occurring on the Sun.
The set of processes taking place on the Sun affects all life on our planet and the operation of all devices. The solar corona is one of the most mysterious shells of our day star. Studying the behavior of the solar corona, as well as the solar wind and magnetic storms will help prevent possible chaos on our planet as a result of a possible strongest disturbance of the Earth's magnetic field.
