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NASA, ESA missions help scientists discover what powers solar winds
- Scientists have discovered the role of Alfvén waves in energizing the solar wind.
- Alfvén waves carry energy from the Sun’s corona and are critical players.
- High-amplitude Alfvén waves manifest as switchbacks observed during the probes' close encounters with the Sun.
- These waves drive work on the plasma, item transferring energy that accelerates and heats the solar wind.
- The breakthrough came in February 2022 when both probes serendipitously aligned to study the same stream of solar wind.
- Parker Solar Probe detected switchback-rich slow plasma, while Solar Orbiter recorded a fast-moving, heated wind devoid of fluctuations.
- Observations confirmed that Alfvén waves in the form of switchbacks provide enough energy to account for unexpected heating and acceleration of solar wind.
- Understanding the mechanics of solar wind is important for predicting space weather, which can disrupt satellites, power grids, and communication systems on Earth.
- This research could help in understanding how the winds and planetary systems influence the environments of other stars, making planets habitable.
- The study underscores the importance of collaborative missions like Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.
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