Solar wind is streams of bound particles that fly in all directions from our luminary. Some time ago, the Parker Solar Probe detected the “switchbacks” phenomenon in the magnetic fields they generate.
Mysterious “switchbacks” in the solar wind
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has detected magnetic distortions in the solar wind known as switchbacks. To better understand these phenomena, the origin of which remains uncertain, a team of scientists conducted a study. This study, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics, shows that solar jets can create such perturbations without causing a complete reversal of the magnetic field.
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mission has detected the presence of switchbacks, sudden and rapid changes in the magnetic field in the solar wind. These peculiar phenomena, which are rarely observed near Earth, have captivated the scientific community because of their mysterious origin. The leading theory suggests that the switchbacks come from solar jets, which are ubiquitous in the Sun’s lower atmosphere.
Simulation of solar jets and its results
To investigate their origin, a team of researchers from LPP, LPC2E, FSLAC, the University of Dundee and the University of Durham performed three-dimensional numerical simulations to reproduce the behavior of plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere. These simulations modeled solar jets and studied their propagation in the solar wind.
By adjusting parameters such as pressure, temperature, and magnetic field strength, the researchers recreated the diversity of observed solar atmospheres. They then analyzed the simulation data with instruments aboard the Parker Solar Probe, identifying magnetic field distortions resembling switchbacks.
Their conclusions show that solar jets can create magnetic distortions similar to switchbacks, although a complete reversal of the magnetic field has not been observed. This suggests that additional phenomena in the solar atmosphere, interacting with solar jets, may be responsible for reverse switchbacks with complete remagnetization of the magnetic field. These results prompt further research to solve these complex mechanisms.
Provided by phys.org
