Enigmatic Fluffy Corona Unveiled In Video Recorded By ESA's Solar Orbiter

Hello, Everyone!

The European Space Agency had sent its solar orbiter to have insights regarding the Sun's environmental layers. However, a video recorded by the Solar Orbiter dated 27th of September has captured an intricate view of our Sun's atmospheric surface and has created a wave among astronomers worldwide.

The video was publicly disclosed on Thursday, 2nd of May 2024. It has a more insightful view of our Sun's Corona outermost atmospheric layer of the Sun unveiling Corona resembling a Fluffy appearance. The video further captured the in-plasma events at various sites of the Sun's atmospheric surface emerging from the Photosphere to the Corona.

In this blog post, we will delve into the solar atmospheric insights captured in the video recorded by the solar orbiter. So let us begin.

-> In the video, golden-hued hair strands are apparent giving the solar corona a fluffy appeal. These golden-hued hair strands are plasma experiencing an electromagnetic force or Lorentz force which provides a thrust to drive them in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field lines.

But what is this electromagnetic force or Lorentz force? It is one of the most fundamental forces of nature, and; is the force applied on the moving charge (in this case ions and free electrons) let us say q and is in a state of motion with a velocity v through an electric as well as magnetic fields. The whole EMF{Electromagnetic force} exerted on a charged particle is referred to as Lorentz Force, having a magnitude of :

F=qE+q v*B {v cross B---cross/vector product of v and B}; where E is the magnitude of the electric field and Bis the magnitude of the magnetic field.

The electric part of the EMF/Lorentz Force is exerted on the charged particles (here ions and e-s) regardless of their state of motion -i.e. in motion or without motion creating an Electric field. In this electric field, these charges can either repel or attract each other.

The magnetic part comes into the picture, once these charges (here ions and e-s) begin to move. The motion of the charged particles in a magnetic field is at a right angle to the motion of the charged particle-according to Fleming's Left Hand Rule and the resulting path of a charged particle is circular.

The force is perpendicular to the velocity vector of the charged particle and the magnetic field vector. This force is known as Lorentz Force causes the charged particle to change its direction. Therefore, the charged particle follows a curved path. However, it is noteworthy that while the Lorentz Force is perpendicular to v and B, it does not directly translate to a perfectly circular path. The specific path depends on the charged particle's initial velocity and the strength of the magnetic field B.

Also; despite of weak electric field generation in the Sun's corona , the major driving force which shapes the motion of the plasma in the Sun's corona is the magnetic field.

Henceforth, the plasma particles form a loop following magnetic field lines.

->The Sun's corona is the most bizarre layer of the Sun's atmosphere with surprisingly large temperatures-1.1 MN degree Celcius, despite it being the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere; without any clue.

->The orbiter also captured massive eruptions of gas; which are even larger than our Earth.

->Apart from fluffy-looking corona and massive eruptions on the sun's corona, the solar orbiter also captured three most fascinating events which are :

1. Coronal Moss 2.Spicules 3. Coronal Rain

Let us understand these one by one.

CORONAL MOSS: It is referred to as a loop formation of a plasma under a magnetic field. This plasma is emerging from the Photosphere.

The photosphere primarily consists of two gases-Hydrogen (H) and Helium (He).

These gases are subjected to the immense heat generated in the Sun's most interior zone i.e. about a million degrees Celsius -THE CORE, owing to the nuclear fusion reactions there.

This high heat causes the atoms in the photospheric gases to get ripped off their electron --leading to the creation of ions and free electrons. This process is known as IONIZATION. This concoction of charged ions and free electrons is referred to as PLASMA.

https://www.freshwords.blog/post/understanding-plasma-fourth-state-of-matter-its-identification-in-the-cosmos

This superheated plasma flows outward from the photosphere. Now our Sun's radiative zone consists of superheated plasma -ions and e-s constantly moving around. The Sun's rotation on its axis creates a twisted, circular movement of plasma. The hot plasma rises upward and then settles down creating a churn.The plasma particles get deflected by the Sun's rotation and this deflection leads to a particular directional flow of plasma.

Now, since these charged particles -ions and electrons move within the radiative zone; a feeble electric current is produced {current is flow of electrons}. These electric currents lead to the creation of a weak magnetic field too.

These generated magnetic fields get stretched and amplified by the Sun's rotation and turbulence.

With time, this phenomenon becomes a self-sustaining loop. The weak magnetic fields get amplified by the rotation of the Sun and the turbulence, and these stronger magnetic fields affect the movement of plasma, thereby bolstering the magnetic fields. Therefore, a massive dynamo effect is created in the Sun's radiative zone.

Once these strong magnetic fields are created ,they get themselves organized into a complex,large-scale magnetic fields which extends outside the sun ,affecting everything from the Sun's corona to the solar wind.

SPICULES: These are massive explosions of gas or plasma extending upto heights of 6,200 miles,i.e. 10,000 Km.

This occasional interaction between coronal moss and spicules makes the sun's outermost atmospheric surface- Corona appear fluffy.

CORONAL RAIN: This marks an awe moment in the Coronal activities. Coronal Rain refers to the phenomenon when the superheated plasma moving along the magnetic loop , cools down and then condenses and eventually gravitates back to the Sun's Corona, owing to the Sun's gravitational pull.

-> According to the European Space Agency, the Solar Orbiter will get in close proximity to the Sun by this October-about 26.7 MN miles / 43 MN km.

The video has been recorded from a distance of 30 MN miles from the Sun.

Therefore, we will be getting more closer and deeper insights of our Sun's environment.

Conclusively; we can say that the video gives us a clear view of the coronal activities -coronal moss, spicules, and the coronal rain with major eruptions on the sun's Corona. Also, we are on the brink of understanding our Sun in a better way when the solar orbiter will get near the Sun's surface by this October.

Thank You.

References:

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/esa-solar-orbiter-video-sun-surface-details-9305351/#:~:text=A%20new%20close%2Dup%20video,of%20tons%20of%20coronal%20material.

https://interestingengineering.com/space/esa-fluffy-side-sun-corona

https://www.esa.int/esatv/Videos/2024/04/The_Sun_s_fluffy_corona_in_exquisite_detail

https://www.space.com/four-fundamental-forces.html

https://www.schoolphysics.co.uk/age16-19/Atomic%20physics/Electron%20physics/text/Electron_motion_in_electric_and_magnetic_fields/index.html#:~:text=In%20a%20magnetic%20field%20the%20force%20is%20always%20at%20right,is%20circular%20(Figure%201).&text=and%20so%20you%20can%20see,radius%20of%20its%20orbit%20decreases.

https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/science/esa-solar-orbiter-video-sun-surface-details-9305351/#:~:text=A%20new%20close%2Dup%20video,of%20tons%20of%20coronal%20material.