New Delhi: The Indian Institute of Astrophysics is studying the magnetic field of sunspots to better understand the corona heating problem. The study will help scientists to understand the physical mechanisms behind the solar wind and coronal heating, a PIB press release stated.
The solar atmosphere is composed of various layers connected through magnetic fields. These magnetic fields are responsible for transferring energy and mass from the inner layers to the outer layers. The magnetic field is the prime driver of the solar wind.
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory (KoSO) is known for the discovery of the Evershed Effect in 1909. It is operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IA), and it is located in Kodaikanal, Gujarat. The primary mirror of the 3-mirror setup at the Tunnel Telescope at the Kodaikanal Solar Observatory tracks the sun.
Researchers are using data from multiple spectral lines to infer the magnetic field at different heights of the solar atmosphere. The observations are made simultaneously, and the spectral lines are Hydrogen-alpha and Calcium II 8662 Å. The researchers found that the Hα line is less sensitive to local temperature fluctuations, which means that it can probe the chromospheric magnetic field in events with sudden temperature fluctuations, such as flaring active regions. This study provides a more nuanced understanding of the Sun’s magnetic field, paving the way for future studies and observations to elucidate the complexities of solar magnetic phenomena further.
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