Indian Scientists, along with international collaborators, have measured the magnetic field of an eruption from the Sun’s atmosphere (by observing the weak thermal radio emission associated with the erupted plasma for the first time), offering a rare peek to the interior of the Sun. The study of the phenomenon happening in the Sun’s atmosphere or the solar corona provides insights into the inner workings of the Sun.

The Sun is an extremely active object, spewing out vast quantities of gas in many violent events and the corona is a region of very high temperatures, strong magnetic fields, and violent plasma eruptions. A class of such eruptions is Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). CMEs are the most powerful explosions happening in our solar system. When a really strong CME blows past the Earth, it can damage the electronics in our satellites and disrupt radio communication networks on Earth. Hence, astronomers regularly study these events. This field of research helps to understand Space Weather.

If a CME collides with the Earth, it can excite a geomagnetic storm. Large geomagnetic storms have, among other things, caused electrical power outages and damaged communications satellites. The energetic particles driven along by CMEs can be damaging to both electronic equipment and astronauts or passengers in high-flying aircraft.

LEARNING FROM HOME/ WITHOUT CLASSES/ BASICS

                     The Sun is made of hot ionized plasma whose motions generate magnetic fields in the solar interior by harnessing the energy of the plasma flows. This mechanism is known as the solar dynamo mechanism. Simply stated, it is a process by which kinetic energy of plasma motions is converted to magnetic energy, which generates the magnetized sunspots.

Sunspots are the origins of solar outbursts like coronal mass ejections and flares, which hurl radiation and charged particles across the solar system. Visible sunspots are caused by magnetic disturbances in the sun that displace its bright outer layer and reveal the slightly cooler (and darker) interior layers, usually for a few days but sometimes for several weeks. Sunspots are cooler regions in the photosphere of the sun and have deep magnetic fields surrounding them.

Earth is often struck by solar eruptions, which comprise energetic particles that are hurled away from the Sun into space, where those directed towards the Earth encounter the magnetic field around our planet. When these eruptions interact with the magnetic field, they cause beautiful auroras.

Solar flares– the breaking and reconnection of magnetic fields on the sun frequently shower Earth with high-energy particles causing the Aurora Borealis and, occasionally, less-welcome disruptions to power networks and communications. A solar flare is a tremendous explosion on the Sun that happens when energy stored in ‘twisted’ magnetic fields (usually above sunspots) is suddenly released. Solar flares, directly affect the ionosphere and radio communications at the Earth and also release energetic particles into space.

A magnetic field is generated when electric charge carriers such as electrons move through space or within an electrical conductor. The standard SI unit for magnetic field is the Tesla.