Sunscreen can be 6.5 times warmer than what thought previously

New research from the University of St Andrews proposed that particles in solar eruptions are 6.5 times warmer than what thought it previously. Research provides an unexpected solution to a mystery of 50 years on our nearest star.

Solar flares are sudden and enormous versions of energy in the external atmosphere of the sun which heat parts with more than 10 million degrees. These dramatic events considerably increase the solar X -rays and radiation reaching the earth and are dangerous for spaceships and astronauts, as well as to affect the high atmosphere of our planet.

Research, published in Astrophysical newspaper lettersExamine the evidence of the way the lighting rockets heat solar plasma more than 10 million degrees. This solar plasma is made up of ions and electrons. The new research argues that the ions of solar rockets, the positively charged particles which constitute half of the plasma, can reach more than 60 million degrees.

By examining the data from other areas of research, the team, led by Dr. Alexander Russell, lecturer in solar theory of the School of Mathematics and Statistics, has realized that solar eruptions are very likely to heat ions more strongly than electrons.

Dr. Russell said: “We were excited by recent discoveries that a process called magnetic reconnection heats ions 6.5 times more than electrons. This seems to be a universal law, and this has been confirmed in almost terrifying space, solar and computer simulations.

“Solar physics has historically assumed that ions and electrons must have the same temperature. However, redo calculations with modern data, we have found that the temperature differences in ions and electrons can last up to tens of minutes in important parts of solar thrusts, opening the way to consider the ions superching for the first time.

“In addition, the new ion temperature corresponds well to the width of the flare spectral lines, potentially resolving an astrophysical mystery which has been located for almost half a century.”

There has been a long -standing question since the 1970s on the reasons why spectral lines, light improvements in solar radiation with specific “colors” in extreme ultraviolets and X -rays are wider than expected. Historically, it was believed that this could only be due to turbulent movements, but this interpretation was under pressure because scientists tried to identify the nature of turbulence.

After almost 50 years, the new works argue for a paradigm shift where the temperature of the ion can make a large contribution to the explanation of the enigmatic line widths of solar escape spectra.