Articles tagged with Solar Physics
A New Jersey Institute of Technology research team has been awarded a $4.64 million grant to continue studying the Sun's explosive activity at Big Bear Solar Observatory. The team will use the observatory's unique imaging capabilities and stable seeing conditions to investigate solar phenomenon as activity on the Sun ramps up.
A team of 995 undergraduate and graduate students analyzed 600 real solar flares, casting doubt on the theory that nanoflares heat up the sun's corona. The students' work provided a unique opportunity for early-career scientists to learn about collaborative research.
A new ring system has been found around the Pluto-sized dwarf planet Quaoar, which orbits beyond Neptune. The discovery is remarkable because it lies at a distance of over seven planetary radii from its parent body, posing a challenge to existing theories of ring formation.
Researchers develop low-cost and eco-friendly method for high efficiency CIGSSe solar cells, achieving power conversion efficiency larger than 17%, by using aqueous spray deposition in air environment.
A Southwest Research Institute team has developed a machine learning tool to label large, complex datasets efficiently. The iterative labeling technique reduces manual verification time by 50%, enabling deep learning models to identify potentially hazardous solar events more accurately.
Researchers found that Mars' extreme energy budget imbalance can contribute to dust storms. The team analyzed four years of data from NASA missions and found a correlation between the planet's orbits and temperatures, suggesting that the energy excess may be one of the generating mechanisms of Mars' dust storms.
Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi's Center for Space Science have discovered high-frequency retrograde vorticity waves in the Sun that move three times faster than predicted by theory. These mysterious waves may be an important puzzle piece in understanding stars.
For the first time, scientists have measured a large difference between a black hole's rotation axis and the axis of its orbiting binary star system. This finding forces astronomers to add a new dimension to their models, offering new insights into black hole formation and physics.
A deep learning model has been developed to infer horizontal motion on the Sun's surface using temperature and vertical motion data. The technique shows promise for future high-resolution solar observations and laboratory plasmas.
Researchers create laboratory model to experimentally confirm the behavior of plasma waves as predicted by theory. By studying the properties of liquid metals and high magnetic fields, they successfully generate Alfvén waves in a molten alkali metal, breaking through the sound barrier for the first time.
Astronomers observed a young, sun-like star ejecting a massive burst of energy and charged particles, potentially bad news for satellites and power grids. The study suggests that similar events could have shaped planets like Earth and Mars over billions of years.
NJIT's Institute for Space Weather Sciences will host a Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, providing students with hands-on work at advanced observatories. The 10-week program aims to foster the development of future workforce in solar-terrestrial and space weather sciences.
A team of scientists has developed a new X-ray measurement method that can analyze the chemical properties of warm dense matter, a state found in planetary interiors. The method uses the strongest X-ray laser to probe carbon's bonding states, providing new insights into planetary formation and potential applications in materials science.
Researchers investigated methylammonium lead iodide's ferroelectric nature and photovoltaic properties, finding a freezing temperature of 270 K and a novel phase diagram. The study advances perovskite's potential for energy conversion and storage applications.
Researchers have solved the paradox of the mysterious polarization of the sodium D1 line, revealing that magnetic fields in the solar chromosphere are not entirely unmagnetized. The solution uses complex theoretical modeling and resolves a long-standing debate in solar physics.
New research reveals that magnetic fields of middle-aged stars become sub-critical, leading to reduced angular momentum losses and altered magnetic field strengths. This phenomenon breaks the relationship between a star's age and its rotation rate, allowing for a diversity of solar-stellar phenomena.
Researchers use cross-correlation noise spectroscopy to identify crucial electrical noise signals in silicon solar cells, pinpointing physical processes causing energy loss and lower efficiency. The technique allows for precise measurement of noise and removal of detector noise, enabling the detection of smaller noise signals.
Researchers propose comprehensive explanation of sun cycles based on planetary attractive forces, reproducing known solar activity fluctuations. However, long-term forecasts become impossible due to chaotic process in activity over thousands of years.
The study revealed key physics behind primary energy release, particle acceleration, and transportation in solar radio bursts. MUSER provides a unique tool for measuring solar magnetic fields and tracing dynamic evolution of energetic electrons.
Scientists predict that Sunspot Cycle 25 will be one of the strongest on record due to its predicted peak sunspot number. The new cycle is forecasted to start with a bang, and if correct, it would support the research team's theory about the Sun's internal magnetic machine.
Researchers at George Mason University are using EUVM solar occultations to simulate Mars upper atmospheric processes. The project aims to identify the fundamental causes of observed variability driven by tides and gravity waves.
Scientists have found that part of the acoustic energy released from a solar flare emanated from about 1,000 kilometers beneath the solar surface, suggesting that flares can create seismic activity. This discovery may lead to the development of a new method to forecast the size and severity of solar flares.
Researchers have developed an innovative approach to enhance the performance of solar cells, which could lead to a significant increase in efficiency and revolutionize photovoltaics. The new method, published in Nature Energy, demonstrates potential for ultra-high-efficiency single-junction semiconductor devices.
A team led by Queen's University Belfast scientist Dr. David Jess discovered that the Sun's magnetic waves strengthen and grow due to the formation of an 'acoustic resonator', where temperature changes create boundaries that trap the waves, allowing them to intensify.
Heidelberg University physicists develop a novel spectroscopic method to map the energetic landscape inside solar cells based on organic materials. This technique enables scientists to study physical principles and better understand processes such as energetic losses with extreme precision.
Researchers from Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf found that Venus, Earth, and Jupiter's tidal forces impact the Sun's magnetic field, causing it to follow a regular cycle. This discovery explains the Sun's 11-year activity cycle and has implications for climate predictions and space weather.
A breakthrough in a new material called a tandem perovskite solar cell has been achieved, bringing efficiency to about 23%, compared to silicon panels at 18% efficient. The goal is to make cheaper and more efficient solar cells that could replace silicon photovoltaic technology.
The Borexino experiment has provided insights into how the Sun generates energy by analyzing its solar neutrino spectrum. The study revealed details about the Sun's core and fusion processes, confirming current understanding of these phenomena.
Researchers at UMass Amherst and international team reveal the first complete study of solar neutrinos emitted by the Sun, shedding light on its energy output and composition. The study uses data from Borexino, a highly sensitive neutrino detector, to measure the full energy spectrum of solar neutrinos.
The National Solar Observatory (NSO) has received a supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to enhance its scientific output and foster collaboration in the field of solar physics. The new funding will support the development of advanced data products, engage graduate students, and nurture international expertise.
Astronomers have found a dense disk of material surrounding a young star, which may be the precursor to a planetary system. The discovery could revolutionize models of solar system formation and provide insights into our own cosmic neighborhood.
A team from Aarhus University has discovered a star with similar characteristics to the Sun, allowing for the observation of its 7.4-year cycle. The star's heavy elements led to stronger magnetic field variability and surface rotation patterns. This study could help understand how the Sun affects our climate.
Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology are investigating solar physics to improve prediction and countermeasures for explosive solar events. They're using high-resolution radio data from state-of-the-art telescopes like Owens Valley Solar Array.
Astronomers discovered a 11 times massive young planet, HD 106906b, which formed outside the debris disk and is 13 million years old. The study suggests this rare peek into planetary formation provides insights into how planets evolve, contradicting current theories.
The new observatory will record high-resolution images of the Sun every five seconds, measuring internal gravity waves and their role in transporting energy and momentum. The data will aid in understanding space weather events, solar coronal heating, and the structure of the Sun's atmosphere.
A new tabletop device could detect elusive neutrinos more efficiently, simplifying scientists' ability to study the sun. Researchers discovered a connection between neutrino decay fluctuations and solar rotation, providing strong evidence for this method.
A MSU physicist developed a new model that predicts the speed of solar plasma during solar flares, likening it to the path traveled by a thrown baseball. The model has implications for understanding how solar flares evolve and providing better ways to predict them.
A new correction of the sunspot number suggests that solar activity has remained relatively stable since the 1700s, contradicting previous claims of a Modern Grand Maximum. This finding challenges existing climate evolution models and could reveal more about the role of the Sun in climate change over longer timescales.
Researchers at Technical University of Munich develop record-breaking magnetic shielding to dampen low frequency magnetic fields, creating the weakest magnetic field in the solar system. This breakthrough enables high-precision experiments, such as measuring the electric dipole moment of neutrons.
The $344 million Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope will utilize cameras designed by a UK university consortium led by Queen's University Belfast to observe the Sun's surface in unprecedented detail. The telescope aims to address fundamental questions in contemporary solar physics.
Researchers designed networks that mimic natural forms to create efficient and durable optoelectronic devices, including solar cells and display screens. The designs improved electro-optical properties, showed high mechanical strength, and minimized light shading.
Researchers at Georgia State University have been awarded $1.5 million to develop software tools that can process large sets of solar astronomy data, enabling scientists to perform analyses on unprecedented scales and detail levels. The software improvements will allow the solar community to pursue a wide range of research projects and...
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin identify microvoids as a source of 10-15% degradation in amorphous silicon thin film solar cells. The discovery is part of the EPR-Solar network funded by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research.
The LUX experiment has excluded some possible candidates for a dark matter particle, providing evidence for its sensitivity and ruling out certain Weakly Interacting Massive Particle (WIMP) hypotheses. The detection is significant as it shows that the world's best results are being produced by the detector.
A team of interdisciplinary researchers from Johns Hopkins University has found that turbulence is the key to explaining magnetic field misbehavior in solar flares. The study used complex computer modeling to mimic what happens to magnetic fields when they encounter turbulence within a solar flare, revealing why the usual rule of physi...
Researchers have discovered the mechanism behind pond skaters' ability to walk on water. They use their middle leg to create swirling vortices, similar to those made by oars in a rowing boat, allowing them to move forward without sinking. The waxy hairs covering their legs also repel water and help generate an upward force.
A team of space scientists has shed light on the mysterious physical mechanisms underlying coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that can impact Earth-based power grids and satellites. The study, published in Nature Physics, uses state-of-the-art computer simulations to connect motions in the sun's interior with CMEs.
Louis Lanzerotti, distinguished professor of physics at NJIT, has been selected as the 2011 William Bowie Medalist by the American Geophysical Union. He is being honored for his decades-long contributions to research on space plasmas and geophysics.
The Borexino instrument has measured the flux of beryllium seven (7Be) solar neutrinos with high precision, allowing for a detailed study of their behavior. This advance confirms predictions of neutrino oscillations, flavor changes, and flow predicted by models of the sun and particle physics.
A new 'Swiss cheese' design for thin film silicon solar cells offers improved stability and efficiency, potentially boosting industrial production. The nanostructured substrate enables strong absorption and tight spacing between electrodes.
Scientists have discovered that narrow jets of plasma, known as spicules, shoot up from the Sun's surface and insert heated plasma into its outer atmosphere. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides an observational challenge to existing theories of coronal heating.
Researchers discover that jets of plasma shooting up from just above the Sun's surface are a major source of hot gas replenishing the corona. This finding addresses a fundamental question in astrophysics and provides new insight into the Sun's subtle influence on the Earth's upper atmosphere.
A $2.4 million NSF grant will enable NJIT physicist Philip R. Goode to develop a new adaptive optics system, allowing for better study of sunspots and space weather. The improved optics will increase the distortion-free field of view, enabling researchers to study larger areas of the sun.
NJIT researchers are awarded nearly $4.3 million in NSF funding to improve the Big Bear Solar Observatory and study various aspects of solar energy, including its impact on terrestrial telecommunications and power systems.
Physicists at Boston College have successfully transmitted visible light through a cable hundreds of times smaller than a human hair, defying a key principle in optics. This breakthrough could lead to the development of high-efficiency solar cells and microscopic light-based switching devices.
A study by Duke physicists suggests that climate models of global warming need to be corrected for the effects of changes in solar activity. The researchers found that the sun may have minimally contributed about 10 to 30 percent of the 1980-2002 global surface warming.
A NCAR researcher used white-light images of the Sun's corona to study magnetic flux ropes, which store massive amounts of energy. The study found that these structures can form prior to a coronal mass ejection (CME), suggesting a new approach for understanding and forecasting CMEs.
A University of Minnesota physicist reveals surprising accuracy in superhero comics regarding basic physical concepts. He uses Superman as an example to calculate the strength needed for superhuman feats.
Two researchers, Bahcall and Davis, will share an award for their groundbreaking work on neutrino physics, a field that revolutionized our understanding of the universe. Dr. Sack will receive an award for his crucial role in ensuring the reliability of nuclear weapons, thereby contributing to national security.
The KamLAND experiment has confirmed the existence of neutrino oscillation and mass, supporting a long-held case. By studying anti-neutrinos from nuclear reactors, researchers found evidence of the same neutrino deficit as solar neutrino experiments, suggesting that neutrino masses are nonzero.