Articles tagged with Solar Physics
Christoph Keller, a world-recognized astronomer, has been appointed as the next Director of the National Solar Observatory (NSO) succeeding Dr. Valentin Pillet. Keller brings extensive experience and expertise in solar physics to lead NSO into its exciting future.
A recent solar coronal mass ejection caused aurorae at low latitudes, while a historically significant event in 1872 was found to be one of the most extreme geomagnetic storms in history. The storm's impact on modern society could be severe, with potential disruptions to power grids, communication systems, and satellite communications.
Researchers from Rice University and Durham University discovered a rotating disc of material circling a massive young star outside the Milky Way. The finding provides strong evidence for the formation process of high-mass stars, which are several times bigger than the Sun.
Researchers from NJIT-CSTR have discovered an extraordinary aurora-like display occurring 40,000 km above a sunspot. The novel radio emission shares characteristics with planetary magnetospheres and potentially opens new avenues for understanding similar phenomena in distant stars with large starspots.
Researchers find evidence supporting Modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND) as an alternative to Planet Nine hypothesis. MOND predicts precise orbital clustering in the outer solar system, which could be indicative of a modified law of gravity at play.
Northumbria University is set to launch the UK's first university-led multi-satellite space mission with a new laser-based satellite communications system. The £5 million award will allow researchers to design, test and build the first CubeSat with laser optical communications technology.
For over a billion years, the sun's atmospheric tide countered the moon's gravitational pull, keeping Earth's rotational rate steady and day length at 19.5 hours. This balance was disrupted by climate change, resulting in our current 24-hour day stretching to over 60 hours if not for the pause.
Researchers from West Virginia University have made a groundbreaking discovery by detecting evidence of low-frequency gravitational waves, which can only be perceived with a detector much larger than the Earth. The signal was detected using pulsar timing arrays and has significant implications for understanding spacetime dynamics.
Peter Becker at George Mason University received significant funding to explore high-energy plasma phenomena in the sun's atmosphere. The research aims to understand events that can impact radio communications on Earth, with a focus on large flares and coronal mass ejection events.
A study by Indiana University astronomer Songhu Wang reveals that at least a fraction of hot Jupiters cannot form through violent processes, suggesting a new understanding of their evolution. Researchers found 12% of hot Jupiters and 70% of warm Jupiters have nearby planetary companions.
Scientists at Aalto University and MPS used petascale supercomputers to simulate the Sun's magnetic field, finding evidence for a small-scale dynamo that challenges conventional understanding. This discovery could lead to improved predictions of major solar events, providing vital extra time for preparation.
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.