How to Halt a Solar Eruption: New Mechanism Discovered

Scientists have discovered a mechanism that actually halts solar eruptions. The findings may allow researchers to better understand when solar eruptions are headed toward Earth.

NASA is eager to know when an eruption is coming and when what looks like the start of an outburst is just a false alarm. Knowing the difference could affect the timing of future space missions, such as journeys to Mars, and show when steps to protect satellites, power systems and other equipment need to be taken.

In this case, the researchers looked at coronal mass ejections, which stem from a sudden release of magnetic energy that is stored in the sun's corona, the outermost layer of the star. This energy is often found in what are called magnetic flux ropes, which are massive arched structures that can twist and turn like twine. When these structures twist and destabilize, they can either erupt out into the solar system or fail and collapse back toward the sun.

So what causes failures to occur? In this case, the researchers found that failures can happen when the guide magnetic field, which is a force that runs along the flux rope, is strong enough to keep the rope from twisting and destabilizing. Under these conditions, the guide field interacts with electric currents in the flux rope to produce a dynamic force that halts the eruptions.

The findings reveal a bit more about these eruptions, and may allow scientists to better predict coronal mass ejections in the future.

The findings are published in the journal Nature.

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