NASA's Parker Solar Probe finds a hidden pattern in the Sun's chaotic magnetic fields
The magnetic fields reverse their direction of rotation at a certain range of small scales, a first direct observation in space turbulence.
An international research team has identified a previously unseen magnetic pattern in the turbulent plasma of space, using observations from NASA's Parker Solar Probe. The team found that turbulent magnetic fields reverse their direction of rotation within a particular range of wavelengths.
The researchers say this is the first direct observation of such a reversal in space turbulence. The reversal becomes stronger and shifts toward longer wavelengths as the solar wind moves farther from the Sun. The change happens at a boundary where plasma shifts from behaving like a flowing fluid to behaving like individual particles.
The collaboration included scientists from ten countries and several Japanese and German universities. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters and may help scientists better understand the solar wind and the turbulence that affects space weather.
Key points
- Parker Solar Probe data revealed a magnetic pattern hidden in space plasma turbulence.
- Magnetic fields reverse rotation direction within a specific range of wavelengths.
- The reversal grows stronger and shifts to longer wavelengths as the solar wind travels outward.
- The study was published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.
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