A team of researchers at the National Solar Observatory (NSO) has developed a groundbreaking adaptive optics system that provides unprecedented detail of the Sun’s corona, resolving its long-standing mystery of “coronal heating.” The new technology uses computer-controlled mirrors to counteract atmospheric interference and produce clear images of the corona, revealing features not previously observed.
The corona, the outermost layer of the Sun, is hotter than its surface and is thought to be triggered by rapid eruptions. However, scientists have long struggled to observe it due to its dim nature and atmospheric interference. The new AO system, developed for the 1.6-meter Goode Solar Telescope, overcomes these challenges, delivering images with a resolution of 63 kilometers.
“This technology is a game-changer,” said Dirk Schmidt, lead author of the study and an Adaptive Optics Scientist at NSO. “We can now see features in the corona that were previously unknown, and we’re excited to explore what they mean.”
The team’s work, published in Nature Astronomy, reveals intricate details of solar prominences, loops, and rain, which are all made of plasma. Understanding these phenomena is crucial for understanding coronal heating.
“This technology boosts our resolution by a factor of 10,” said Philip Goode, research professor at NJIT-CSTR. “We’re on the cusp of discovering new insights into the Sun’s behavior.”
The next step is to implement this system on the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope in Hawaii, which will make it the largest solar telescope in the world.
“With coronal adaptive optics now in operation, we mark the beginning of a new era in solar physics,” Goode added.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/stunning-images-reveal-the-suns-surface-in-unprecedented-detail