Alfvén Waves: The Hidden Force Superheating the Sun’s Corona

A new study delved into the mysterious heating of the solar corona, significantly hotter than the Sun’s surface, through the lens of kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs).

Research at the University of Alabama in Huntsville investigated how these waves transport energy and contribute to solar coronal heating. The study explored the role of electromagnetic energy in space plasmas, focusing on how KAWs interact with particles, ultimately transforming this energy into heat. This work could provide critical insights into solar physics, particularly in understanding the temperature disparity between the Sun’s surface and its atmosphere.

Unraveling the Mysteries of Solar Corona Heating