Scientists have found an explanation for the "finger-shaped" formations that appear during solar flares
Back in 1999, scientists were able to observe an unusual phenomenon that occurred directly inside a solar flare. The main difference from other flares was that during this particular flare, a downward flow was detected, as if the material did not fly away from the Sun, but fell back onto it. Astronomers decided to establish what kind of phenomenon it is and what processes gave rise to it.
An unusual natural phenomenon and its probable explanation
This phenomenon is called super-arcade downflows (Supra-arcade downflows SAD), and its the study was actively engaged in an international group of astronomers from Harvard and the Smithsonian institutions.
So, after much research, scientists have finally found a completely logical explanation for this phenomenon.
Initially, it was hypothesized that the SAD phenomenon is related to the so-called magnetic reconnection, a process where different the magnetic fields collide, collapse, and at that very moment release an enormous amount of energy, and then quickly are being restored.
Scientists compared this to what if you stretched a rubber band a lot, and then, at maximum stretch, simply cut it in the middle.
And at first, scientists suggested that these observed dark downdrafts are the result of a violation magnetic fields, which, as it were, “return” back to the Sun after the solar flash.
But there was one very important nuance. Most of the observed flows that scientists were able to detect turned out to be "too slow."
This "slowdown" did not fit into the standard patterns of classical reconnection, which just say that these downward movements should be fast.
In order to explain this anomaly, scientists analyzed the collected data using NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory. Next, three-dimensional modeling of ongoing solar flares was performed with their careful observation. And this is what astronomers eventually managed to find out.
As the observations have shown, most of the SAD are not generated due to magnetic attachment, but are formed independently due to the interaction of two "fluids" with different densities.
In fact, this process can be compared to mixing water and oil - two liquids with different densities are unstable and eventually separate.
So the observed dark bands are areas in which plasma is either absent altogether, or its density is significantly lower than in the surrounding space.
Scientists will continue to monitor the SAD phenomenon, as well as other processes occurring on our Sun. This will make it possible to better understand both the process of magnetic reconnection and the formation of plasma-free regions.
Scientists are convinced that understanding all the processes on our star will allow us to accurately predict phenomena such as solar flares and minimize their possible negative consequences on Earth.
Our Sun still keeps many secrets and mysteries, and no one knows what else will be discovered in the future. So we will follow new research with interest.
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