* Astronomy

Blobrana · L

RE: Magnetic reconnection

Blobrana · L

Caltech researchers make discovery that hints at origin of phenomena like solar flares

January saw the biggest solar storm since 2005, generating some of the most dazzling northern lights in recent memory.
The source of that storm - and others like it - was the sun's magnetic field, described by invisible field lines that protrude from and loop back into the burning ball of gas. Sometimes these field lines break - snapping like a rubber band pulled too tight - and join with other nearby lines, releasing energy that can then launch bursts of plasma known as solar flares. Huge chunks of plasma from the sun's surface can zip toward Earth and damage orbiting satellites or bump them off their paths.
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Blobrana · L

Magnetic Reconnection

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Magnetic reconnection plays a key role in various astrophysical phenomena. It is related to star formation, solar explosions and the entry of solar wind energy into the near-Earth environment. During the process, magnetic field lines from different magnetic domains collide and reconnect, mixing previously separated plasma. Plasma is a gas composed of ions and electrons but is electrically neutral, spread over large distances in space and guided by the action of magnetic and electric fields. Magnetic reconnection converts the energy of the magnetic field into particle energy, generating jets and heating the plasma. This affects us here on Earth because it can possibly affect telecoms satellites and prevent the efficient production of electricity in controlled fusion reactors. On Earth, we can also see the effect in intense displays of the Northern lights.
(Credits: ESA)