Solar Telescope Reveals Widespread Twisting Waves in Sun’s Corona
Scientists have discovered evidence of widespread twisting motions in the Sun’s outer atmosphere using the world’s most powerful solar telescope. The findings, published in Nature Astronomy, reveal these torsional Alfvén waves coexist with previously observed swaying motions throughout the solar corona.
Breakthrough Solar Observations
Researchers using the National Science Foundation’s Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) have identified small-scale torsional waves throughout the Sun’s corona, according to a new study published in Nature Astronomy. The findings, obtained during the telescope’s commissioning phase on October 30, 2023, represent a significant advancement in understanding wave behavior in the Sun’s outermost atmosphere.