AI Unveils Secrets of Solar Poles with Virtual Observatory
Scientists have developed a pioneering AI technique that enables the creation of a virtual observatory to uncover the secrets of the solar poles. Sending satellites to observe the poles is an expensive endeavor, but researchers have found a more cost-effective solution by using AI to provide a realistic depiction of these remote areas. Benoit Tremblay, a researcher at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) National Center for Atmospheric Research, explained that by utilizing the information already available, they can use AI to generate a virtual observatory that offers insights into the appearance of the solar poles at a fraction of the cost.
The application of AI in this context will also facilitate the modeling of a 3D Sun, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of our closest star and its impact on various technologies on Earth. Current observations of the Sun are limited to what can be seen by satellites, which primarily focus on the star’s equator. Therefore, the proposed AI observations serve as a missing link to enhance scientists’ knowledge of the Sun’s dynamics and establish connections with other stars.
This cutting-edge initiative was initiated through the Frontier Development Lab, a partnership that accelerates AI research by bringing together academia and industry specialists to address scientific inquiries. Tremblay and his team were tasked with exploring the feasibility of using AI to generate new perspectives of the Sun based on existing satellite observations.
To accomplish this, the researchers turned to Neural Radiance Fields (NeRFs), neural networks that transform 2D images into intricate 3D scenes. Given that NeRFs had not been applied to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images of plasma before, which are crucial for studying the solar atmosphere and capturing solar flares and eruptions, the team had to adapt the neural networks to match the physical reality of the Sun. The resulting innovation was named Sun Neural Radiance Fields, or SuNeRFs.
The group trained SuNeRFs using a series of EUV images captured by three satellites that view the Sun from different angles. Once the neural network successfully reconstructed the Sun’s past behavior for areas covered by satellites, the researchers obtained a 3D model of the star. With this model, they could then approximate the appearance of the solar poles during the specific time period under investigation.
Tremblay co-authored a paper with his international team, providing detailed insights into their process and the significance of their work. Although the AI-generated model is only an approximation, it still serves as a valuable tool for studying the Sun and informing future solar missions.
While there are currently no dedicated missions to study the Sun’s poles, the upcoming Solar Orbiter mission by the European Space Agency will fly close to the poles. It will play a crucial role in validating SuNeRFs and refining the reconstructions of the poles. In the meantime, Tremblay and his colleagues plan to utilize the NSF NCAR’s supercomputer, Derecho, to enhance the resolution of their model. They also aim to explore new AI methods that can improve the accuracy of their inferences and develop a similar model for Earth’s atmosphere.
Tremblay expressed his enthusiasm for the potential advancements that AI could bring to their models and the expanded possibilities AI presents. Echoing these sentiments, he highlighted the transformative nature of incorporating AI into their research and looked forward to seeing how it will continue to evolve and enhance their understanding of the Sun.
The application of AI in unveiling the secrets of the solar poles through a virtual observatory represents a significant scientific breakthrough. By leveraging AI technologies, researchers have overcome the challenges posed by the high costs of satellite missions, providing valuable insights into the dynamics of the Sun and its crucial role in various terrestrial technologies. With the promising results achieved so far, scientists are poised to revolutionize our understanding of the Sun and unlock its hidden mysteries.
