Collaborative research between Northumbria University and Lockheed Martin, a leading US aerospace technology organization, has made significant progress in understanding a long-standing mystery in astronomy and physics. For decades, scientists have been puzzled by the extraordinary temperatures of the solar corona, which can reach millions of degrees hotter than the sun’s surface. While it is known that the sun’s magnetic field shapes and powers the corona, the process through which the magnetic field transfers its energy to the coronal gas has remained elusive.
One theory, known as the Parker nanoflare theory, posits that when magnetic field lines within the corona break and reconnect, a sudden burst of energy or nanoflare occurs, generating heat. In 2021, a team led by Dr. Patrick Antolin from Northumbria University provided direct evidence of this process by discovering nanojets. These nanojets are a result of the rapid, sideways separation of reconnecting magnetic field lines, accompanied by a nanoflare. The detection of nanojets is crucial, as they could potentially explain the high temperatures observed in the solar corona.
However, detecting and predicting nanojets has proven to be challenging. Previous observations of nanojets have been purely coincidental, leaving scientists with little knowledge of their frequency or their impact on coronal heating. The small size and short duration of nanojets also make them difficult to detect using current resolution instruments.
To gather more evidence and improve detection capabilities, Ramada Sukarmadji, a Ph.D. student at Northumbria University working under Dr. Patrick Antolin’s supervision, is collaborating with scientists from Lockheed Martin’s Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL). The goal of their research is to develop machine learning algorithms capable of automatically detecting and recording nanojets as they occur.
Ramada, a member of Northumbria University’s Solar and Space Physics research group, emphasized the significance of this project. By automating the detection process, the team aims to overcome the challenge of identifying nanojets in the vast amount of data collected. Analyzing existing footage taken by NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, both developed and operated by LMSAL, the team aims to identify the unique spectral and intensity profiles associated with nanojets. This analysis will serve as the basis for training machine learning algorithms to recognize nanojets in future occurrences, allowing for a better understanding of their role in coronal heating.
Ramada expressed her enthusiasm for the project and its potential impact on our understanding of nanojets and the solar corona. She highlighted the need for automated detection to successfully capture and study nanojets. By analyzing past instances of nanojets, the team can train a computer to identify and classify them, leading to further insights into their occurrence and contribution to coronal heating.
Dr. Antolin, a leading expert in magnetic reconnection and nanojets, commended Ramada for her valuable contributions to the research. He praised her intelligence, skillset, and dedication as she made significant discoveries that solidified the importance of nanojets in solar physics.
This collaboration between Northumbria University and Lockheed Martin represents a significant advancement in the understanding of nanojets and their role in coronal heating. By leveraging machine learning algorithms and analyzing existing data, researchers are paving the way for future discoveries in solar physics. The detection and study of nanojets could potentially unravel the mystery behind the extreme temperatures observed in the solar corona, providing essential insights into our understanding of the sun and its dynamics.
