Researchers from the plasma astrophysics department of the KU Leuven, working with Japanese and American researchers, have discovered magnetic waves are the reason the atmosphere around the sun is 100 times hotter than the surface of the sun itself. This area is known as the solar corona. It has been the subject of research for the last 70 years.
The difference in temperature is due to “resonance absorption”. This theory dates from the 70s, but had not been observed until now. The phenomenon has been observed by Belgian researchers for the first time.
The KUL researchers were able to see the magnetic waves thanks to the Japanese satellite Hinode and the American satellite IRIS.
(Source: Belga)
