Scientists have unravelled the science behind the jets of plasma, which is the atmospheric layer just above the Sun’s visible surface.
- Plasma is the fourth state of matter consisting of electrically charged particles that occur just about everywhere in the sun’s chromosphere.
What are plasma jets?
- Plasma jets, or spicules, appear as thin grass-like plasma structures that constantly shoot up from the surface and are then brought down by gravity.
- The amount of energy and momentum that these spicules can carry is of fundamental interest in solar and plasma astrophysics.
- The processes by which plasma is supplied to the solar wind, and the solar atmosphere is heated to a million degrees Celsius, still remain a puzzle.
What are the conclusions?
- The scientists elaborated that the plasma right below the visible solar surface (photosphere) is perpetually in a state of convection, much like boiling water in a vessel heated at the bottom.
- This is ultimately powered by the nuclear energy released in the hot-dense core.
- The convection serves almost periodic but strong kicks to the plasma in the solar chromosphere, the shallow semi-transparent layer right above the visible solar disk.
- The chromosphere is 500 times lighter than the plasma in the photosphere.
- Therefore, these strong kicks from the bottom, not unlike alligator bellowing, shoot the chromospheric plasma outward at ultrasonic speeds in the form of thin columns or spicules.
- Spicules come in all sizes and speeds.
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