New solar flare images deepen understanding of Sun’s magnetic structure

Astronomers using the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope have taken the sharpest images ever of a solar flare, revealing ultra-fine magnetic loops as narrow as 21 kilometers. These images were captured during the decay phase of an X1.3-class flare on August 8, 2024.

The newly observed delicate, threadlike plasma loops provide the clearest evidence to date of the Sun's intricate magnetic architecture.

This discovery is a breakthrough in solar physics, offering new means to improve space weather prediction and understand the mechanisms behind solar flare activity.

What do the new solar flare images reveal about the Sun's magnetic loops?

These images show hundreds of coronal loops, glowing arcs of plasma shaped by the Sun’s magnetic field lines averaging 48.2 kilometers in width, with some strands as thin as 21 kilometers.

This resolution surpasses all previous solar telescopes, bringing into view the Sun's fundamental magnetic building blocks.

Such fine structures were theorized for years but remained unconfirmed until now. Their observation provides unprecedented insight into the evolution and dynamics of these loops.

Did you know?
The Inouye Solar Telescope can resolve solar features as small as 24 kilometers, over twice as sharp as previous telescopes.

How do these fine structures impact our understanding of solar flares?

Coronal loops often precede solar flares, which occur when magnetic field lines twist and break, releasing vast energy.

The new detailed imagery improves insight into the scale and behavior of these loops, refining models of magnetic reconnection, the engine behind solar flares.

Understanding these processes is critical because flares produce solar storms that can disrupt satellite operations and power grids on Earth.

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Inouye Solar Telescope pushes resolution limits in solar imaging

The telescope’s Visible Broadband Imager, tuned to the H-alpha wavelength, can resolve features down to approximately 24 kilometers.

This capability, more than twice as sharp as previous instruments, enabled researchers to capture the smallest coronal loops ever seen.

Researchers were initially focused on other solar phenomena but encountered these ultra-fine coronal structures unexpectedly.

This serendipitous discovery showcases the telescope’s powerful ability to extend our knowledge of the Sun’s workings.

Significance of the smallest coronal loops observed on the Sun

The smallest coronal loops observed validate long-standing hypotheses about their sizes, ranging from 10 to 100 kilometers.

Researchers suggest these loops form the elementary structures of solar flare architecture.

Lead author Cole Tamburri likened the discovery to shifting from seeing a forest to recognizing individual trees.

This breakthrough represents a landmark moment in solar physics, enabled by the unique capabilities of the Inouye Solar Telescope.