Jun 24 2010
Heavenly solar music has been discovered by experts. Experts from the University of Sheffield have successfully recorded and studied musical sounds that are generated by longitudinal vibrations in the atmosphere of the Sun. This new finding sheds light on the magnetic atmosphere of the Sun.
A team, comprising solar physicists, has used the combination of advanced mathematical theory along with satellite observations for capturing this heavenly solar music on tape. The tapes revealed harmonious sounds that are created by giant magnetic loops that move around in the solar corona, which is not only the outermost and mysterious layer, but also the least understood layer in the Sun’s atmosphere. The team also studied the manner in which this sound decays, thus giving unprecedented insights into solar corona physics.
High-resolution satellite images indicate that this solar corona comprises large magnetic structures in the shape of a banana called as coronal loops. Some of these gigantic magnetic loops are over 100,000 km in length and play a vital role in governing coronal physics while being responsible for the occurrence of huge solar explosions in the atmosphere called as solar flares.
It has been observed that the solar atmosphere is, more or less, constantly filled with the music created by the coronal loops. Scientists study this coronal music through a technique termed as solar magneto-seismology that helps in studying the magnetic solar atmosphere. This method has much resemblance to the methods utilized by geologists for studying earthquakes.
Source: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk