Solar Orbiter Traces Magnetic Switchbacks to Sun's Surface
The European Space Agency's Solar Orbiter has successfully traced the origin of a magnetic 'switchback' in the solar wind back to the Sun's surface. This breakthrough was achieved as the spacecraft flew through an S-shaped kink in the solar wind's magnetic field, gathering crucial data on the phenomenon.
By analyzing the particles within the switchback, the Solar Orbiter identified a specific mix of charged oxygen and carbon, which originated from hot magnetic loops on the Sun's surface. This finding supports the theory of 'interchange reconnection,' where open magnetic-field regions reconnect with closed loops near the solar surface.
During the event, the Solar Orbiter was positioned approximately halfway between Earth and the Sun. Its Solar Wind Analyser instrument captured the particle 'fingerprints,' while imaging and magnetic-field modeling, including data from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, helped pinpoint the switchback's solar source.
The mission has resolved a long-standing debate by demonstrating that both leading theories of switchback generation are valid: interchange reconnection at the Sun creates these structures, while waves and turbulence in the solar wind influence their evolution further out.