NASA’s Solar Orbiter recently made a stunning discovery. The team found the highest-ever concentration of a rare helium isotope, known as 3He, emitted by the sun.
Sun’s Solar Energetic Particles: A Rare Helium Isotope Discovery
Sun’s Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) are high-energy particles from the Sun. They often include protons, electrons, and heavy ions. Scientists study SEPs to understand solar activity and its impact on Earth. For example, one fascinating event occurred on October 24–25, 2023. Here, Solar Orbiter detected a significant amount of the rare isotope 3He.
This sample showed a remarkable 3He/4He ratio. The ratio reached an astonishing value of 75.2. Thus, this finding is higher than in any previous observation!
The Connection Between SEPs and Solar Events
A Closer Look at the Source
Solar dynamics involve many processes. Eruptions like minifilaments can trigger SEPs. As a result, these eruptions draw our attention of scientists worldwide. The recent event showed that thermodynamic factors at play may influence particle outcomes. Specifically, temperature distributions impact how heavy ions are accelerated.
Using data from the Solar Orbiter and Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), scientists found the source. It was a small solar jet. This jet was near a coronal hole. Coronal holes are regions where the sun’s magnetic field lines open into space. Here, researchers observed a small solar jet producing this rare isotope.
Supercharged Helium
Solar jets seem to accelerate 3He. They boost it to incredible speeds. This can increase its abundance 10,000 times! Amazingly, this time, it increased 200,000 times. Moreover, this is unheard of.
The Role of Magnetic Fields
Magnetic fields also play a vital role in these processes. Interestingly, areas with weaker magnetic fields show extreme levels of 3He enrichment. Therefore, this unique behavior raises questions about current scientific models.
Unusual Abundance
Furthermore, this event was unique. Usually, heavy ions like iron increase. However, carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur were more abundant. Only 19 similar events happened in 25 years. Thus, this makes this event extremely unusual.
The Importance of Studying SEPs
This research contributes to our understanding of space weather. Furthermore, it helps predict how solar events affect Earth’s magnetosphere and atmosphere.
The knowledge gathered from studying SEPs can help detect potential disruptions in technology on Earth. Think about GPS systems and communication networks affected by solar activity!
Reference
- Bučík, R., Mason, G. M., Mulay, S. M., Ho, G. C., Wimmer-Schweingruber, R. F., & Rodríguez-Pacheco, J. (2025). Origin of the unusual composition of 3HE-rich solar energetic particles. The Astrophysical Journal, 981(2), 178. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb48d
Additionally, to stay updated with the latest developments in STEM research, visit ENTECH Online. Basically, this is our digital magazine for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Further, at ENTECH Online, you’ll find a wealth of information.
- Author
- Latest Posts
Neha Adikane holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science from Pune University, bringing a unique blend of scientific expertise and creative writing skills to her craft. She specializes in creating engaging, insightful, and impactful content across various niches. With a passion for translating complex ideas into simple, relatable narratives, she excels at crafting blogs, articles, website content, and social media posts that captivate readers and drive engagement. Neha’s background in environmental science adds depth to her writing, allowing her to effectively cover topics related to sustainability, eco-awareness, and scientific innovations.