Can New Patterns in Sun’s Layers Explain Longstanding Solar Mystery?


Led by QUB, the research partnership included experts from the NSF’s National Solar Observatory, USA; the High Altitude Observatory, USA; California State University, Northridge, USA; the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Germany; the University of Sheffi eld, UK; and Eötvös Loránd University, Hungary.


DKIST, inaugurated in 2022, is the most powerful, solar, optical telescope on Earth, enabling record-breaking observations of our Sun, with a resolving power being the equivalent to seeing a 50p coin in Manchester from London. It incorporates cameras made by Northern Ireland-based company Andor Technologies.


“The Sun is the most important astronomical object for humankind with solar activity driving space weather and having profound effects on humanity,” commented Professor Michail Mathioudakis, Co-Investigator on the research and Director of ARC at Queen’s.


Small-scale magnetic structures of the ‘quiet Sun’ at high resolution captured by DKIST (Credit: QUB)


Through investigations of the Sun’s surface astronomers at the Astrophysics Research Centre (ARC) at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB), have revealed a new, complex, snake-like pattern of energy that exists in addition to the ‘loops’ observed previously.


Using the US National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Daniel K Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST) in Hawaii - the most powerful, solar telescope in the world –researchers at QUB, in partnership with an international group of experts captured the most detailed representations to date of the magnetic fi eld of the so-called ‘quiet’ surface of the Sun.


They believe the discovery of the new energy pattern has implications for how we model energy transfer between the layers of the Sun, as it which might help explain one of the biggest conundrums in astrophysics – why the outermost layer of the Sun (‘corona’) is hundreds of times hotter than the surface (‘photosphere’), even though the opposite would be expected.


“The more complex the small-scale variations in magnetic-fi eld direction, the more plausible it is that energy is being released through a process we call magnetic reconnection – when two magnetic fi elds pointing in opposite directions interact and release energy that contributes to atmospheric heating.


“We have used the most powerful solar optical telescope in the world to reveal the most complex magnetic-fi eld orientations ever seen at the smallest scales. This brings us closer to understanding one of the biggest conundrums in solar research.


“These exciting observations from the world’s largest solar optical telescope highlight the leadership position that both Queen’s and the UK hold in the fi eld of solar physics. It is also a testimony to the quality and dedication of our early-career researchers who study some of the most challenging problems of modern astrophysics and are taking signifi cant steps towards their solution.”


In the past, much research into the heat variations between corona and photosphere has focussed on ‘sunspots’ – very large, highly magnetic and active regions, often comparable to Earth in size – that can act as conduits for energy between the Sun’s outer layers.


Turning their attentions to investigating magnetic fi elds on a much


smaller scale., Queen’s found that away from away from sunspots, the so-called ‘quiet sun’ is covered in convective cells known as ‘granules’, typically about the size of France, that harbour much weaker, but more dynamic magnetic fi elds that may hold the secrets to balancing the energy budget of the chromosphere.


While most observational reports of the past decade have found that magnetic fi elds are organised in terms of small loops in the quiet photosphere, the Queen’s researchers, who locate nearly 50 of these structures in a single observation, found the fi rst evidence of a more complicated pattern consistent with a snake-like variation in the magnetic orientation.


Lead Author and Research Fellow at Queen’s, Dr Ryan Campbell said: “To measure these weak magnetic fi elds, we need very sensitive instruments. We can’t directly measure the magnetic fi elds, so instead we measure the imprint they leave on the light emitted in their presence. The magnetic fi elds polarise the light, generating signals that are less than half a percent of the size of our intensity measurements. We also require very high-resolution observations, which is where DKIST comes in. The result is therefore also a remarkable feat of engineering.”


He continued: “The key question to answer now is how common serpentine magnetic-fi eld confi gurations are in the quiet Sun, and how far they can permeate into higher layers, so we can assess their contribution to chromospheric heating. To do this, we need more observations.”


The research published in Astrophysical Journal Letters was supported by funding from the Science and Technology Facilities Council, part of UKRI, Horizon 2020 and the National Science Foundation, USA. DKIST is located on land of spiritual and cultural signifi cance to Native Hawaiian people. The use of this important site to further scientifi c knowledge is done so with appreciation and respect.


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RMS Early Career Speakers Competition


The RMS Early Career Speakers Competition is taking place once again as part of the annual SEMT (Society of Electron Microscope Technology) one-day meeting at the Natural History Museum (13 December 2023). Always a highlight of the event, the competition is aimed at students, interns, apprentices and faculty staff looking to boost their public speaking experience and hone presentation skills.


Applicants can be from a research, technical specialists or industrial background, but should not have given more than two talks outside their home institution. The competition is open to any applicant using microscopy, or closely related techniques.


Entrants are required to give a short talk relating to any form of microscopy and take questions from the audience - all within a 10-minute slot. The competition format is designed to encourage well-thought-out talks, delivered in an economical style. It provides


the perfect opportunity for student microscopists with limited experience of public speaking to hone their presentation skills and build confi dence.


Anyone interested in entering the competition should send an e-mail to Ken Mingard or Alex Ball as soon as possible, with a one page A4 abstract giving their talk title, abstract and one or two images to go in the programme.


Places are awarded on a strictly fi rst come, fi rst served basis; email: ken.mingard@npl.co.uk or a.ball@nhm.ac.uk


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/JejW 61430pr@reply-direct.com


Molly Hair, winner of the RMS Early Careers Speakers competition in 2022: (credit RMS )


MSI2024 Annual Symposium


The 2024 Annual Symposium for the Microscopy Society of Ireland (MSI2024) will be hosted in the Bernal Institute, University of Limerick from the 17th to the 19th of January.


The symposium will bring together researchers from around the world for discussions on various microscopy themes such as advances in electron, biological and probe microscopy, image analysis, instrumentation development and infrastructure access.


The event will feature Professor Quentin Ramasse as the keynote speaker, with other confi rmed speakers including Dr Nic Mullin, Dr Lewys Jones and Dr Kerry Thompson. More speakers will be confi rmed in the coming days.


One of the highlights of the symposium will be the gala dinner - the world famous medieval themed banquet held in Bunratty Castle (transport provided), providing a night of Irish medieval traditional singing, food and entertainment. Tickets are limited for the gala dinner so registration is encouraged ASAP! For information about presentation opportunities contact the RMS.


Contact the RMS for any updates on presentation opportunities. More information online: ilmt.co/PL/0Q3W


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Sign up for Virtual European Flow Core Meeting 2023’


The Royal Microscopical Society (RMS) is launching an exciting new initiative aimed at bringing fl ow core colleagues together from right across Europe.


In what is hoped will become an annual fi xture, the inaugural Virtual European Flow Core Meeting takes place from 4 – 5 December 2023.


The online event is aimed at anyone running or working in a Flow Cytometry Core Facility and seeks to address common themes and issues within the European fl ow community.


The event will focus on new and emerging technologies as well as operational aspects of running and working in, a core. It will feature talks about national cytometry societies, ‘Crib Talks’ from current core facilities and ‘Technobite’ presentations from industry colleagues.


Although in a virtual format, there will be ample time for discussion and questions from the community. The meeting will be ‘live’ and will not be recorded.


More information online: ilmt.co/PL/dLbX 61431pr@reply-direct.com


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