Are There Alfvén Waves in the Solar Atmosphere?

• DOI: 10.1126/science.1153006
• Publication Date: 2007-12-06T23:30:27Z
• Authors: R. Erdélyi; V. Fedun
• Keywords: Corona (planetary geology); Solar atmosphere; Nanoflares; Coronal hole; Coronal loop

The Sun's outer coronal layer exists at a temperature of millions kelvins, much hotter than the solar surface we observe. How this high is maintained and what energy sources are involved continue to puzzle fascinate researchers. Recently, Hinode spacecraft was launched observe measure plasma properties layers. data collected by reveal about role magnetic field interactions how waves might transport corona. These results open new era in high-resolution observation Sun.