Brief
Solar Orbiter pins origin of mysterious S‑shaped solar switchback
Analysis of plasma inside a 2022 switchback shows it formed from hot magnetic loops at the Sun’s surface.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Solar Orbiter has traced the origin of a puzzling S‑shaped magnetic switchback observed in 2022 to the Sun’s surface, a finding published in Nature Astronomy. By analysing the composition of plasma inside the switchback, researchers identified a distinctive mix of charged oxygen and carbon that points to formation in hot magnetic loops on the solar photosphere.
What happened
In 2022 the Solar Orbiter probe flew through a stream of charged particles that displayed an S‑shaped bend, known as a magnetic switchback. Using the spacecraft’s Solar Wind Analyser (SWA) instrument, the team sampled the plasma within the structure and detected a specific blend of oxygen and carbon ions. The composition indicated that the particles originated from the Sun’s surface rather than from higher‑altitude coronal processes.
What the reports add
Gizmodo notes that this is the first direct observation confirming the S‑shape of a switchback and that the particle fingerprint serves as a “smoking gun” for the interchange reconnection mechanism. The article explains that interchange reconnection occurs when magnetic fields of differing polarity interact, causing field lines to snap, reconnect, and release trapped plasma into space.
What was said
Jesse Coburn, a researcher at the French National Centre for Scientific Research and lead author of the study, told Gizmodo, “There are two main competing theories for how a switchback, and by extension the solar wind, forms. The specific mix of particles detected by Solar Orbiter is the smoking gun for a formation process known as ‘interchange reconnection.’”
How it came about
The discovery builds on earlier Solar Orbiter observations that have mapped the Sun’s magnetic field and solar wind dynamics. By combining high‑resolution plasma measurements with modelling of magnetic loops, the team was able to locate the switchback’s source region on the solar surface, offering new insight into how the Sun heats its atmosphere and accelerates solar wind particles.
Key facts
- Solar Orbiter sampled plasma inside a 2022 switchback and found a mix of charged oxygen and carbon. (gizmodo.com)
- The particle composition indicates the switchback formed in hot magnetic loops at the Sun's surface. (gizmodo.com)
- Researchers cite the finding as evidence for the interchange reconnection theory. (gizmodo.com)
Why it matters
Identifying the formation mechanism of switchbacks improves forecasts of extreme space‑weather events that can affect Earth’s technology.
Sources
- [1] gizmodo.com — originally reported as “Solar Orbiter Traces the Origin of a Mysterious S-Shaped Kink on the Sun”
