Aditya L1 | Indian Space Research Organisation | Solar System | Plasma

Aditya L1

 

Aditya L1 India's milestone in the study of the Sun

Our Sun is the closest star and the largest body in the Solar System. The Sun is a giant ball of hot plasma, which is a state of matter where the electrons are stripped from the atoms. The plasma in the Sun is so hot that it glows with a bright light. The distance from the Earth to the Sun is approximately 150 million kilometers and is the source of energy for our solar system. We know that life on Earth is not possible without solar energy does not exist. The Sun's gravity is the force that keeps the planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects in their orbits. The temperature in the central region of the Sun, known as the 'core', can reach 15 million degrees Celsius. At this temperature, a process called nuclear fusion takes place in the core that powers the Sun. The photosphere, the visible surface of the Sun, is a thin layer of hot plasma with a temperature of about 5,500°C.

Why study the Sun?

The Sun is the closest star and can therefore be studied in more detail than other stars. By studying the Sun, we can learn a lot about the stars in our own galaxy, as well as about stars in various other galaxies.

The Sun is a highly mobile star that stretches far beyond what we can see. It exhibits many explosive events and releases enormous amounts of energy into the solar system. If such an explosive solar event is directed toward Earth, it can cause various disturbances in the near-Earth space environment.

Various spacecraft and communication systems are susceptible to such disturbances and therefore it is important to take early warning of such incidents and take corrective measures well in advance. Besides, an astronaut is at risk if he is directly exposed to such explosive events. These phenomena can be very extreme, with temperatures reaching millions of degrees Celsius and magnetic fields billions of times stronger than Earth's. Thus, the Sun also provides a good natural laboratory for understanding phenomena that cannot be studied directly in the laboratory.

Studying Space Weather of the Sun

The Sun continuously impacts the Earth with radiation, heat particles, and a magnetic field. The constant stream of particles from the Sun is known as the solar wind and is mainly composed of high-energy protons. The solar wind fills almost all of the space in the known solar system. Solar wind as well as solar magnetic field. Also, fill the solar system. The solar wind, along with other explosive/explosive solar events such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), affects the shape of space. During such events.

The magnetic field and charged particles near the planet change the nature of the atmosphere. In the case of Earth, the interaction of the Earth's magnetic field with the field brought about by the CME can cause near-Earth magnetic disturbances. Such incidents may affect the operation of the property.

Space climate refers to the changing environmental conditions in space around Earth and other planets. We use more and more technology in space because understanding space weather is so important. Also, understanding near-Earth space weather sheds light on the behavior of space weather on other planets.

About Aditya-L1

Aditya L1 will be a pioneering Indian mission to study the Sun from a unique vantage point in space. It will be placed in a halo orbit around the L1 Lagrange point, where the gravitational forces of the Sun and Earth are balanced. A satellite placed in a coronal orbit around the L1 point has the great advantage of continuously observing the Sun without any eclipse/eclipse. This will provide the added benefit of monitoring solar activity and its impact on space weather in real-time. The spacecraft carries seven payloads to observe the photosphere, chromosphere, and the Sun's outermost layers (corona) using electromagnetic particle and magnetic field detectors. Using a special vantage point L1, four payloads directly observe the Sun, and the remaining three payloads conduct in-situ studies of particles and fields at Lagrange point L1, thus providing an important scientific study of the propagation effects of solar dynamics in the interplanetary medium. It is expected that the set of Aditya L1 payloads will provide the most important information for understanding coronal heating, coronal mass ejection, pre-flare and flare activity and their characteristics, space weather dynamics, particle and field diffusion, etc.

The Aditya L1 mission will study other aspects of the Sun, such as its photosphere, chromosphere, magnetosphere, and solar activity. The seven instruments on Aditya L1 will be a powerful tool for understanding the Sun and its impact on Earth:

1. Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC):

This device will create an artificial eclipse of the Sun by blocking the bright disk of the Sun and allowing only the faint corona to be seen. It will measure the intensity and polarization of coronal emission lines and provide images and spectra of the corona.

2. Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT):

This instrument will capture images of the Sun in different wavelengths of ultraviolet light. The composition and dynamics of the photosphere and chromosphere, the lower layer of the Sun's atmosphere, will be studied.

3. Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer (SoLEXS):

This instrument will measure the intensity and spectrum of soft X-rays emitted by the Sun. It will observe variations in the solar X-ray flux and study the heating mechanism of the corona.

4. High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer (HEL1OS):

This instrument will measure the intensity and spectrum of hard X-rays emitted by the Sun. It will detect solar flares and other energetic phenomena on the Sun's surface.

5. Aditya Solar Wind Particle Experiment (ASPEX):

This instrument will analyze the composition and direction of solar wind particles like protons and heavy ions. How the solar wind affects the atmosphere in space around Earth will be studied.

6. Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA):

This instrument will measure the temperature, density, and velocity of electrons in the solar wind. How the solar wind interacts with the interplanetary magnetic fields will also be studied.

7. Advanced Tri-Axis High-Resolution Digital Magnetometer:

This device will measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field in three dimensions. This will help in understanding how the magnetic field affects the solar wind and corona.

The Aditya-L1 mission will address the most fundamental questions:

1. Study of dynamics of solar upper atmosphere (chromosphere and corona).

2. Study of chromospheric and coronal heating, physics of partially ionized plasma, coronal mass ejections, and initiation of flares.

3. Observe in-situ particle and plasma environments providing data for studies of particle dynamics from the Sun.

4. The heating mechanism of the solar corona and a major unsolved problem in solar physics.

5. Diagnosis of Coronal and Coronal Loop Plasma: Temperature, Velocity and Density.

6. Evolution, dynamics, and origin of CMEs.

7. Identify the sequence of processes occurring at several levels (chromosphere, base, and extended corona) that ultimately lead to solar flare events.

8. The magnetic field of the solar corona is a complex and dynamic system, and its topology is still not fully understood.

9. The solar wind is a key player in space weather, and understanding its origin, composition, and dynamics is essential for predicting and mitigating its effects.

Why study the sun from space?

The Sun emits radiation/light at almost all wavelengths, including various energetic particles and magnetic fields. Earth's atmosphere and its magnetic field act as a protective shield and block many harmful wavelengths of radiation, including particles and fields. Since various radiations do not reach the Earth's surface, instruments on Earth cannot detect such radiations and solar studies cannot be conducted based on these rays. However, such studies can be done outside the Earth's atmosphere, i.e. by observing from space. Similarly, to understand how solar wind particles and the Sun's magnetic field travel through interplanetary space, measurements must be made from a point far from the influence of Earth's magnetic field.

CONCLUSION

Aditya L1 is a bold and ambitious mission that will help India to better understand the Sun and its impact on Earth. It will enable us to explore the Sun and its atmosphere with unprecedented detail and precision. This will help us protect our planet and ourselves from the harmful effects of space weather. The Aditya L1 mission is a shining example of India's vision, ambition, and innovation in space science and technology. It is an inspiration for the young generation of Indians to pursue their dreams and aspirations in science and engineering. The Aditya L1 mission is not only a journey to the Sun but also a journey to the future.