Synopsis
An international research team has discovered chorus waves over 160,000 km from Earth, a phenomenon previously thought to occur only near Earth's magnetic field. This groundbreaking study reveals the potential implications for space weather and the acceleration of high-energy electrons.Key Takeaways
- Discovery of chorus waves over 160,000 km from Earth.
- Chorus waves were previously thought to exist only near Earth's magnetic field.
- Sound produced resembles chirping birds.
- Significant for understanding space weather.
- Potential risks to spacecraft and astronauts.
Beijing, Jan 23 (NationPress) An international team of researchers spearheaded by Chinese scientists has identified chorus waves located over 160,000 km from Earth—an astonishing space phenomenon that was previously thought to exist only in the proximity of Earth's dipole magnetic field regions, as revealed in a study published on Thursday.
"We detected chorus waves with frequencies under 100 Hz. By converting these waves into audio format, we produced a piece of 'space chorus' that can be heard," stated Liu Chengming from Beihang University, the principal author of the paper, according to Xinhua news agency.
In the research, which appeared in the journal Nature, Chengming likened the sound to the chirping of birds.
The magnetic field of Earth extends into space. When charged cosmic particles traverse this magnetic field, they can stimulate chorus waves, which are electromagnetic waves that resemble the morning melodies of birds.
As one of the most potent electromagnetic disturbances in space, chorus waves have been a focal point of space physics investigations. It was widely accepted that they only manifested near Earth's dipole magnetic field.
Researchers from China, the United States, and Sweden sifted through extensive data amassed by the Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission, a solar-terrestrial probe initiative.
They uncovered chorus waves located over 160,000 km from our planet and proposed a theoretical explanation attributing their formation to nonlinear wave-particle interactions.
Chorus waves are instrumental in addressing fundamental inquiries about space and have far-reaching practical implications. They are essential for accelerating high-energy electrons within Earth's radiation belts and for generating pulsating auroras in polar regions.
Additionally, they can affect fluctuations in space weather, posing risks to the reliable functioning of spacecraft and the well-being of astronauts. These discoveries offer vital theoretical backing for the accurate modeling and forecasting of space weather, based on the study.
