Aditya-L1 Captures First-Ever Image of Solar Flare ‘Kernel’

Context:

India’s first space-based solar mission, Aditya-L1, has achieved a significant breakthrough by capturing the first-ever image of a solar flare ‘kernel’ in the lower solar atmosphere. This discovery provides new insights into solar energy dynamics and its impact on Earth.

Aditya-L1 Mission Overview

India’s First Solar Mission: Launched to study the Sun’s outer layers and solar activity.
Position at L1 Point: The spacecraft orbits the first Earth-Sun Lagrange Point (L1), 1.5 million km from Earth, allowing uninterrupted solar observation.
Launch Details: Launched on September 2, 2023, by PSLV-C57, and successfully placed in a halo orbit around L1 on January 6, 2024.

Discovery of Solar Flare Kernel

First-Ever Image of Solar Flare Kernel: Aditya-L1’s Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT) recorded a unique brightening in the Near-Ultraviolet (NUV) band (200-400 nm) in the lower solar atmosphere.
Observed Solar Flare: On February 22, 2025, SUIT detected an X6.3-class solar flare, one of the most intense categories of solar eruptions.
New Insights: This observation confirms that flare energy spreads through different layers of the Sun’s atmosphere, advancing our understanding of solar physics.

Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SUIT)

What is SUIT?: A specialised telescope onboard Aditya-L1, developed by Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics (IUCAA), Pune.
Functionality: Captures high-resolution images in 11 different Near-UV wavebands, covering the photosphere and chromosphere.
Significant Observations:
- Recorded NUV brightening in a solar flare, a wavelength never observed in such detail.
- Provided clear evidence of energy transmission from the solar surface to the corona.
- Confirmed linkage between flare energy deposition and temperature evolution.

Understanding Solar Flares

Definition: A sudden and intense burst of solar energy caused by the Sun’s dynamic magnetic field.
Effects: Emits X-rays, ultraviolet light, and charged particles, which can disrupt satellite communications, GPS, and power grids on Earth.
Classification: Solar flares are categorised into A, B, C, M, and X classes, based on intensity.

How Aditya-L1 Studies Solar Flares

SUIT (Solar Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope): Captures UV images of the lower solar atmosphere.
SoLEXS (Solar Low Energy X-ray Spectrometer) & HEL1OS (High Energy L1 Orbiting X-ray Spectrometer): Monitor solar X-ray emissions to detect flares.
Continuous Observation: Aditya-L1’s unique position at L1 enables real-time monitoring of solar activity.

Link Between Solar Flares and Solar Corona

What is the Solar Corona?: The Sun’s outermost layer, consisting of highly ionized gas with temperatures ranging from 1 to 10 million Kelvin.
Energy Transfer Confirmation: SUIT’s observations confirmed that the localised brightening in the lower solar atmosphere corresponds with plasma temperature increase in the corona.
Scientific Validation: This validates long-standing theories and provides new data reshaping our understanding of solar flares.

Significance of the Discovery

Validates Theories: Confirms long-standing predictions about solar energy transfer mechanisms.
Enhances Space Weather Prediction: Helps scientists forecast solar storms, protecting satellites and power grids.
Advances Solar Physics: Strengthens global research on the Sun’s impact on Earth’s climate and space environment.

Future Implications of Aditya-L1’s Observations

Better Understanding of Solar Activity: Helps decode magnetic field variations and solar eruptions.
Protection Against Solar Storms: Provides crucial data for mitigating solar flare-induced disruptions.
Foundation for Future Missions: Paves the way for advanced solar studies and next-generation space missions.