ISRO: PAPA detects solar wind impact of coronal mass ejections

ISRO: PAPA detects solar wind impact of coronal mass ejections

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Space technology

Context:

According to The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), advanced sensors of  the Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya (PAPA) payload onboard the Aditya-L1 has detected the impact of coronal mass ejections (CMEs).

What is PAPA: 

• The Plasma Analyser Package for Aditya
• PAPA is an energy and mass analyser designed for in-situ measurements of solar wind electrons and ions in the low energy range.

It has two sensors:

• SWEEP: The Solar Wind Electron Energy Probe: It measures electrons in the energy range of 10 eV to 3 keV).
• SWICAR: The Solar Wind Ion Composition Analyser: It measures ions in the energy range of 10 eV to 25 keV and mass range of 1-60 amu). 
• The sensors are also equipped to measure the direction of arrival of solar wind particles.
• The payload has been operational since December 12, 2023.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs):

• CMEs are large expulsions of plasma and magnetic field from the sun’s atmosphere—the corona, that propagate outward into interplanetary space.
• During a CME, the sun releases a colossal amount of material, including electrons, protons, and heavier ions, as well as magnetic fields.

Solar Wind:

• Solar wind originates from the sun’s outermost layer(corona), consists of high-energy charged particles, such as protons and electrons, along with smaller amounts of heavier ions.
• Solar wind particles are emitted at extremely high speeds, reachingsupersonic
• Solar wind is a continuous and constant flow of charged particles from the sun into space radiating outwards in all directions from the sun, permeating the entire solar system
• Solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetic field, leading to phenomena like auroras (northern and southern lights) near the polar regions.
• Since solar wind particles are charged, they are affected by magnetic fields. Earth’s magnetic field deflects these particles towards the magnetic poles.
• Solar wind can pose challenges to spacecraft and satellites by potentially causing electronic malfunctions and radiation damage.
• Spacecraft, satellites, and moon-bound vessels need radiation-hardened electronics to endure solar wind effects.
• The intensity and speed of solar wind can vary due to solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections.
• Understanding solar wind is important for space weather forecasting and for protecting spacefaring equipment from its effects.
• Solar wind creates a region called, heliosphere, which extends far beyond the solar system and interacts with interstellar space.

Aditya-L1:

• Aditya-L1 isa coronagraphy spacecraft for studying the solar atmosphere, designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
• It is orbiting at about 5 million km from Earth in a halo orbit around the Lagrange point 1 (L1) between the Earth and the Sun, where it will study the solar atmosphere, solar magnetic storms, and their impact on the environment around the Earth.

The main objectives:

• To observe the dynamics of the Sun’s chromosphere and corona.
• To study chromospheric and coronal heating, the physics of partially ionised plasma, of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and their origins, of the coronal magnetic field and heat transfer mechanisms, and flare exchanges.
• To observe the physical particle environment around its position.
• To determine the sequence of processes in multiple layers below the corona that lead to solar eruptions.
• To study space weather, and the origin, composition and dynamics of solar wind.

Various payloads related to Adiya-L1: