Magnetic switchback
Videos
Magnetic switchbacks are sudden reversals in the magnetic field of the solar wind. They can also be described as traveling disturbances in the solar wind that caused the magnetic field to bend back on
Switchback theories infographic from NASA
Illustration of global magnetic field circulation enabled by interchange reconnection. In this scenario an open magnetic field line is (A) dragged against a large coronal loop, by global circulation in the corona, (B) undergoes interchange reconnection, and (C) effectively jumps the approximate width of the originally closed loop, launching an S-shaped switchback in the magnetic field into the corona.
Close to the Sun, and especially above active regions, there are open and closed magnetic field lines. The closed lines are loops of magnetism that arch up into the solar atmosphere before curving round and disappearing back into the Sun.
Advanced Composition Explorer is a NASA Explorer program satellite and space exploration mission to study matter comprising energetic particles from the solar wind, the interplanetary medium, and othe
Magnetic switchback
…detected numerous radial magnetic field polarity inversions. Similar structures were then observed by near-Earth heliospheric spacecraft such as Advanced Composition Explorer. Parker Solar Probe (PSP) observed first switchback on November 6, 2018. Similar effects were observed at distances around and below 0.3 AU, 1 AU, and…
An artist's concept of ACE
ACE in orbit around the Sun–Earth L1 point.
ACE during assembly
CRIS