ARIES–IIT Delhi study shows transverse waves can reveal hidden turbulence in the solar corona
A study by ARIES Nainital and IIT Delhi, reported on 20 May 2026, shows through 3D simulations that transverse waves in the Sun's corona can produce asymmetries in coronal spectral lines, giving a new way to detect hidden turbulence.
Summary
A study by the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital, and IIT Delhi offers a new way to detect hidden turbulence in the solar corona, which could help explain why the corona is much hotter than the Sun's visible surface. Researchers Ambika Saxena of ARIES and Prof Vaibhav Pant of IIT Delhi used three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations and forward modelling of the Fe XIII 10749 Å coronal line. The study found that transverse (Alfvénic or kink) waves moving along a density-varying magnetic plume create fine-scale turbulence through phase mixing. That turbulence produces alternating blue and red asymmetries in the spectral line. The work was published in The Astrophysical Journal; ARIES is an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology.
Key facts
- Institutions
- ARIES Nainital (DST autonomous institute) and IIT Delhi
- Researchers
- Ambika Saxena (ARIES) and Prof Vaibhav Pant (IIT Delhi)
- Method
- 3D MHD simulations + forward modelling of Fe XIII 10749 Å line
- Finding
- Transverse waves + phase mixing create turbulence, giving alternating blue/red line asymmetries
- Journal
- The Astrophysical Journal
- Question
- Why the corona is hotter than the Sun's surface
Practice MCQs 2 questions
The May 2026 study on hidden turbulence in the solar corona was carried out by IIT Delhi and which DST institute?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences, Nainital
The study was by ARIES Nainital, an autonomous institute of DST, together with IIT Delhi.
According to the ARIES–IIT Delhi simulations, what produces alternating blue and red asymmetries in coronal spectral lines?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Turbulence created by transverse waves through phase mixing in a density-structured plume
Transverse waves on a plume with density variations generate fine-scale turbulence through phase mixing; overlapping emission along the line of sight then gives alternating blue and red wing asymmetries.