Los Alamos Instruments Launch Aboard NASA Probe to Study the Sun

Scientists at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) have developed two advanced instruments that will enhance our understanding of the sun and its protective layer, the heliosphere. These tools were placed on the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP), which launched in September 2023 and is en route to the first Lagrange point, a gravitational balance point between Earth and the sun. The probe is expected to take approximately four months to reach its destination, with all instruments projected to be operational by mid-January 2024.

The IMAP mission aims to build on data collected by NASA’s earlier Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX), which launched in 2008. The IMAP-Hi instrument, specifically developed at LANL, is designed to filter out background noise more effectively than its IBEX predecessor, allowing researchers to fill in knowledge gaps from the earlier mission. According to LANL scientist Herb Funsten, the original IBEX mission was exploratory in nature, revealing unexpected findings due to its less optimized design.

Galactic rays, which are highly charged particles from space, pose risks to human health and technology, affecting DNA, disrupting radio communications, and damaging satellites. The heliosheath, the outer boundary of the heliosphere, serves as the primary defense against these rays, reducing their intensity by a factor of ten. While other stars also produce similar protective bubbles known as astrospheres, researchers are particularly interested in the sun’s unique signature.

Tracking solar wind is crucial for charting the heliosphere’s boundaries. The instruments aboard the IMAP will follow solar wind, which emanates from the sun, interacts with the heliosheath, and reflects back towards it. This process will provide valuable data on the structure and behavior of the heliosphere.

Ruth Skoug, a scientist involved in the project, noted that the sun is the only star close enough for direct study, offering a unique opportunity for stellar research. The two instruments, IMAP-Hi and the Solar Wind Electron instrument, are key components of this mission. IMAP-Hi tracks energetic neutral atoms, helping to map the heliosphere’s composition and the origins of its particles. Meanwhile, the Solar Wind Electron instrument monitors electrons from solar wind, which consists of charged particles released by the sun. Understanding these particles aids in determining the heliosphere’s size and its interaction with the interstellar medium, the matter that exists between stars.

LANL scientist Dan Reisenfeld likened the process to a bat using sonar to navigate a cave. The instruments emit signals, which interact with the heliosphere, allowing scientists to gauge distances and other critical measurements. He explained that the heliosphere’s structure changes throughout the sun’s 11-year solar cycle, leading to fluctuations in its protective capabilities.

The Solar Wind Electron instrument has already demonstrated its capabilities by tracking a significant solar storm that coincided with Veterans Day, which caused the northern lights to be visible at unusually low latitudes, including areas such as Santa Fe. While such phenomena can be visually stunning, Skoug emphasized the potential dangers posed by solar storms, which can disrupt power systems and pose risks to astronauts.

She expressed optimism about the upcoming research, stating, “We’re going to do even better on the next storm, with all the instruments on.” This mission represents a significant step forward in solar research, potentially leading to a deeper understanding of the sun’s impact on the solar system and beyond.