In an American laboratory, research is being conducted by Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Oleksii Ahapytov
On December 24, 2024, the global scientific community witnessed a historic event: NASA's Parker Solar Probe reached a record close distance to the Sun – 6.1 million kilometers. This marks the closest any artificial object has ever approached our star.
This breakthrough has opened new opportunities for studying the Sun and its impact on our planet. The probe was developed by the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University. The device utilizes a special heat shield made of carbon foam, which can withstand temperatures up to 1430 °C, while the instruments behind the shield remain at a comfortable room temperature. At the time of closest approach to the Sun, temperatures reached 980°C.
Launched in 2018, the Parker Solar Probe is NASA's first mission aimed at directly approaching the Sun. Its objectives include studying the energy flows that heat the solar corona and accelerate the solar wind; determining the structure and dynamics of plasma and magnetic fields in the sources of solar wind, as well as investigating the mechanisms that accelerate energetic particles. To achieve these goals, the spacecraft is equipped with four instrument suites, including those for studying electromagnetic fields, known as FIELDS.
Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is also involved in this ambitious project.
This was reported by the university on its official website.
Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Oleksii Ahapytov, a staff member of the Department of Astronomy and Space Physics at the Faculty of Physics, is participating in the project as part of an academic mobility program at the Space Sciences Laboratory of the University of California, Berkeley. The laboratory is responsible for measuring magnetic and electric fields aboard the Parker probe as part of the FIELDS experiment and for measuring the distribution of electrons. Oleksii Ahapytov is working on calibrating wave electric and magnetic measurements. Additionally, Ahapytov's research focuses on studying the mechanisms of electromagnetic flare generation in the solar wind, recording the fastest interplanetary shock wave at speeds exceeding 2800 km/s, and understanding the nature of switchbacks, their origin, and impact on solar activity.
Researching the Sun is crucial for understanding its influence on Earth. Geomagnetic storms caused by solar flares can affect power grids, satellites, and communication systems. The results of the Parker Solar Probe mission will help improve predictions of these phenomena and minimize their impact. In 2024, solar activity reached a peak, accompanied by powerful plasma ejections that affected geomagnetic activity. The Parker Solar Probe recorded an interplanetary shock wave traveling at 2800 km/s, the highest recorded speed of this kind in the Solar System.
The participation of the Ukrainian scientist in this international project is a vivid example of the integration of Ukrainian science into the global scientific community.