The study of the Sun with the help of sound waves revealed that the layer with magnetic activity has recently become much thinner. The situation is explained by a professor from the School of Physics and Astronomy of the University of Birmingham Yvonne Ellsworth.
In fact, our star resembles a musical instrument, only notes are located at a low frequency - 100,000 times lower than the average. Studies of sound waves by helioseismology help to understand what is going on inside the sun.
The sun represents a cavity for capturing sound generated by turbulence in hundreds of km of convection. For such studies, use the advanced tool BiSON (Birmingham Solar Oscillations Network), operating since 1985.
During this time, scientists have recorded three 11-year cycles of solar activity. At the same time, it was possible to observe the fluctuations of the rate at which energy particles are formed. Now the star is approaching the period of minimal activity. The team is looking for clues in previous cycles to understand what could have led to the current situation. The fact is that the last highs were unusually calm, and this cycle has a lingering minimum of activity. It is surprising that in recent years, the inner solar state has changed, and these amazing features are seen in the current cycle.
Theoretical models show that the distribution of the magnetic field has become thinner, and the stellar rotation also passed through the changes. At latitudes, the speed slowed down by 60 degrees. It’s too early to talk about the consequences, but the next minimum is expected in two years.
