Science

Laser-blasted plasma shows how instabilities could heat the sun's corona

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 26/10/2026, 17:10:24 UTC.

Briefings

A 2026 study suggests laser-blasted plasma can heat the sun's corona to millions of degrees, contradicting the 5,800 Kelvin surface temperature. This finding implies instabilities in the atmosphere drive extreme heating, though the exact mechanism remains unexplained by current models.

Key points

• The sun's visible surface radiates heat at 5,800 Kelvin, while the corona reaches millions of degrees.
• Laser-blasted plasma experiments demonstrate a pathway for corona heating that contradicts standard atmospheric models.

Context

Astronomers observe the sun's corona is significantly hotter than its surface, with electrons reaching millions of degrees. This discrepancy has puzzled scientists for decades, as the corona's extreme heat is not explained by standard physics.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single 2026 study and does not include historical data or comparative analysis of other heating mechanisms. The causal link between laser-blasted plasma and corona heating remains unproven.

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