Solar Orbiter Detects Record Helium-3 in Quiet Sun Jet

Rahul Somvanshi

Solar scientists were stunned when the NASA/ESA Solar Orbiter detected the highest-ever concentration of rare helium-3 from our Sun, with levels 200,000 times higher than normal.

Photo Source: European Space Agency (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)

Unlike typical solar eruptions from active, magnetically charged regions, this helium blast came from a small jet in a quiet area of the Sun with surprisingly weak magnetic fields.

Photo Source: European Space Agency (CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO)

This rare isotope is scarce in our solar system — found at a ratio of about one ³He ion per 2,500 ⁴He ions," explained Dr. Radoslav Bucik, who led the research.

Photo Source: Kanijoman (CC BY 2.0)

The unusual event showed a strange mix of elements – carbon, nitrogen, silicon, and sulfur levels spiked, while iron remained unchanged, defying the typical pattern seen in solar ejections.

Photo Source: NASA Kennedy (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

This rare combination of extreme helium-3 enrichment with this specific elemental signature has only been documented 19 times in 25 years of watching the Sun.

Photo Source: UCL Mathematical (CC BY 2.0)

Parker Solar Probe missed the event despite being well-positioned, highlighting why we need spacecraft operating closer to the Sun to catch these brief but scientifically valuable phenomena.

Photo Source: NASA Kennedy (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Scientists continue analyzing this puzzling helium surge to better understand how the Sun accelerates particles, with findings published in The Astrophysical Journal.

Photo Source: UCL Mathematical (CC BY 2.0)

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