Solar sigmoids explained
'Sigmoids' are S-shaped structures found in the outer atmosphere of the Sun (the corona), seen with X-ray telescopes and thought to be a crucial part of explosive events like solar flares. Now a group of astronomers have developed the first model to reproduce and explain the nature of the different stages of a sigmoid's life. Professor Alan Hood and Dr Vasilis Archontis, both from the Mathematical Institute at St. Andrews University, Scotland, will present the team's results at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science conference at the University of Hertfordshire. Prof. Hood will present some of the work in a talk on Monday 20th April, supplemented by a poster by Dr Vasilis Archontis on Thursday 23rd April, which will cover the model in more detail...