Published in the journal Nature, the study challenges previous assumptions that the magnetic field originates deep within the sun and suggests that it is actually generated much closer to the surface.

The team behind the study, which includes scientists from Northwestern University's McCormick School of Engineering and the Center for Interdisciplinary Exploration and Research in Astrophysics, believe that their model could provide a better understanding of the sun's 11-year solar cycle and improve space weather forecasting.

The sun's magnetic field is responsible for the creation of sunspots on its surface and the occurrence of solar storms that result in stunning auroras. However, unraveling how this magnetic field is generated has been a long-standing mystery for astronomers, dating back to Galileo's observations of sunspots in the 1600s.

Daniel Lecoanet, an assistant professor of engineering sciences and applied mathematics at Northwestern University, explained that the previous models assuming a deep origin for the sun's magnetic field have not been able to accurately forecast the strength of the next solar cycle. This new hypothesis, which matches solar observations more closely, could potentially lead to more reliable predictions of solar activity.

Sunspots play a crucial role in tracking the sun's activity and are the sources of explosive flares and ejection events that release light, solar material, and energy into space. The recent solar storm is evidence of the sun reaching its "solar maximum," the period when the number of sunspots is at its highest.

To better comprehend the complexities of the sun's magnetic field, scientists rely on mathematical models. In this study, the team's model accounted for a phenomenon called torsional oscillation, a magnetically driven flow of gas and plasma that contributes to sunspot formation. Torsional oscillations also experience an 11-year cycle, similar to the solar magnetic cycle.

Using advanced numerical algorithms and powerful NASA supercomputers, the researchers made a significant breakthrough in their calculations. They determined that magnetic fields can be generated approximately 20,000 miles below the sun's surface, which is much closer than previously thought (around 130,000 miles).

Geoff Vasil, the lead author of the study and a professor at the University of Edinburgh, had the initial idea for this research about 20 years ago. Over the course of more than a decade, the team developed the necessary algorithms and simulations, ultimately utilizing around 15 million CPU-hours for their investigation.

Commenting on the study, Ellen Zweibel, a professor of astronomy and physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, stated that the team's results were intriguing and would contribute to future models and research on this astrophysical enigma.

With this new theory shedding light on the origin of the sun's magnetic field, scientists are hopeful that it will lead to more accurate forecasts of solar activity, ultimately benefiting various industries reliant on precise space weather predictions, such as GPS and communication satellites.