| Name: Deepan Patra |
| Affiliation: National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune |
| Conference ID: ASI2026_667 |
| Title: Multi-wavelength study of the Solar Corona using MeerKAT and space-based instruments |
| Abstract Type: Poster |
| Abstract Category: Sun, Solar System, Exoplanets, and Astrobiology |
| Author(s) and Co-Author(s) with Affiliation: Deepan Patra(National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune - 411007, India), Devojyoti Kansabanik(Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11001 Johns Hopkins Rd, Laurel, MD, USA 20723), Soham Dey(National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune - 411007, India), Divya Oberoi(National Centre for Radio Astrophysics, Pune - 411007, India) |
| Abstract: Probing the dynamics and structure of the coronal plasma and the magnetic field requires a multi-wavelength approach. Space-based missions (e.g. Solar Dynamics Observatory, Solar Orbiter, Aditya L1, Parker Solar Probe etc.) provide unprecedented measurements of various physical quantities in corona such as the magnetic field, in-situ plasma parameters etc. Conversely, radio observations offer a unique and complementary diagnostic capability. New-generation radio interferometers like the MeerKAT, operating between 580–1710 MHz, enables high-fidelity spectroscopic snapshot imaging of the Sun at centimetre wavelengths, corresponding to emission heights of approximately 1.02–1.3 R_sun. The broad frequency coverage and high dynamic range allow full-disk imaging of both quiescent and active coronal plasma, helping in directly probing the various emission mechanisms such as thermal bremsstrahlung, gyroresonance, plasma emission etc. This capability bridges the diagnostic gap between slit-based EUV spectrographs and full-disk imagers, providing sensitivity to plasma across a wide temperature range (from the transition region to the low corona). Recent observations demonstrate MeerKAT’s capability to image key coronal structures, including coronal holes, filaments, cavities, and eruptive events such as flares and coronal mass ejections, providing insight into evolving plasma conditions and non-thermal particle acceleration. When combined with space-based missions’ continuous coverage in EUV, and X-ray wavelengths, together with magnetic field measurements, and in-situ observations, MeerKAT enables multi-thermal and multi-height diagnostics of coronal plasma and magnetic fields. This presentation will demonstrate some of the early results from a few solar observations from MeerKAT and how this will significantly enhance our ability to measure and model the coronal plasma and magnetic field, contributing to a better understanding of solar activity and its heliospheric impact. |
