SOFTCAT is a research project that aims to answer one of the outstanding questions in the field of solar and space physics: what are the sources of the open solar magnetic field stretching away from the Sun? Magnetic field from the Sun is carried away in the interplanetary space by a constant flow of plasma and not only it interacts with the Earth's magnetic field directly but it also sculpts the space through which travel the solar phenomena responsible for geomagnetic storms and severe space weather effects. With a fleet of spacecraft orbiting the Sun we can measure the magnetic field in situ. Images of the Sun show us the possible sources of that magnetic field. But until now the primary source we identified cannot provide all the open flux we measure at Earth's orbit. SOFTCAT will identify the remaining so far “hidden” sources of the open magnetic field and solve the mystery. The project will be carried out at the University of Helsinki by Dr. Eleanna Asvestari.

2023

2027