MeerKAT records first high-fidelity imaging spectroscopy of a solar flare
Mar 10th 2026
MeerKAT performed the first detailed imaging spectroscopy of a solar flare, capturing both bright coherent bursts and faint thermal emission with unprecedented image fidelity and dynamic range, and locating multiple radio sources within distinct coronal magnetic structures.
- On 2024-12-29 MeerKAT imaged a GOES M1.3 solar flare in L band (0.856–1.712 GHz) with about 8 arcsecond resolution and 2 second cadence.
- Imaging achieved a dynamic range above 1000, peaking at about 1482, and a broadband composite image with an effective dynamic range exceeding 4000.
- Three spatially distinct coherent radio sources were identified, indicating separate populations of accelerated electrons.
- Faint incoherent thermal emission was detected extending beyond AIA 131 angstrom structures, demonstrating sensitivity to hot low emission measure plasma invisible to EUV instruments.
- Cotemporal hard X rays and nonlinear force free magnetic field extrapolation place the radio sources in different coronal loops, linking each source to distinct magnetic structures.
- Key limitations were off boresight observing, flagged RFI channels, and the 2 second temporal resolution, which limited tracing of rapid burst dynamics and argue for higher cadence and SKA Mid upgrades.