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Vanessa Polito

Courtesy Faculty
Department of Physics

Vanessa Polito

Courtesy Faculty
Department of Physics

My research focuses on understanding the nature and dynamics of solar flares. These are the largest explosions in the solar system, associated with the release of energy in the form of radiation, ejection of hot plasma, and particles which are directed towards the Earth and cause severe disturbances to our space environment. Another key research interest of mine is focused on understanding the heating of the solar corona, which is a long-standing puzzle in solar physics.