TITLE : Unveiling Turbulence in Near-Earth Solar Coronal Mass Ejections
ABSTRACT :
Solar Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) are enormous eruptions of magnetized plasma from the solar corona. They are among the primary drivers of severe space-weather disturbances experienced at Earth, which include geomagnetic storms, GPS and communication disruptions, satellite anomalies, and radiation hazards. As they propagate through the heliosphere, successive CMEs can interact and reshape one another, altering their dynamics, internal structure, and geoeffectiveness. Understanding these processes is therefore crucial for improving CME arrival-time and space-weather predictions.
In this talk, I will focus on the turbulent properties of near-Earth CMEs and their role in probing CME morphology and thermodynamic evolution. I will also highlight the differences between isolated and interacting CMEs, providing insights into how CME–CME interactions modify their internal plasma environment. Finally, I will briefly discuss recent advances from Aditya-L1, India's first dedicated solar mission. Overall, the talk will offer a glimpse into recent developments in CME physics from both Indian and global perspectives.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER :
Dr. Bhattacharjee is a postdoctoral fellow at the Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO), Physical Research Laboratory and is working with Prof. Nandita Srivastava on characterizing interacting CMEs that are primarily associated with major geomagnetic storms. Prior to that, he was a UKRI-STFC postdoctoral researcher at the School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Glasgow with Prof. Eduard Kontar from Aug 2023 to June 2025. His project aimed at understanding the flare-accelerated electrons using the X-ray observations and the warm-target model. He completed his MSc from IISER Pune and then did his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Prasad Subramanain, IISER Pune from 2018 to 2023 on the topic "Characterizing Magnetic Clouds associated with Solar Coronal Mass Ejections through in situ Observations". He was a DAAD visiting researcher for one year (2020) and worked with Prof. Volker Bothmer at the University of Goettingen, Germany on a project associated with the European Space Agency (ESA). He was also associated with the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF) project (Understanding the CME propagation and its internal structure in the interplanetary space to predict Bz) from 2022 to 2024. He is a member of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), a junior member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), and a lifetime member of the Astronomical Society of India (ASI). His primary research interests lie in
1. Characterization of CMEs, their interactions, their associated sheaths and their impact on Earth's space weather systems using MHD framework and observations.
2. Understanding the acceleration mechanisms and morphology of solar flares (both eruptive and confined flares) using X-ray, EUV observations and modeling.
MEETING DETAILS :
Speaker: Dr. Debesh Bhattacharjee , Postdoctoral Fellow, Udaipur Solar Observatory (USO) under Physical Research Laboratory
Venue: A4 Conf Room, South Campus, IIT Mandi
Date and Time: September 3, 2026, Thursday at 4:00 pm