Because the sun is our closest star, solar physics allows researchers to observe and develop fundamental theories of plasma physics and how magnetic fields, electricity and plasma interact. This not only increases our knowledge of the universe but can also give us insights into climate, energy development and space weather that can effect our communications.
The Department of Astronomy is home to the Institute of Solar Physics, where both theoretical and observational solar physics research is conducted. The Institute of Solar Physics is a national resource under the Swedish Research Council and is responsible for the Swedish solar telescope, SST, on the Canary Island of La Palma. The research at the institute is mainly focused on studies of sunspots, small-scale magnetic fields, spectral line formation and the sun's chromosphere.
For further information, visit the web site of the Institute for Solar Physics