Eugene Parker

American astrophysicist

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Eugene Parker was an American astrophysicist who made significant contributions to our understanding of the Sun and its effects on space. In 1958, Parker demonstrated that the Sun's atmosphere could expel gas at supersonic speeds, a phenomenon now known as the solar wind. This continuous stream of plasma ejected from the Sun's surface travels through interplanetary space. Parker's theoretical work, which described how plasma flows in the Sun's gravitational field, was later confirmed by satellite probes in the 1960s. His research provided crucial insights into the Sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, and its dynamic interaction with the solar system.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

plasma
Regions of the Sun
In 1958 the American astrophysicist Eugene Parker showed that the equations describing the flow of plasma in the Sun’s gravitational field had one solution that allowed the gas to become supersonic and to escape the Sun’s pull. The solution was much like the description of a rocket nozzle in which…
Read More
In 1958 the American astrophysicist Eugene Parker showed that the equations describing the flow of plasma in the Sun’s gravitational field had one solution that allowed the gas to become supersonic and to escape the Sun’s pull. The solution was much like the description of a rocket nozzle in which…
Read More