Dynamical evolution and structure of solar coronal magnetic fields

A simple dynamical system is presented which is analogous in many ways to a solar coronal loop. When this system is subject to slow, external driving, representing photospheric motion, it undergoes occasional impulsive relaxations. These relaxations release some fraction of the magnetic energy as Al...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPhysics of fluids. B, Plasma physics Vol. 4; no. 7; pp. 2277 - 2285
Main Authors Longcope, D. W., Sudan, R. N.
Format Journal Article Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY American Institute of Physics 01.07.1992
Subjects
Astronomy
Corona. Coronal loops, streamers, and holes
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Solar physics
Solar system
ALFVEN WAVES
SOLAR FLARES
PHOTOSPHERE
EQUILIBRIUM
RELAXATION
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
DYNAMICAL SYSTEMS
SOLAR CORONA
LOW−BETA PLASMA
Solar corona
Relaxation
MHD model
Coronal loop
Dynamical evolution
Dynamical system
Non linear system
Solar magnetic field
Sun
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Summary:A simple dynamical system is presented which is analogous in many ways to a solar coronal loop. When this system is subject to slow, external driving, representing photospheric motion, it undergoes occasional impulsive relaxations. These relaxations release some fraction of the magnetic energy as Alfvén waves in the loop. When the model system is integrated for long times it reaches a statistical steady state in which relaxation events occur at random times with random amplitudes. The distributions of these quantities is compared to similar distributions for microflares occurring in the solar corona.
ISSN:0899-8221
2163-503X
DOI:10.1063/1.860197