The Coefficient of Thermal Conductivity in the Sun's Atmosphere.
Abstract
Expressions for the coefficients of thermal conductivity and viscosity for a partially ionized mixture of hydrogen and helium are given as functions of the number densities of the particles and the temperature. Such expressions are required for energy-balance studies, since it is well known that, over much of the sun's atmosphere, ionization is far less advanced than one would predict from the Saha formula. The effect of a magnetic field on the thermal conductivity is discussed. It is pointed out that in the presence of a transverse magnetic eld, even for a nearly ionized gas, the conduction of heat may be due almost entirely to the neutral particles. A sample calculation is given for physical conditions in a prominence.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- July 1961
- DOI:
- 10.1086/147128
- Bibcode:
- 1961ApJ...134...63O