Fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects in the solar atmosphere
Abstract
A simple model is presented to describe fast plasma heating by anomalous and inertial resistivity effects. It is noted that a small fraction of the plasma contains strong currents that run parallel to the magnetic field and are driven by an exponentiating electric field. The anomalous character of the current dissipation derives from the excitation of electrostatic ion-cyclotron and/or ion-acoustic waves. The possible role of resistivity deriving from geometrical effects ('inertial resistivity') is also considered. Using a marginal stability analysis, equations for the average electron and ion temperatures are derived and numerically solved. No loss mechanisms are taken into account. The evolution of the plasma is described as a path in the drift velocity diagram, where the drift velocity is plotted as a function of the electron to ion temperature ratio.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- April 1981
- DOI:
- 10.1086/158847
- Bibcode:
- 1981ApJ...245..721D
- Keywords:
-
- Plasma Conductivity;
- Plasma Currents;
- Plasma Heating;
- Solar Atmosphere;
- Solar Flares;
- Electron Energy;
- Energy Dissipation;
- Ion Acoustic Waves;
- Ion Cyclotron Radiation;
- Ion Temperature;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Plasma Drift;
- Solar X-Rays;
- Solar Physics