Studies of solar flares and coronal loops
Abstract
The objectives of this research were to improve our understanding of solar flares and solar coronal loops. The specific approach to the flare objective was to analyze and interpret solar flare data, using theoretical methods developed as part of the research. The specific approach to the coronal loop objective was to investigate their thermal and magnetohydrodynamic stability for various physical models. The principal result of the flare research was to demonstrate that, in two well observed flares, the mechanism of chromospheric evaporation accounts for the observed amount of flare X-ray plasma. The dominant energy transport mechanism is thermal conduction. Heating by energetic electrons is of secondary importance. The principal results of the magnetohydrodynamic stability analyses were demonstrations by the role of radiative energy loss, compressibility, magnetic field line twist, foot point magnetic field line tying, and radial plasma pressure gradient.
- Publication:
-
California Univ., San Diego Report
- Pub Date:
- July 1984
- Bibcode:
- 1984ucsd.reptQ....C
- Keywords:
-
- Coronal Loops;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Stability;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Flares;
- Solar X-Rays;
- Chromosphere;
- Electrons;
- Energy Transfer;
- Evaporation;
- Investigation;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Models;
- Plasma Heating;
- Plasma Pressure;
- Pressure Gradients;
- Radiative Transfer;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Thermal Stability;
- Twisting;
- Solar Physics