Solar MHD: An Introduction
Abstract
The Universe is filled by plasmas. In fact, it can be reasonably estimated that more than 95% of (standard) cosmic matter is found in the plasma state. Given this basic fact, it is apparent that plasma physics is the basic tool to understand the mechanisms that are at work in the astrophysical context and to interpret the observations. The Earth represents a notable exception as far as the presence of natural plasmas is concerned, a lucky circumstance for living beings. In practice, terrestrial plasmas are almost exclusively produced during electrical discharges, such as lightning. If plasmas are almost absent on Earth and in the low-altitude atmosphere, they start to be the dominant state of matter immediately beyond the ionosphere, the magnetosphere, and the whole heliosphere that includes the entire solar system made up of plasmas. The Sun, like the other stars, is made up of ionized gas almost everywhere.
- Publication:
-
Turbulence in Space Plasmas
- Pub Date:
- 2009
- DOI:
- 10.1007/978-3-642-00210-6_2
- Bibcode:
- 2009LNP...778...45C