Dynamics of the quiescent solar corona

view Abstract Citations (1506) References (50) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS Dynamics of the quiescent solar corona. Rosner, R. ; Tucker, W. H. ; Vaiana, G. S. Abstract An analytical model for the quiescent inhomogeneous solar corona is developed on the basis of the hypothesis that looplike structures are the basic coronal building blocks. By assuming that quiescent loop structures observed in X-rays are in hydrostatic equilibrium, it is demonstrated that such loops must have their temperature maximum located near their apex and that substantial nonradiative energy deposition must occur along most of their length. The calculations yield a unique relation among loop temperature, pressure, and size, which fits the X-ray observations of quiescent structures well and is consistent with the initial assumption of hydrostatic equilibrium. The results suggest that the coronal loops visible in X-rays represent a relatively steady-state equilibrium of the confined plasmas and that fluctuations in such quantities as the local heating rate can lead to dynamically unstable states in which the loop plasma does not attain a temperature sufficient for X-ray emission. A parameterization of various proposed coronal heating theories is also developed within the context of the analytical model. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: March 1978 DOI: 10.1086/155949 Bibcode: 1978ApJ...220..643R Keywords: Solar Activity; Solar Corona; Solar X-Rays; X Ray Astronomy; Astronomical Models; Convective Flow; Hydrostatic Pressure; Parameterization; Plasma Control; Skylab Program; Stellar Magnetic Fields; Solar Physics; Solar Corona:Models; Solar Corona:X Rays full text sources ADS |