A Numerical Investigation of a Simple 3D Magnetic Flux Interaction Event
K. Galsgaard & R. Walsh
Institute: University of St Andrews
Institute: University of Central Lancashire
Contact Email: klaus@mcs.st-and.ac.uk
Abstract:
The discovery of the magnetic carpet on the sun, the continuously
changing of small scale magnetic flux elements in the solar atmosphere,
indicates that the
life time of individual flux elements is less than
one day. During this time the elements interact with each other
and eventually become impossible to identify individually.
The complexity of the coronal magnetic
field relating to this source distribution provides a complex
pattern of overlying field line connectivity, with one flux element
connecting possibly to several other flux elements.
Stressing such a complex magnetic field
by movements of the flux sources in the photosphere, must lead undoubtfully
to the formation of many localised current concentrations that can
provide local heating for the transition region and lower coronal plasma.
In this paper we investigate
a simple flux interaction event between two unbalanced magnetic sources.
Using a numerical MHD approach we examine
when and how the free magnetic energy may be released when the flux patches
are rotated relative to one another.
It is found that this topological simple magnetic configuration does
not reach easily a state where a measure of the imposed stress
is released on a short dynamical time scale.
Index Keywords: Numerical MHD ; Coronal Heating ; Magnetic Carpet
Next: Fludra
Previous: Curdt
Up: Tuesday Index
Up: Top Index
Manuscript submitted: 2001-Oct-25
"The Future of Cool-Star Astrophysics", 2003, Eds. A. Brown,
G. M. Harper, & T. R. Ayres.
Proceedings of 12th Cambridge Workshop on Cool Stars, Stellar Systems,
& The Sun,
© 2003 University of Colorado.