Effect of Collisions and Magnetic Convergence on Electron Acceleration and Transport in Reconnecting Twisted Solar Flare Loops

We study a model of particle acceleration coupled with an MHD model of magnetic reconnection in unstable twisted coronal loops. The kink instability leads to the formation of helical currents with strong parallel electric fields resulting in electron acceleration. The motion of electrons in the electric and magnetic fields of the reconnecting loop is investigated using a test-particle approach taking into account collisional scattering. We discuss the effects of Coulomb collisions and magnetic convergence near loop footpoints on the spatial distribution and energy spectra of high-energy electron populations and possible implications on the hard X-ray emission in solar flares.     

The MHD stability of a twisted flux tube prominence model

The ideal MHD stability of the 2D twisted magnetic flux tube prominence model of Cartledge and Hood (1993) is investigated. The model includes a temperature profile that varies from realistic prominence values up to typical coronal values. The prominence is considered to be of finite-width and finite height. The stability properties of the prominence models are studied by using a method that generates a separate necessary condition and a sufficient condition. These conditions give bounds on the parameters that define marginal stability. In many cases these bounds are quite close so that further, more detailed, stability calculations are not necessary. A number of parameter regimes are examined, corresponding to different profiles of the prominence temperatures, densities, and magnetic field shear. It is found that the model admits realistic stable and unstable loop lengths for observed prominence parameters when the axial magnetic field component does not vanish.     

Sweeping-magnetic-twist mechanism for the acceleration of jets in the solar atmosphere

A magnetodynamic mechanism for the acceleration of jets in the solar atmosphere (surges, Brueckner's EUV jets, and so on) is proposed, and a 2.5-dimensional MHD simulation is performed to show how this mechanism operates in the situation of the chromosphere-corona region of the solar atmosphere. It is seen from the result of simulation that together with the release of the magnetic twist, e.g., into a reconnected open flux tube, the mass in the high density twisted loop is driven out into the open flux tube due both to the pinch effect progressing with the packet of the magnetic twist into the open flux tube, and to the j × B force at the front of the packet of the unwinding twist in the off-axis part of the tube. The former, the progressing pinch, is accompanied by an accelerated hot blob, while the latter, the unwinding front of the magnetic twist, drives a cool cylindrical flow, both with velocities of the order of the local Alfvén velocity. One of the characteristic properties of the jet in our model is that the jet, consisting of hot core and cool sheath, has a helical velocity field in it, explaining the thus-far unexplained observed feature.The sudden release of the magnetic twist into an open flux tube is most likely to be due to the reconnection between a twisted loop and the open flux tube. The mass is driven out in the relaxation process of the magnetic twist from the twisted loop to the open flux tube.     

A mechanism for a class of solar coronal disturbances

In this paper, a new ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model is used to examine the dynamical response of the upper solar atmosphere to injection of cold mass from the photosphere akin to a surge. A significant new physical phenomenon is revealed: the formation of an almost stationary loop prominence in the atmosphere as a consequence of the ejected material. Simultaneously with the formation of this new loop, the simulation exhibits MHD waves that propagate outward (i.e., away from the loop) to excite coronal material. It is conjectured that these waves may trigger a class of coronal disturbances.     

A magnetic bald-patch flare in solar active region 11117

With SDO observations and a data-constrained magnetohydrodynamics(MHD)model,we identify a confined multi-ribbon flare that occurred on 2010 October 25 in solar active region 11117 as a magnetic bald patch(BP)flare with strong evidence.From the photospheric magnetic field observed by SDO/HMI,we find there are indeed magnetic BPs on the polarity inversion lines(PILs)which match parts of the flare ribbons.From the 3D coronal magnetic field derived from an MHD relaxation model constrained by the vector magnetograms,we find strikingly good agreement of the BP separatrix surface(BPSS)footpoints with the flare ribbons,and the BPSS itself with the hot flaring loop system.Moreover,the triggering of the BP flare can be attributed to a small flux emergence under the lobe of the BPSS,and the relevant change of coronal magnetic field through the flare is reproduced well by the pre-flare and post-flare MHD solutions,which match the corresponding pre-and post-flare AIA observations,respectively.Our work contributes to the study of non-typical flares that constitute the majority of solar flares but which cannot be explained by the standard flare model.     

A magnetohydrodynamic theory of coronal loop transients

A magnetohydrodynamic theory is presented for coronal loop transients. It is shown that the heliocentrifugal motion of a transient loop, as exhibited by the translational displacement of the axis of the loop, is driven by the magnetohydrodynamic buoyancy force exerted by the ambient medium. Self-induced hydromagnetic force, which includes the magnetic force produced by the internally driven current and the thermal force produced by the pressure imbalance between the internal and external gas pressures, causes the peripheral expansion of the loop, as exhibited by the lateral broadening and longitudinal stretching. This contention is substantiated by an analysis based on a model structure for a coronal loop.Besides accounting for the acceleration and expansion of a transient loop, this magnetohydrodynamic theory also provides an explanation for the initial ejection of a coronal loop from stationary equilibrium. Magnetic unwinding in consequence of abrupt magnetic activities at the solar surface will cause the periphery of a stationary coronal loop to expand. The increase in volume will enhance the magnetohydrodynamic buyoyancy force to exceed the gravitational force. Once a coronal loop is ejected from the solar surface, it will be continually accelerated and undergo expansion. Eventually a transient loop will blend with the ambient solar wind. This is also indicated by the theory presented in this paper.     

Seismology of Oscillating Flux Tube with Twisted Magnetic Field and Plasma Flow

Transverse oscillations of a thin coronal loop in a zero-beta plasma in the presence of a twisted magnetic field and flow are investigated. The dispersion relation is obtained in the limit of weak twist. The twisted magnetic field modifies the phase difference and asymmetry of standing kink oscillations caused by the flow. Using data from observations the kink speed and flow speed have been determined. The presence of the twisted magnetic field can cause underestimation or overestimation of the flow speed in coronal loops depending on the direction of the flow and twisted magnetic field, but a twisted magnetic field has little effect on the estimated value of the kink speed.     

Interfacing MHD Single Fluid and Kinetic Exospheric Solar Wind Models and Comparing Their Energetics

An exospheric kinetic solar wind model is interfaced with an observation-driven single-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model. Initially, a photospheric magnetogram serves as observational input in the fluid approach to extrapolate the heliospheric magnetic field. Then semi-empirical coronal models are used for estimating the plasma characteristics up to a heliocentric distance of 0.1 AU. From there on, a full MHD model that computes the three-dimensional time-dependent evolution of the solar wind macroscopic variables up to the orbit of Earth is used. After interfacing the density and velocity at the inner MHD boundary, we compare our results with those of a kinetic exospheric solar wind model based on the assumption of Maxwell and Kappa velocity distribution functions for protons and electrons, respectively, as well as with in situ observations at 1 AU. This provides insight into more physically detailed processes, such as coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, which naturally arise from including suprathermal electrons in the model. We are interested in the profile of the solar wind speed and density at 1 AU, in characterizing the slow and fast source regions of the wind, and in comparing MHD with exospheric models in similar conditions. We calculate the energetics of both models from low to high heliocentric distances.     

Resonant Absorption of Alfvén Waves in Steady Coronal Loops

The effect of equilibrium flow on linear Alfvén resonances in coronal loops is studied in the compressible viscous MHD model. By means of a finite element code, the full set of linearised driven MHD equations are solved for a one-dimensional equilibrium model in which the equilibrium quantities depend only on the radial coordinate. Computations of resonant absorption of Alfvén waves for two classes of coronal loop models show that the efficiency of the process of resonant absorption strongly depends on both the equilibrium parameters and the characteristics of the resonant wave. We find that a steady equilibrium shear flow can also significantly influence the resonant absorption of Alfvén waves in coronal magnetic flux tubes. The presence of an equilibrium flow may therefore be important for resonant Alfvén waves and coronal heating. A parametric analysis also shows that the resonant absorption can be strongly enhanced by the equilibrium flow, even up to total dissipation of the incoming wave.     

A low β coronal loop model

A localized force-free current is proposed as a model for the observed coronal loops.An upper limit for the growth rate of kink instabilities in this model is found by solving numerically, in cylinder symmetry, the MHD equation of motion, with the boundary condition = 0 outside the loop.For various current densities a spectrum of kinks is found. These instabilities will disrupt the loops that are long or strongly twisted, on a time scale of a few seconds.The kinks in short or barely twisted loops are too long to fit.     

Plasma jet and shock formation during current loop coalescence in solar flares

We report on the results of plasma jet and shock formation during the current loop coalescence in solar flares. It is shown by a theoretical model based on the ideal MHD equation that the spiral, two-sided plasma jet can be explosively driven by the plasma rotational motion induced during the two current loop coalescence process. The maximum velocity of the jet can exceed the Alfvén velocity, depending on the plasma (= c _s ² v _A ² ) ratio. The acceleration time getting to the maximum jet velocity is quite short and le than 1 s. The rebound following the plasma collapse driven by magnetic pinch effect can strongly induce super-Alfvénic flow. We present the condition of the shock formation. We briefly discuss the high-energy particle acceleration during the plasma collapse as well as by the shocks.     

Pressure structure of solar coronal loops,III

The theory of ideal magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in cylindrical geometry is used to study the steady-state structure of a coronal loop. The pressure profile is derived from MHD equations by representing the velocity and magnetic fields as the superposition of Chandrasekhar-Kendall functions. Such a representation brings out the three-dimensional structure of the pressure in the coronal loop. The radial, azimuthal, and axial variations of the pressure for a constant density loop are discussed in detail. The pressure has an oscillatory behavior for different azimuthal angles at some radial positions. This study predicts more features in pressure than can be compared with the presently available observations.     

Intermittent heating in a model of solar coronal loops

X-ray and EUV observations of the solar corona reveal a very complex and dynamic environment where there are many examples of structures that are believed to outline the Sun's magnetic field. In this present study, the authors investigate the temporal response of the temperature, density and pressure of a solar coronal plasma contained within a magnetic loop to an intermittent heating source generated by Ohmic dissipation. The energy input is produced by a one-dimensional MHD flare model. This model is able to reproduce some of the statistical properties derived from X-ray flare observations. In particular the heat deposition consists of both a sub-flaring background and much larger, singular dissipative events. Two different heating profiles are investigated: (a) the spatial average of the square of the current along the loop and (b) the maximum of the square of the current along the loop. For case (a), the plasma parameters appear to respond more to the global variations in the heat deposition about its average value rather than to each specific event. For case (b), the plasma quantities are more intermittent in their evolution. In both cases the density response is the least bursty signal. It is found that the time-dependent energy input can maintain the plasma at typical coronal temperatures. Implications of these results upon the latest coronal observations are discussed.     

Pulsations of type IV radio bursts as an indicator of protonarility of solar flares

The analysis of observational data has shown that the duration of a pulse train in type IV radio bursts decreases with increasing hardness of the spectrum of high-energy protons and increases with decreasing proton fluxes from the Sun. It is shown that such a correlation corresponds to a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model of pulsations and is inexplicacable within the framework of a nonlinear periodical regime of plasma instabilities. The pulse train duration is determined by proton pitch-angle diffusion caused by Alfvén waves in coronal magnetic loops. A method of predicting solar proton hardness and proton fluxes using type IV radio burst pulsations is proposed.     

Acceleration and Storage of Energetic Electrons in Magnetic Loops in the Course of Electric Current Oscillations

A mechanism of electron acceleration and storage of energetic particles in solar and stellar coronal magnetic loops, based on oscillations of the electric current, is considered. The magnetic loop is presented as an electric circuit with the electric current generated by convective motions in the photosphere. Eigenoscillations of the electric current in a loop induce an electric field directed along the loop axis. It is shown that the sudden reductions that occur in the course of type IV continuum and pulsating type III observed in various frequency bands (25?–?180 MHz, 110?–?600 MHz, 0.7?–?3.0 GHz) in solar flares provide evidence for acceleration and storage of the energetic electrons in coronal magnetic loops. We estimate the energization rate and the energy of accelerated electrons and present examples of the storage of energetic electrons in loops in the course of flares on the Sun or on ultracool stars. We also discuss the efficiency of the suggested mechanism as compared with the electron acceleration during the five-minute photospheric oscillations and with the acceleration driven by the magnetic Rayleigh–Taylor instability.     

Energetic particle acceleration in a three-dimensional magnetic field reconnection model: the role of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence

The role of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence in the cosmic ray acceleration process in a volume with a reconnecting magnetic field is studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We performed modelling of proton acceleration, with the three-dimensional analytic model of stationary reconnection of Craig et al. providing the unperturbed background conditions. Perturbations of particle trajectories resulting from a turbulent magnetic field component were simulated using small-amplitude pitch-angle momentum scattering, enabling modelling of both small- and large-amplitude turbulence in a wide wavevector range. Within the approach, no second-order Fermi acceleration process is allowed. Comparison of the acceleration process in models involving particle trajectory perturbations with the unperturbed model reveals that the turbulence can substantially increase the acceleration efficiency, enabling much higher final particle energies and flat particle spectra.     

Prompt particle acceleration around moving X-point magnetic field during impulsive phase of solar flares

We present a model for high-energy solar flares to explain prompt proton and electron acceleration, which occurs around moving X-point magnetic fields during the implosion phase of the current sheet. We derive the electromagnetic fields during the strong implosion of the current sheet, which is driven by the converging flow toward the center of the magnetic arcade. We investigated a test particle motion in the strong electromagnetic fields derived from the MHD equations. It is shown that both protons and electrons can be promptly (within 1 s) accelerated to 70 and 200 MeV, respectively. This acceleration mechanism can be applicable for the impulsive phase of the gradual gamma-ray and proton flares (gradual GR/P flare), which have been called two-ribbon flares.     

Heating of chromospheric magnetic features by direct current dissipation

It is shown that the direct current dissipation is very unlikely to be the heat source of the coronal loop, because it accompanies unacceptably high heating rate in the chromospheric portion of the loop. This also suggests that a rather weak current density can supply the heat to a small (R < 10⁷ cm) chromospheric magnetic features. A larger magnetic element may be heated by the direct current dissipation only if the current changes directions within a single element so that the generated magnetic field is sufficiently weak to insure MHD stability.     

Rapid damping of the oscillations of coronal loops with an azimuthal magnetic field

We consider the MHD oscillations of an inhomogeneous coronal loop that consists of a dense cord surrounded by a shell. The magnetic field is longitudinal in the cord and has only an azimuthal component in the shell. The parameters of the loop are chosen to be such that there are no resonances; i.e., the resonance points are cut off. This choice is dictated by the formulated problem of considering the influence of the radiation of MHD waves into the surrounding space on the loop oscillations, thereby ruling out the possibility of resonant energy absorption. The wave radiation efficiency is high and allows low oscillation Q-factors, which are equal in order of magnitude to their observed values, to be obtained.