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Dynamical Magnetic Energy Release of Current Loops in the Corona: Effects of Toroidal Forces

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 September 2017

James Chen*
Affiliation:
U. S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375, U.S.A.

Abstract

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We discuss a mechanism whereby a current loop embedded in plasmas such as the solar and stellar coronae can dissipate magnetic energy without resistive effects or reconnection. This mechanism arises from the motion of magnetic/current structures driven by “toroidal forces”. Using a simple model loop, we show that it can exhibit a wide range of motion with correspondingly wide range of magnetic energy dissipation rates. For example, a loop with ~20G can attain expansion velocities of ~1200km s–1 under solar coronal conditions, dissipating ~1032erg in a few tens of minutes.

Type
Session III: Theory
Copyright
Copyright © Kluwer 1989

References

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