On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions

Details On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions

Mar 2004

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2004apj...603l..61v&link_type=abstract

The Astrophysical Journal, Volume 603, Issue 1, pp. L61-L64.

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

20

Sun: Activity, Sun: Flares, Sun: Magnetic Fields

Scientific paper

We investigate the statistical properties of possible magnetic discontinuities in two solar active regions over the course of several hours. We use linear force-free extrapolations to calculate the three-dimensional magnetic structure in the active regions. Magnetic discontinuities are identified using various selection criteria. Independently of the selection criterion, we identify large numbers of magnetic discontinuities whose free magnetic energies and volumes obey well-formed power-law distribution functions. The power-law indices for the free energies are in the range [-1.6, -1.35], in remarkable agreement with the power-law indices found in the occurrence frequencies of solar flare energies. This agreement and the strong self-similarity of the volumes that are likely to host flares suggest that the observed statistics of flares may be the natural outcome of a preexisting spatial self-organization accompanying the energy fragmentation in solar active regions. We propose a dynamical picture of flare triggering consistent with recent observations by reconciling our results with the concepts of percolation theory and self-organized criticality. These concepts rely on self-organization, which is expected from the fully turbulent state of the magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and On the Self-Similarity of Unstable Magnetic Discontinuities in Solar Active Regions will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1621165