Convective collapse of flux tubes

Physics

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

129

Convection Currents, Magnetic Flux, Solar Magnetic Field, Stellar Structure, Collapse, Equilibrium, Field Strength, Field Theory (Physics)

Scientific paper

Flux tubes of constant beta extending vertically through the solar convection zone are unstable to a convective instability if the surface field strength is less than 1270 G. By downward displacement of matter along the tube an unstable tube can transform into a new equilibrium state with lower energy which has a higher field strength. Numerical calculations of these 'collapsed' states are presented. If the collapse starts in a field with a strength corresponding to equipartition with kinetic energy in the convection zone, it yields a surface field strength of about 1650 G. It is proposed that the small scale magnetic field in active regions consists of such tubes. The collapsed state is not in thermal equilibrium. In the deeper layers the heat exchange following the collapse is very slow but the surface layers return rapidly to temperature equilibrium. It is argued that during the gradual thermal evolution of the collapsed state its surface layers may start an overstable oscillation. A brightness-velocity correlation in this oscillation could account for the observed downdraft in the tubes.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Convective collapse of flux tubes 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 Convective collapse of flux tubes, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Convective collapse of flux tubes will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-809618

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.