Quick search Find article
Quick search
Find article

Stability and mode analysis of solar low-coronal structures using irreversible energy principles

Andrea Costa

Show affiliations


Low coronal highly anisotropic structures as loops and prominences are relatively stable configurations with densities hundreds of times higher and temperatures hundreds of times lower than their surrounding corona. Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) open systems, generally driven by coupled mechanical and thermal perturbations, can go beyond the linear state configurations into new stationary states known as nonlinear equilibria. Thus, a crucial requirement for any theoretical model that intends to describe these far-from-equilibrium states is to give an account of the stability and evolution of the numerous nonlinear thermodynamic stationary states that can arrive. Observations obtained with high spatial and time resolution instruments of the new spacecraft generation describe a wide spectrum of configurations which sustain fast and slow magnetoacoustic oscillations or propagating MHD waves that are ducted by the magnetic fields of the low β-corona media. Measurements of characteristic periods, speeds and damping times as well as different theoretical models that intend to describe non-dissipative damping mechanisms and leakage processes of systems with high-Reynolds number provide us with new diagnostic tools to reveal unknown or more accurate solar physics parameters. We summarize some theoretical and observational results that give an account of the coronal seismology state-of-art. We present a thermodynamic stability criterion to describe the modes and stability of coronal structures. We give some results of its application to coronal seismology. This allows us to discuss the feasibility of wave- and flow-based models for solar loops and to offer a different explanation to the presence of frequencies associated with helioseismological p-modes at the altitude of the corona.


PACS

96.60.pf Coronal loops, streamers

95.30.Tg Thermodynamic processes, conduction, convection, equations of state

96.60.Na Chromosphere and chromosphere–corona transition; spicules

95.30.Qd Magnetohydrodynamics and plasmas

96.60.Hv Electric and magnetic fields

96.60.Ly Oscillations and waves; helioseismology

Subjects

Plasma physics

Astrophysics and astroparticles

Dates

Issue T131 (October 2008)

Received 10 June 2008, accepted for publication 17 June 2008

Published 5 December 2008



  1. Stability and mode analysis of solar low-coronal structures using irreversible energy principles

    Andrea Costa 2008 Phys. Scr. 2008 014047

  2. Making tracks: electronic excitation roles in forming swift heavy ion tracks

    N Itoh et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 474205

  3. Rare earth magnetism in CeFeAsO: a single crystal study

    A Jesche et al 2009 New J. Phys. 11 103050

  4. Non-collinearity and spin frustration in the itinerant kagome ferromagnet Fe3Sn2

    L A Fenner et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 452202

  5. Metallic glasses: viable tool materials for the production of surface microstructures in amorphous polymers by micro-hot-embossing

    David L Henann et al 2009 J. Micromech. Microeng. 19 115030

  6. Liquid–liquid phase separation in solutions of ionic liquids: phase diagrams, corresponding state analysis and comparison with simulations of the primitive model

    W Schröer and V R Vale 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 424119

  7. Consequences of the intrachain dimer–monomer spin frustration and the interchain dimer–monomer spin exchange in the diamond-chain compound azurite Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2

    J Kang et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 392201

  8. Doping dependent nonlinear Hall effect in SmFeAsO1−xFx

    Scott C Riggs et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 412201

  9. Non-mean-field screening by multivalent counterions

    M S Loth and B I Shklovskii 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 424104

  10. Flexible relaxor materials: Ba2PrxNd1−xFeNb4O15 tetragonal tungsten bronze solid solution

    Elias Castel et al 2009 J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 21 452201

Related review articles

What's this?
View review articles related to this research to gain an insight into the key trends in this subject area. Related review articles are selected based on PACS/MSC codes, and are no more than three years old.

  1. Solar neutrinos, helioseismology and the solar internal dynamics
  2. The solar UV–x-ray spectrum from 1.5 to 2000 Å
  3. Spectroscopy: from atoms to cosmic objects

View by subject




Export






Please login to access our web services, or create an account if you don't yet have one.

You must have cookies enabled in your web browser to be able to login.

Username
Password

Forgotten your password? Get a new one here.