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Yeh, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Yeh, T..

Comparison of MHD simulation for the February 1986 events with interplanetary observations by the spacecraft Sakigake

During the period 3-10 February 1986 a series of major solar flares occurred on the Sun and several intense geomagnetic storms took place on the Earth. To examine the causality between the solar activity and the geomagnetic activity in this period, a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation was performed using a 2 1/2 -D numerical code. In that period of February 1986, the Japanese spacecraft Sakigake was at 0.84 AU, 57 deg west of the Earth. Besides the in-situ measurements of the interplanetary plasma, Sakigake also provided Doppler scintillation observations. Comparisons between the results of the MHD simulation and the measurements made by the spacecraft Sakigake are presented.

Smith, Z.↗

MHD simulation of the 'geoeffectiveness' of interplanetary disturbances

A series of examples is used to evaluate the 'geoeffectiveness' prediction technique that is based on the classical, initial boundary value problem of MHD. For the nonplanar simulation of a corotating stream, it is shown that the technique can compute relevant solar wind parameters at the earth's location. For the nonplanar simulation of a complex series of events, qualitative agreement is found for large-scale structures, but the phasing and amplitudes are not satisfactory. Preliminary work with a fully three-dimensional, time-dependent simulation of a flare-generated interplanetary shock wave shows that the effect of the latitudinal variation produces attenuation of the heliolongitudinal component of the IMF and of the radial velocity.

Dryer, M.↗

Hydromagnetic buoyancy force in the solar atmosphere

A quantitative definition of the hydromagnetic buoyancy force in the solar atmosphere is presented, on the basis of a numerical analysis of the hydromagnetic characteristics of a circular flux tube. It is shown that the peripheral inhomogeneity of ambient hydromagnetic pressure in the solar atmosphere can lead to hydromagnetic buoyancy in the presence of an extraneous body. The results of the flux tube analyses showed that the strength of the force is often equal to or greater than the gravitational force of the solar atmosphere, and may be responsible for the stationary equilibria of quiescent solar prominences, as well as the outward motions of coronal transients. A diagram is presented in order to describe the field lines in the large-scale solar magnetic field in the presence of hydromagnetic buoyancy.

Yeh, T.↗

A hydromagnetic model of corotating conductive solar wind streams

Under the assumption of quasi-azimuthal symmetry the governing equations of a steady hydromagnetic flow in a thermally conductive flux tube possess six invariants. Four of them represent constancy of mass efflux, energy efflux, angular momentum efflux and magnetic flux. Based on the entropy equation we obtain useful approximation in explicit expressions for the two remaining invariants. One of them provides the constraint which determines the compatible heat flux to ensure a vanishing pressure at infinity. Thus, the admissible solution that represents a corotating solar wind stream in terms of specified interplanetary condition can be calculated by an algebraic method, without the necessity of numerical integration. A two-point relationship is then derived, which correlates the solar wind properties at two separated interplanetary sites measured at two properly separated instants. This relationship may be applied to observational data from spacecraft and earth-bound satellites to discern the corotation feature in the solar wind.

Yeh, T.↗

Diamagnetic force on a flux tube

The diamagnetic force on a straight flux tube is elucidated. The case when the flux tube has a circular cross section is considered, and the result is generalized to the case of noncircular cross section. The result shows that when the external magnetic field is uniform, the diamagnetic force is simply equal to the vector multiplication of the internal conduction current and the external magnetic field. It is independent of the size and shape of the cross section of the flux tube. This is analogous to the Kutta-Joukowski theorem that the aerodynamic lift force is proportional to the vector multiplication of the unperturbed flow velocity and the circulation around the airfoil. When the external magnetic field is nonuniform, the diamagnetic force has an additional contribution which is proportional to the gradient of magnetic pressure and to the volume of the flux tube. The constant of proportionality, which is shown to be equal to two for a circular cross section, indicates the enhancement of the nonuniformity of the external magnetic field in the vicinity of the periphery by the polarization current.

Yeh, T.↗

A magnetohydrodynamic theory of coronal loop transients

The physical and geometrical characteristics of solar coronal loop transients are described in an MHD model based on Archimedes' MHD buoyancy force. The theory was developed from interpretation of coronagraphic data, particularly from Skylab. The brightness of a loop is taken to indicate the electron density, and successive pictures reveal the electron enhancement in different columns. The forces which lift the loop off the sun surface are analyzed as an MHD buoyancy force affecting every mass element by imparting an inertial force necessary for heliocentrifugal motion. Thermal forces are responsible for transferring the ambient stress to the interior of the loop to begin the process. The kinematic and hydrostatic buoyancy overcome the gravitational force, and a flux rope can then curve upward, spiralling like a corkscrew with varying cross section around the unwinding solar magnetic field lines.

Yeh, T.↗

Effect of self-induced magnetic force in a coronal loop transient

The distribution of the self-induced magnetic force in a section of a model coronal loop is examined and it is found that an axial current produces a pointwise magnetic force in the direction toward the axis of the loop. The direction of the pointwise magnetic force indicates that the effect of this force, acting alone, is to cause a contraction of the cross section of the magnetic loop toward the axis, but not the translation motion of the loop as a whole. It is concluded that forces other than the self-induced magnetic force, such as thermal force of pressure gradient or extra-induced magnetic force of magnetic buoyancy, must be involved in the acceleration mechanisms for the heliocentrifugal motion of coronal transients.

Yeh, T.↗

A three-fluid model of solar winds

Solar wind model with electrons, protons and alpha particles coupled by electric field and expanding due to pressure gradient and solar gravitation

Yeh, T.↗