Chromospheric and coronal heating mechanisms

Abstract

Dissipation mechanisms in the chromosphere were examined. The problem of a heat flux from a cool region of the star to a hot region of the star, which violates our second law of thermodynamics is discussed. It is suggested that this is caused by a nonthermal energy flux. While convection transports the thermal flux, a very small percentage is converted into a nonthermal flux. The major part of the outgoing convective energy is turned back into the radiation field which gets decoupled from the star when the star becomes transparent and the radiant energy escapes to space. The small nonthermal flux is transmitted upwards and becomes the dominant energy flux still coupled to the star. The importance of recycling of energy via advection and conduction is emphasized.