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At least 271 records · Page 15

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NASA NTRS1981

Structure of Jupiter's magnetopause - Pioneer 10 and 11 observations

The magnetic structure of Jupiter's magnetopause, as observed by the space probes Pioneer 10 and 11, is compared with terrestrial magnetopause structures from the OGO 5 mission. The Jovian magnetopause thickness, deduced from a rapid triple crossing, is found to lie in the range 3500-5200 km, while the adjoining plasma boundary layer was 5600-8400 km thick. Comparison with the terrestrial situation suggests that the dayside magnetopause thickness in both cases is a few times the ion gyroradius and that the dayside boundary layer is also of about the same width. The magnetopause normal vector and normal magnetic field component are determined for each crossing by use of minimum variance analysis. The results indicate a blunt and floppy magnetopause surface, for the most part with an insignificant normal magnetic field component. Only for three of the 14 crossings did this component exceed 1.5 times its error estimate. In two of these cases, the magnetic field tangential to the magnetopause displayed the characteristic features of a rotational discontinuity.

Sonnerup, B. U. O.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A unified treatment of the filament and flare instabilities

An integrated theory of cooling and resistive reconnection processes in flares and filaments of a sheared magnetic structure is proposed. Thermal and tearing phenomena in the structure were coupled by means of a temperature-dependent Coulomb instability, and the relevant linearized equations were solved numerically over a range of parameters. It is shown that an increase in the growth rate of instabilities in the structure was associated with a significant amount of magnetic reconnection, particularly at shorter wavelengths. Long wavelength reconnection was abetted by an increase in Coulomb resistivity due to the dominance of cooling at the X-point. Some implications of the above results for current models of solar coronal reconnection processes are discussed.

Van Hoven, G.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Surges as tracers of magnetic lines

During the maximum activity year 1980, chromospheric mass ejections were observed with the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass Spectrograph operating at Meudon (MSDP), while the UV and X-ray emissions were observed respectively with the UV Spectrograph (UVSP) and HXIS instruments on the SMM satellite. These ejections are not related directly to flares but are located in active regions near sunspots. As the magnetic field is frozen in the matter, the study of the velocity field leads to the geometry of the magnetic structures and the temporal evolution of the magnetic-field lines. Ejections of matter recur often with a period of 10 to 20 minutes. In C IV, the bright loops coincide with the H-alpha surge but are more extended. Associated with the events are either X-ray emission or type-III bursts.

Schmieder, B.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Prominence Structure and Dynamics

Nonerupting prominences are not dull, static objects. Rather, they are composed of fine-scale blobs and threads that are highly dynamic, often appearing to travel in opposite directions on adjacent tracks (denoted counterstreaming). Because the plasma is largely constrained to travel along the magnetic field, these cool, dense features can serve as tracers of the prominence magnetic structure, a valuable resource in view of the long-standing difficulty of observing the coronal field. Conversely, greater understanding of the fundamental magnetic geometry of filament channels can provide important constraints on the physical processes governing the accumulation, support, motion, and eruption of the cool plasma. Despite over a century of detailed observations, large gaps remain in our knowledge of filament channel/plasma formation and evolution. Resolving these issues will shed light on the physics of coronal heating, helicity transport throughout the solar cycle, and the origins of eruptive activity on the Sun. I will discuss the leading models for the magnetic and plasma structure, and outline how new observations and theory /modeling could solve long-standing uncertainties regarding this majestic solar phenomenon.

Karpen, Judy T.↗

NASA NTRS1984

Structure and evolution of the large scale solar and heliospheric magnetic fields

Structure and evolution of large scale photospheric and coronal magnetic fields in the interval 1976-1983 were studied using observations from the Stanford Solar Observatory and a potential field model. The solar wind in the heliosphere is organized into large regions in which the magnetic field has a componenet either toward or away from the sun. The model predicts the location of the current sheet separating these regions. Near solar minimum, in 1976, the current sheet lay within a few degrees of the solar equator having two extensions north and south of the equator. Soon after minimum the latitudinal extent began to increase. The sheet reached to at least 50 deg from 1978 through 1983. The complex structure near maximum occasionally included multiple current sheets. Large scale structures persist for up to two years during the entire interval. To minimize errors in determining the structure of the heliospheric field particular attention was paid to decreasing the distorting effects of rapid field evolution, finding the optimum source surface radius, determining the correction to the sun's polar field, and handling missing data. The predicted structure agrees with direct interplanetary field measurements taken near the ecliptic and with coronameter and interplanetary scintillation measurements which infer the three dimensional interplanetary magnetic structure. During most of the solar cycle the heliospheric field cannot be adequately described as a dipole.

Hoeksema, J. T.↗

NASA NTRS1993

Superconducting energy storage magnet

A superconducting magnet is formed having composite conductors arrayed in coils having turns which lie on a surface defining substantially a frustum of a cone. The conical angle with respect to the central axis is preferably selected such that the magnetic pressure on the coil at the widest portion of the cone is substantially zero. The magnet structure is adapted for use as an energy storage magnet mounted in an earthen trench or tunnel where the strength the surrounding soil is lower at the top of the trench or tunnel than at the bottom. The composite conductor may be formed having a ripple shape to minimize stresses during charge up and discharge and has a shape for each ripple selected such that the conductor undergoes a minimum amount of bending during the charge and discharge cycle. By minimizing bending, the working of the normal conductor in the composite conductor is minimized, thereby reducing the increase in resistance of the normal conductor that occurs over time as the conductor undergoes bending during numerous charge and discharge cycles.

Boom, Roger W.↗

NASA NTRS2023

Interchange Reconnection Dynamics in A Solar Coronal Pseudo-Streamer

Context. The generation of the slow solar wind remains an open problem in heliophysics. One of the current theories among those aimed at explaining the injection of coronal plasma in the interplanetary medium is based on interchange reconnection. It assumes that the exchange of magnetic connectivity between closed and open fields allows the injection of coronal plasma in the interplanetary medium to travel along the newly reconnected open field. However, the exact mechanism underlying this effect is still poorly understood. Aims. Our objective is to study this scenario in a particular magnetic structure of the solar corona: a pseudo-streamer. This topological structure lies at the interface between open and closed magnetic field and is thought to be involved in the generation of the slow solar wind. Methods. We performed innovative 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of the solar corona with a pseudo-streamer, using the Adaptively Refined MHD Solver (ARMS). By perturbing the quasi-steady ambient state with a simple photospheric, large-scale velocity flow, we were able to generate a complex dynamics of the open-and-closed boundary of the pseudo-streamer. We studied the evolution of the connectivity of numerous field lines to understand its precise dynamics. Results. We witnessed different scenarios of opening of the magnetic field initially closed under the pseudo-streamer: one-step interchange reconnection dynamics, along with more complex scenarios, including a coupling between pseudo-streamer and helmet streamer, as well as back-and-forth reconnections between open and closed connectivity domains. Finally, our analysis revealed large-scale motions of a newly opened magnetic field high in the corona that may be explained by slipping reconnection. Conclusions. By introducing a new analysis method for the magnetic connectivity evolution based on distinct closed-field domains, this study provides an understanding of the precise dynamics underway during the opening of a closed field, which enables the injection of closed-field, coronal plasma in the interplanetary medium. Further studies shall provide synthetic observations for these diverse outgoing flows, which could be measured by Parker Solar Probe and Solar Orbiter.

magnetic fields↗

NASA NTRS2010

Helicity and Filament Channels? The Straight Twist!

One of the most important and most puzzling features of the coronal magnetic field is that it appears to have smooth magnetic structure with little evidence for non-potentiality except at special locations, photospheric polarity inversions lines where the non-potentiality is observed as a filament channel. This characteristic feature of the closed-field corona is highly unexpected given that photospheric motions continuously tangle its magnetic field. Although reconnection can eliminate some of the injected structure, it cannot destroy the helicity, which should build up to produce observable complexity. We propose that an inverse cascade process transports the injected helicity from the interior of closed flux regions to their boundaries, polarity inversion lines, creating filament channels. We describe how the helicity is injected and transported and calculate the relevant rates. We argue that one process, helicity transport, can explain both the observed lack and presence of structure in the coronal magnetic field.

Antiochos, Spiro K.↗

NASA NTRS1986

The equilibrium structure of thin magnetic flux tubes. II

The thermal structure of the medium inside thin, vertical magnetic flux tubes embedded in a given external atmosphere is investigated, assuming cylindrical symmetry and a depth-independent plasma beta. The variation with tube radius of the temperature on the tube axis is computed and the temperature on the tube wall is estimated. The temperature variation across the flux tube is found to be due to the depth variation of the intensity and to the density stratification of the atmosphere. Since the temperature difference between the axis and the wall is small in thin flux tubes (of the order of 10 percent), the horizontal temperature gradient may often be neglected and the temperature in a tube of given radius may be described by a single function of depth. Thus, a more detailed numerical treatment of the radiative transfer within thin flux tubes can be substantially simplified by neglecting horizontal temperature differences within the flux tube proper.

Kalkofen, W.↗

NASA NTRS1992

A quantitative assessment of the role of the post-shock turbulent region in the formation of Forbush decreases

We present results of a survey of the relation between Forbush decreases, magnetic clouds, and interplanetary shocks during the period August 1978 to November 1982. We have used data from the ISEE-3 study of bidirectional ions associated with magnetic structures or clouds of Marsden et al. (1987), and ground-based observations of Forbush decreases from several neutron monitors. We use the two-step model of a Forbush decrease. We assume that the first step is due to the passage of the postshock turbulent region, and that the second is due to the passage of the magnetic cloud or structure which usually follows the postshock turbulent region. To determine the effectiveness of the postshock turbulent region in causing a Forbush decrease, we have evaluated the radial diffusion coefficient of the postshock turbulent region for the eight largest events during the above period using observations of the magnetic field. We have made a quantitative assessment of the relative importance of the postshock turbulent region in the formation of the Forbush decrease, concluding that the postshock turbulent region alone is not sufficient to cause a Forbush decrease.

Sanderson, T. R.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Coronal electron stream and Langmuir wave detection inside a propagation channel at 4.3 AU

Observations of an energetic interplanetary electron event associated with the production of Langmuir waves, both of which are identified at 4.3 AU by instruments on the Ulysses spacecraft, are presented in this paper. This electron event propagates inside a well-defined magnetic structure. The existence of this structure is firmly established by joint particle and plasma observations made by Ulysses instruments. Its local estimated radial width is of the order of 2.3 x 10(exp 7) km (0.15 AU). The electron beam is associated with a type III burst observed from Earth at high frequencies and at low frequencies from Ulysses in association with Langmuir waves detected inside the structure. The consistency of local (Ulysses) and remote (Earth) observations in terms of temporal and geometrical considerations establishes that the structure is anchored in the solar corona near the solar active region responisble for the observed type III emission and gives an accurate determination of the injection time for the observed electron beam. Propagation analysis of the electron event is presented. In order to quantify the magnetic field properties, a variance analysis has been performed and is presented in this paper. The analysis establishes that inside the structure the amount of magnetic energy involved in the fluctuations is less than 4% of the total magnetic energy; the minimal variance direction is well defined and in coincidence with the direction of the mean magnetic field. This configuration may produce conditions favorable for scatter free streaming of energetic electrons and/or Langmuir wave production. The results presented show that the magnetic field might play a role in stabilizing the coronal-origin plasma structures and then preserving them to large, approximately 4 AU, distances in the heliosphere.

Buttighoffer, A.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Magnetopause Transects

A novel method is described for reconstruction of two-dimensional current-layer structures from measurements taken by a single spacecraft traversing the layer. In its present form, the method is applicable only to 2D magnetohydrostatic structures that are passively convected past the observing spacecraft. It is tested on a magnetopause crossing of the tangential-discontinuity type by the spacecraft AMPTE/IRM. The magnetic structures recovered include a magnetic island located between two X-type nulls as well as a magnetic 'worm hole' through which a bundle of weak magnetic flux appears to connect the magnetosphere and the magnetosheath.

Sonnerup, B. U. O↗

NASA NTRS2005

MHD Simulation Heliospheric Magnetic Fields and Turbulence

This talk will present a summary of our results on simulations of heliospheric structure and dynamics. We use a three-dimensional MHD code in spherical coordinates to produce a solar wind containing a rotating, tilted heliospheric current sheet, fast-slow stream and microstream shear layers, waves, 2-D turbulence, and pressure balanced structures that are input to the inner (superAlfvenic) boundary. The evolution of various combinations of these has led to a deeper understanding of sector structure, magnetic holes, fluctuation anisotropies, and general turbulent evolution. We show how the sectors are likely to be connected, how spiral fields can arise, and how field line diffusion can be caused by waves with transverse structure and microstream shears.

Roberts, D. Aaron↗

NASA NTRS1972

Fine structure of solar magnetic fields.

Extension of the deduction of magnetic fields from chromospheric structure to active regions and transverse fields. Fields independently predicted by these rules from a high-resolution H alpha filtergram are compared with a high-resolution magnetogram. The H alpha method has the advantage over conventional magnetograms that it shows transverse fields and relates the fields to the real sun. It has the disadvantage that higher spatial resolution is required and that it is difficult and time consuming in very complicated regions. The response of the chromosphere to magnetic fields is most consistent. Vertical field is invariably marked by bright plage, with brightness roughly proportional to the field strength (except for sunspots). All dark fibrils mark transverse fields and are parallel to field lines. All polarity changes are marked by dark fibrils, which may be transverse fibrils perpendicular to the field boundary, or filaments (prominences) which connect more distant points, and in which the field lines run nearly parallel to the boundary. The asymmetry between preceding and following polarity found by Veeder and Zirin (1970) does not exist; it was due to the low resolution of the Mount Wilson magnetograms.

Zirin, H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Overstability and cooling in sunspots

The role played by overstable Alfven modes in magnetic structures such as sunspots is considered in detail for a column of magnetic field. It is demonstrated explicitly that overstable Alfven waves cool the interior of the magnetic column. It is suggested that these waves account for the cooling in sunspot umbrae, and therefore, in concurrence with Parker, we conclude that a sunspot is a region of enhanced heat transport. The calculations indicate that sunspots have small regions at normal photospheric brightness, and we tentatively suggest that these regions are umbral dots. We also suggest that cooling by overstable Alfven waves may explain the existence of the intense small magnetic flux tubes that constitute the general solar magnetic field.

Roberts, B.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Magnetic suspension system for an Annular Momentum Control Device (AMCD)

A technique to control a rim suspended in a magnetic field was developed. A complete system was developed, incorporating a support structure, magnetic actuators, a rim drive mechanism, an emergency fail-safe system, servo control system, and control electronics. Open loop and closed loop response of the system at zero speed and at 500 revolutions per minute (r/min) of the rim was obtained and analyzed. The rim was then dynamically balanced and a rim speed of 725 r/min was achieved. An analog simulation of the hardware was developed and tested with the actual control electronics connected to the analog computer. The system under development is stable at rim speeds below 700 r/min. Test results indicate that the rim under test is not rigid. The rim has a warp and a number of binding modes which prevented achievement of higher speeds. Further development efforts are required to achieve higher rim speeds.

Source record↗

NASA NTRS1983

Closed coronal structures. V - Gasdynamic models of flaring loops and comparison with SMM observations

A time-dependent one-dimensional code incorporating energy, momentum and mass conservation equations, and taking the entire solar atmospheric structure into account, is used to investigate the hydrodynamic response of confined magnetic structures to strong heating perturbations. Model calculation results are compared with flare observations which include the light curves of spectral lines formed over a wide range of coronal flare temperatures, as well as determinations of Doppler shifts for the high temperature plasma. It is shown that the numerical simulation predictions are in good overall agreement with the observed flare coronal plasma evolution, correctly reproducing the temporal profile of X-ray spectral lines and their relative intensities. The predicted upflow velocities support the interpretation of the blueshifts as due to evaporation of chromospheric material.

Peres, G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Helical flux ropes in solar prominences

The present numerical method for the computation of force-free, cancelling magnetic structures shows that flux cancellation at the neutral line in a sheared magnetic arcade generates helical field lines that can support a prominence's plasma. With increasing flux cancellation, the axis of the helical fields moves to greater heights; this is suggestive of a prominence eruption. Two alternative scenarios are proposed for the formation of polar crown prominences which yield the correct axial magnetic field sign. Both models are noted to retain the formation of helical flux tubes through flux cancellation as their key feature.

Martens, P. C. H.↗