scholarly journals The Role of Magnetic Fields in Stellar Chromospheres and Transition Regions

1983 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 311-338
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Linsky
Keyword(s):  
Energy Balance ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Transition Region ◽  
Emission Lines ◽  
Radiative Loss ◽  
Late Type ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes

In this review based largely on observations with the IUE and Einstein satellites, I will summarize the different roles that magnetic fields play in controlling the structure and energy balance in the chromospheres and transition regions of late-type stars. Solar observations clearly show that magnetic flux tubes are the dominant structural element in the solar atmosphere, but the rotational modulation of plages (structures that are bright in ultraviolet emission lines) that overlie dark starspots provide strong evidence that magnetic flux tubes are the dominant structural elements in late-type stellar atmospheres as well. The wide range of radiative loss rates (and thus heating rates) observed in chromospheric and transition region emission lines also provides evidence for the importance of magnetic fields, but it is not yet clear whether the most active stars can be understood in terms of a large fractional coverage by solar-like magnetic flux tubes or whether brighter flux tubes are needed. I propose that the existence of a boundary between solar-like stars and those with little or no hot plasma, as well as the different types of G-K giants and supergiants, can be understood in terms of the fractional surface coverage by closed magnetic structures. Transition region downflows, the chromospheric heating mechanism, and the relative heating rates at different layers can be simply explained by the control of the energy balance by magnetic fields. Finally, I will intercompare models computed for active and quiet regions on the Sun with similar models computed for active and quiet stars, that is stars with intrinsically bright or weak emission lines.

scholarly journals The Small-Scale Photospheric Magnetic Field as an Indicator of the Dynamo

1993 ◽  
Vol 141 ◽  
pp. 143-146
Author(s):  
K. Petrovay ◽  
G. Szakály
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Observational Data ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Dynamo Theory ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
Surface Fields

AbstractThe presently widely accepted view that the solar dynamo operates near the base of the convective zone makes it difficult to relate the magnetic fields observed in the solar atmosphere to the fields in the dynamo layer. The large amount of observational data concerning photospheric magnetic fields could in principle be used to impose constraints on dynamo theory, but in order to infer these constraints the above mentioned “missing link” between the dynamo and surface fields should be found. This paper proposes such a link by modeling the passive vertical transport of thin magnetic flux tubes through the convective zone.

scholarly journals Heating of Stellar Chromospheres and Transition Regions

2004 ◽  
Vol 219 ◽  
pp. 437-448
Author(s):  
Zdzislaw E. Musielak
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Acoustic Waves ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Stellar Convection ◽  
Wave Heating ◽  
Active Stars ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Waves

To explain the heating of stellar chromospheres and transition regions, two classes of heating mechanisms have been considered: dissipation of acoustic and magnetic waves generated in stellar convection zones; and dissipation of currents generated by photospheric motions of surface magnetic fields. The focus of this paper is on the wave heating mechanisms and on recent results which demonstrate that theoretical models of stellar chromospheres based on the wave heating can explain the “basal flux” and the observed Ca II emission in most stars but cannot account for the observed Mg II emission in active stars. The obtained results clearly show that the base of stellar chromospheres is heated by acoustic waves, the heating of the middle and upper chromospheric layers is dominated by magnetic waves associated with magnetic flux tubes, and that other non-wave heating mechanisms are required to explain the structure of the highest layers of stellar chromospheres and transition regions.

scholarly journals Mass and energy supply of a cool coronal loop near its apex

2018 ◽  
Vol 611 ◽  
pp. A49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Limei Yan ◽  
Hardi Peter ◽  
Jiansen He ◽  
Lidong Xia ◽  
Linghua Wang
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Magnetic Reconnection ◽  
Transition Region ◽  
Doppler Velocity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Solar Dynamics Observatory ◽  
Plasma Properties ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes

Context. Different models for the heating of solar corona assume or predict different locations of the energy input: concentrated at the footpoints, at the apex, or uniformly distributed. The brightening of a loop could be due to the increase in electron density ne, the temperature T, or a mixture of both.Aim. We investigate possible reasons for the brightening of a cool loop at transition region temperatures through imaging and spectral observation.Methods. We observed a loop with the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and used the slit-jaw images together with spectra taken at a fixed slit position to study the evolution of plasma properties in and below the loop. We used spectra of Si iv, which forms at around 80 000 K in equilibrium, to identify plasma motions and derive electron densities from the ratio of inter-combination lines of O IV. Additional observations from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) were employed to study the response at coronal temperatures (Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, AIA) and to investigate the surface magnetic field below the loop (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, HMI).Results. The loop first appears at transition region temperatures and later also at coronal temperatures, indicating a heating of the plasma in the loop. The appearance of hot plasma in the loop coincides with a possible accelerating upflow seen in Si IV, with the Doppler velocity shifting continuously from ~−70 km s−1 to ~−265 km s−1. The 3D magnetic field lines extrapolated from the HMI magnetogram indicate possible magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes below or near the loop apex. At the same time, an additional intensity enhancement near the loop apex is visible in the IRIS slit-jaw images at 1400 Å. These observations suggest that the loop is probably heated by the interaction between the loop and the upflows, which are accelerated by the magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes at lower altitudes. Before and after the possible heating phase, the intensity changes in the optically thin (Si IV) and optical thick line (C II) are mainly contributed by the density variation without significant heating.Conclusions. We therefore provide evidence for the heating of an envelope loop that is affected by accelerating upflows, which are probably launched by magnetic reconnection between small-scale magnetic flux tubes underneath the envelope loop. This study emphasizes that in the complex upper atmosphere of the Sun, the dynamics of the 3D coupled magnetic field and flow field plays a key role in thermalizing 1D structures such as coronal loops.

scholarly journals The Quiescent Chromospheres and Transition Regions of Active Dwarf Stars: What Are We Learning from Recent Observations and Models?

1983 ◽  
Vol 71 ◽  
pp. 39-60
Author(s):  
Jeffrey L. Linsky
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Rapid Progress ◽  
Heating Rates ◽  
Dwarf Stars ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Structures ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
Semiempirical Models

ABSTRACTI will review the rapid progress in our understanding of active dwarf stars, which has been stimulated by recent IUE, Einstein, and ground-based observations, by asking a series of questions. The most fundamental question is the extent to which magnetic fields control nonflare phenomena in these stars. There are a number of aspects to this question:(1) What is the evidence for large scale magnetic structures similar to solar plages in these stars and how does a plage system differ from a quiescent spectrum?(2) Can the enhanced heating in these stars be explained by solar-like magnetic flux tubes?(3) What roles do systematic flows play in active dwarf atmospheres?(4) What Is the relation between heating rates in different layers of these stars?(5) By what mechanisms are active dwarf chromospheres and transition regions heated?(6) What are semiempirical models telling us about active dwarf stars?Recent observations are permitting us to begin to answer these questions.

scholarly journals Investigation of Spatially Unresolved Magnetic Field Outside Sunspots Using Hinode/SOT Observations

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (S325) ◽  
pp. 59-62
Author(s):  
Olga Botygina ◽  
Mykola Gordovskyy ◽  
Vsevolod Lozitsky
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Zeeman Effect ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Line Ratio ◽  
Optical Telescope ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes ◽  
The Magnetic Field

AbstractThe structure of photospheric magnetic fields outside sunspots is investigated in three active regions using Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope(SOT) observations. We analyze Zeeman effect in FeI 6301.5 and FeI 6302.5 lines and determine the observed magnetic field value Beff for each of them. We find that the line ratio Beff(6301)/Beff(6302) is close to 1.3 in the range Beff < 0.2 kG, and close to 1.0 for 0.8 kG < Beff < 1.2 kG. We find that the observed magnetic field is formed by flux tubes with the magnetic field strengths 1.3 − 2.3 kG even in places with weak observed magnetic field fluxes. We also estimate the diameters of smallest magnetic flux tubes to be 15 − 20 km.

scholarly journals Heating of Intense Magnetic Flux Tubes by Magnetohydrodynamic Waves

1983 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 413-416
Author(s):  
Z. Musielak ◽  
E. Bielicz
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Flux Tube ◽  
Theoretical Models ◽  
Convective Zone ◽  
Temperature Minimum ◽  
Late Type ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
Magnetohydrodynamic Waves ◽  
Chromospheric Activity ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes

Theoretical models of intense magnetic flux tubes embedded in the photospheres of late-type stars have been calculated. Magnetohydrodynamic waves generated in the convective zone are radiatively damped in the lower part of the flux tube and then dissipated. We discuss how the presence of flux tubes in stellar photospheres influences the temperature minimum and the chromospheric activity. We suggest a possible interpretation of the Wilson-Bappu effect in stars with strong chromospheric activity.

scholarly journals Magnetic field evolution of active regions and sunspots in connection with chromospheric and coronal activities

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S273) ◽  
pp. 157-163
Author(s):  
Toshifumi Shimizu
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Fields ◽  
Magnetic Flux ◽  
Active Regions ◽  
Vector Magnetic Field ◽  
Optical Telescope ◽  
Magnetic Field Data ◽  
Flux Tubes ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Magnetic Flux Tubes

AbstractCa II H imaging observations by the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) have revealed that the chromosphere is extremely dynamic and that ejections and jets are well observed in moat region around sunspots. X-ray and EUV observations show frequent occurrence of microflaring activities around sunspots; small emerging flux or moving magnetic features approaching opposite pre-existing magnetic flux can be identified on the footpoints for half of microflares studied, while no encounters of opposite polarities are observed at footpoints for the others even with SOT high spatial magnetorams (Kano et al. 2010). Another observations tell the involvement of twisted magnetic fields in the microflares accompanied by no polarity encounters at the footpoints. Some type of sunspot light bridges shows recurrent occurrence of chromospheric ejections, and photospheric vector magnetic field data suggests that twsited magnetic flux tubes lying along light bridge play vital roles in producing such ejections (Shimizu et al. 2009). This presentation reviewed observational findings from these studies. We will need to understand the 3D configuration of magnetic fields for better understanding of activity triggers in the solar atmosphere.

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