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Coronal Heating Topology: The Interplay of Current Sheets and Magnetic Field Lines

  • A. F. Rappazzo
  • , W. H. Matthaeus
  • , D. Ruffolo
  • , M. Velli
  • , S. Servidio
  • VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California
  • University of Delaware
  • Mahidol University
  • University of Calabria

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The magnetic topology and field line random walk (FLRW) properties of a nanoflare-heated and magnetically confined corona are investigated in the reduced magnetohydrodynamic regime. Field lines originating from current sheets form coherent structures, called current sheet connected (CSC) regions, which extend around them. CSC FLRW is strongly anisotropic, with preferential diffusion along the current sheets' in-plane length. CSC FLRW properties remain similar to those of the entire ensemble but exhibit enhanced mean square displacements and separations due to the stronger magnetic field intensities in CSC regions. The implications for particle acceleration and heat transport in the solar corona and wind, and for solar moss formation are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Article number87
JournalAstrophysical Journal
Volume844
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jul 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Sun: activity
  • Sun: corona
  • Sun: magnetic fields
  • magnetohydrodynamics (MHD)
  • solar wind
  • turbulence

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