2D MHD Models of the Large Scale Solar Corona

By solving the equations of ideal MHD the interaction of an isothermal coronal plasma with a dipole-like magnetic field is studied. We vary the coronal temperature and the magnetic field strength to investigate how the plasma and the magnetic field interact to determine the structure of the large sc...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Endeve, E, Holzer, T E, Leer, E
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:By solving the equations of ideal MHD the interaction of an isothermal coronal plasma with a dipole-like magnetic field is studied. We vary the coronal temperature and the magnetic field strength to investigate how the plasma and the magnetic field interact to determine the structure of the large scale solar corona. When our numerical calculations are initiated with an isothermal solar wind in a dipole magnetic field, the equations may be integrated to a steady state. Open and closed regions are formed. In the open regions the atmosphere expands into a super-sonic wind, and in the closed regions the plasma is in hydrostatic equilibrium. We find that the magnetic field configuration in the outer corona is largely determined by the equatorial current sheet.
ISSN:0094-243X
DOI:10.1063/1.1618606