A model of the solar chromosphere-corona transition region based on classical thermal conduction

Abstract

view Abstract Citations (40) References (26) Co-Reads Similar Papers Volume Content Graphics Metrics Export Citation NASA/ADS A Model of the Solar Chromosphere-Corona Transition Region Based on Classical Thermal Conduction Athay, R. Grant Abstract A hot corona cooled by inward thermal conduction very likely results in a transition region whose isotherms follow a highly roughened surface. Assuming a checkerboard of cool peaks and hot valleys in surfaces of constant temperature and using the observed emission measure at T = 60,000 K, the ratio of the mean height of the cool peaks to the mean separation of peaks and valleys has a value of 160. By allowing nearly all of the parallel conduction flux of 1 million ergs/sq cm per sec at 1 million K in the hot valleys to flow across magnetic field lines into the cool peaks, a predicted emission measure in very good agreement with the low-temperature branch of the observed emission measure, including the Ly-alpha region, is found. This purely conductive model has the advantages of explaining both the observed emission measure curve and the wide vertical extent of the transition region at the limb without introducing ad hoc secondary heat sources. Publication: The Astrophysical Journal Pub Date: October 1990 DOI: 10.1086/169272 Bibcode: 1990ApJ...362..364A Keywords: Chromosphere; Solar Atmosphere; Solar Corona; Surface Roughness; Thermal Conductivity; Heat Sources; Lyman Alpha Radiation; Magnetic Field Configurations; Solar Magnetic Field; Solar Physics; SUN: ATMOSPHERIC MOTIONS; SUN: TRANSITION REGION full text sources ADS |