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At least 289 records · Page 16

Shear-induced inflation of coronal magnetic fields

Using numerical models of force-free magnetic fields, the shearing of footprints in arcade geometries leading to an inflation of the coronal magnetic field was examined. For each of the shear profiles considered, all of the field lines become elevated compared with the potential field. This includes cases where the shear is concentrated well away from the arcade axis, such that B(sub z), the component of field parallel to the axis, increases outward to produce an inward B(sub z)squared/8 pi magnetic pressure gradient force. These results contrast with an earlier claim, shown to be incorrect, that field lines can sometimes become depressed as a result of shear. It is conjectured that an inflation of the entire field will always result from the shearing of simple arcade configurations. These results have implications for prominence formation, the interplanetary magnetic flux, and possibly also coronal holes.

Klimchuk, James A.↗

Shear-induced inflation of coronal magnetic fields

Using numerical models of force-free magnetic fields, the shearing of footprints in arcade geometries leading to an inflation of the coronal magnetic field was examined. For each of the shear profiles considered, all of the field lines become elevated compared with the potential field. This includes cases where the shear is concentrated well away from the arcade axis, such that B(sub z), the component of field parallel to the axis, increases outward to produce an inward B(sub z) squared/8 pi magnetic pressure gradient force. These results contrast with an earlier claim, shown to be incorrect, that field lines can sometimes become depressed as a result of shear. It is conjectured that an inflation of the entire field will always result from the shearing of simple arcade configurations. These results have implications for prominence formation, the interplanetary magnetic flux, and possibly also coronal holes.

Klimchuk, James A.↗

Is the Non-Dipole Magnetic Field Random?

Statistical modelling of the Earth's magnetic field B has a long history. In particular, the spherical harmonic coefficients of scalar fields derived from B can be treated as Gaussian random variables. In this paper, we give examples of highly organized fields whose spherical harmonic coefficients pass tests for independent Gaussian random variables. The fact that coefficients at some depth may be usefully summarized as independent samples from a normal distribution need not imply that there really is some physical, random process at that depth. In fact, the field can be extremely structured and still be regarded for some purposes as random. In this paper, we examined the radial magnetic field B(sub r) produced by the core, but the results apply to any scalar field on the core-mantle boundary (CMB) which determines B outside the CMB.

Walker, Andrew D.↗

Traveling Magnetic Field Applications for Vertical Bridgman Growth: Modeling and Experiment

Traveling magnetic fields offer a direct control of the metallic melt meridional flow in long cylinders. It induces the Lorentz body force that can counteract with the buoyancy force induced by radial temperature non-uniformity. It can significantly offset a natural convection in the system, or it can even set up the flow in opposite direction, thus affecting the interface shape, the growth rate and macrosegregation. Results of our numerical modeling of the Vertical Bridgman crystal growth of InSb will be discussed. The experimental part of this investigation will address the effect of the applied traveling magnetic fields on the interface shape of InSb crystals. Specifics of the growth apparatus design for this research will be provided in details.

Mazuruk, Konstantin↗

A comparison of Type III metric radio bursts and global solar potential field models

Evidence of coronal magnetic fields from polarized metric type III radio bursts is compared with (1) global potential field models, (2) direct averages of the observed photospheric magnetic field, and (3) H-alpha synoptic charts. The comparison clearly indicates both that the principal aspects of type III burst radiation are understood and that global potential field models are a significantly more accurate representation of coronal magnetic field structure than either the large-scale photospheric field or H-alpha synoptic charts.

Jackson, B. V.↗

A three-dimensional diffusion/convection model of the large scale magnetic field in the Venus ionosphere

A three-dimensinal diffusion/convection model of the dayside Venus ionosphere magnetic field was developed on the basis of previously published one-dimensional diffusion/convection models, and assuming that the field and flow at the upper boundary (in the magnetic barrier) as well as the ionospheric plasma velocity are known. The results indicate that the low-altitude magnetosheath field draping may be distorted by the interaction with the ionosphere in such a manner that there is an apparent 'focusing' of the field toward the subsolar point, caused by the shear in the horizontal velocity between the magnetosheath and ionospheric flows. A comparison of published magnetic-field observations with the present results indicates that the simple nesting of external and internal velocity fields may be a good approximation to global plasma flows near Venus under normal conditions.

Luhmann, J. G.↗

Modeling gravity and magnetic fields for crustal and upper mantle structures

Research was conducted to: (1) make a direct comparison between the gravity and magnetic fields near the ellipsoid and at the height expected for the Geopotential Research Mission (GRM) for the same geologic model, (2) obtain realistic estimates of the gradients that can be expected at the orbit height of the GRM, and (3) demonstrate the value of data that the GRM could provide for investigating upper mantle and deep crustal anomalies.

Denoyer, J. M.↗

Experimental Investigation of a Hall-Current Accelerator

The Hall-current accelerator is being investigated for use in the 1000-2000 sec. range of specific impulse. Three models of this thruster were tested. The first two models had three permanent magnets to supply the magnetic field and the third model had six magnets to supply the field. The third model thus had approximately twice the magnetic field of the first two. The first and second models differ only in the shape of the magnetic field. All other factors remained the same for the three models except for the anode-cathode distance, which was changed to allow for the three thrusters to have the same magnetic field integral between the anode and the cathode. These Hall thrusters were tested to determine the plasma properties, the beam characteristics, and the thruster characteristics. The thruster operated in three modes: (1) main cathode only, (2) main cathode with neutralizer cathode, and (3) neutralizer cathode only. The plasma properties were measured along an axial line, 1 mm inside the cathode radius, at a distance of 0.2 to 6.2 cm from the anode. Results show that the current used to heat the cathode produced nonuniformities in the magnetic field, hence also in the plasma properties. In a Hall thruster this general design appears to provide the most thrust when operated at a magnetic field less than the maximum value studied.

Plank, G. M.↗

Empirical modeling of the quiet time nightside magnetosphere

Empirical modeling of plasma pressure and magnetic field for the quiet time nightside magnetosphere is investigated. Two models are constructed for this study. One model, referred to here as T89R, is basically the magnetic field model of Tsyganenko (1989) but is modified by the addition of an inner eastward ring current at a radial distance of approximately 3 RE as suggested by observation. The other is a combination of the T89R model and the long version of the magnetic field model of Tsyganenko (1987) such that the former dominates the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere while the latter prevails in the distant tail. The distribution of plasma pressure which is required to balance the magnetic force for each of these two field models is computed along the tail axis in the midnight meridian. The occurrence of pressure anisotropy in the inner magnetospheric region is also taken into account by determining an empirical fit to the observed plasma pressure anisotropy. This represents the first effort to obtain the plasma pressure distribution in force equilibrium with magnetic stresses from an empirical field model with the inclusion of pressure anisotropy. The inclusion of pressure anisotropy alters the plasma pressure by as much as a factor of approximately 3 in the inner magnetosphere. The deduced plasma pressure profile along the tail axis is found to be in good agreement with the observed quiet time plasma pressure for geocentric distances between approximately 2 and approximately 35 RE.

Lui, A. T. Y.↗

Empirical modeling of the quiet time nightside magnetosphere

Empirical modeling of plasma pressure and magnetic field for the quiet time nightside magnetosphere is investigated. Two models are constructed for this study. One model, referred to here as T89R, is basically the magnetic field model of Tsyganenko (1989) but is modified by the addition of an inner eastward ring current at a radial distance of approximately 3 R(sub E) as suggested by observation. The other is a combination of the T89R model and the long version of the magnetic field model of Tsyganenko (1987) such that the former dominates the magnetic field in the inner magnetosphere, whereas the latter prevails in the distant tail. The distribution of plasma pressure, which is required to balance the magnetic force for each of these two field models, is computed along the tail axis in the midnight meridian. The occurrence of pressure anisotropy in the inner magnetospheric region is also taken into account by determining an empirical fit to the observed plasma pressure anisotropy. This effort is the first attempt to obtain the plasma pressure distribution in force equilibrium with magnetic stresses from an empirical field model with the inclusion of pressure anisotropy. The inclusion of pressure anisotropy alters the plasma pressure by as much as a factor of approximately 3 in the inner magnetosphere. The deduced plasma pressure profile along the tail axis is found to be in good agreement with the observed quiet time plasma pressure for geocentric distances between approximately 2 and approximately 35 R(sub E).

Lui, A. T. Y.↗

Working group on chromospheric fields - Canopies

Although there are many points of uncertainty and controversy, the working group on chromospheric fields focussed its discussion on the concept of canopies; i.e., no one disagreed that a central issue relating to magnetic fields and chromospheric models is to learn how the photospheric field spreads with height. However, it quickly became apparent that in the time available, there was little prospect of building new unified models of magnetic field phenomena in the chromosphere beyond the scope of the formal presentations. Thus, the discussion was devoted to formulating questions which seemed both possible to address in future work and important for advancing understanding of the chromosphere. It began by discussing unresolved physical issues (almost everything) and then proceeded to consider means, both observational and synthetic, to address them.

Jones, H. P.↗

Rotational Sweepback of Magnetic Field Lines in Geometrical Models of Pulsar Radio Emission

We study the rotational distortions of the vacuum dipole magnetic field in the context of geometrical models of the radio emission from pulsars. We find that at low altitudes the rotation deflects the local direction of the magnetic field by at most an angle of the order of r(sup 2 sub n), where r(sub n) = r/R(sub lc), r is the radial distance and R(sub lc) is the light cylinder radius. To the lowest (i.e. second) order in r(sub n) this distortion is symmetrical with respect to the plane containing the dipole axis and the rotation axis ((Omega, mu) plane). The lowest order distortion which is asymmetrical with respect to the (Omega, mu) plane is third order in r(sub n). These results confirm the common assumption that the rotational sweepback has negligible effect on the position angle (PA) curve. We show, however, that the influence of the sweep back on the outer boundary of the open field line region (open volume) is a much larger effect, of the order of r(sup 1/2 sub n). The open volume is shifted backwards with respect to the rotation direction by an angle delta(sub o nu) approx. 0.2 sin alpha r(sup 1/2 sub n) where alpha is the dipole inclination with respect to the rotation axis. The associated phase shift of the pulse profile Delta phi(sub o nu) approx. 0.2 r(sup 1/2 sub n) can easily exceed the shift due to combined effects of aberration and propagation time delays (approx. 2r(sub n)). This strongly affects the misalignment of the center of the PA curve and the center of the pulse profile, thereby modifying the delay radius relation. Contrary to intuition, the effect of sweepback dominates over other effects when emission occurs at low altitudes. For r(sub n) < or approx. 3 x 10(exp -3) the shift becomes negative, i.e. the center of the position angle curve precedes the profile center. With the sweepback effect included, the modified delay-radius relation predicts larger emission radii and is in much better agreement with the other methods of determining r(sub n).

Dyks, J.↗

Extreme ultraviolet observations of coronal holes. II - Association of holes with solar magnetic fields and a model for their formation during the solar cycle

Skylab and ground-based observations in the extreme UV range of the spectrum are used to analyze characteristics of coronal holes, and to correlate their development with variations in the solar cycle. The mergence of bipolar magnetic regions (BMR) during the declining phase of the cycle is held reponsible for the formation of large equatorial holes (M-regions, which cause recurring geomagnetic storms). The BMR mergence model can also be applied to polar cap holes.

Bohlin, J. D.↗

Flow downstream of the heliospheric terminal shock - Magnetic field kinematics

A kinematic model of the interplanetary magnetic field in the heliosheath beyond the solar wind terminal shock is presented in order to evaluate the possible importance of MHD effects in that region of space. The need for this evaluation arises because the interplanetary magnetic field is compressed across the terminal shock and further amplified by the decreasing flow speed beyond the shock. Streamlines which approach the stagnation point before turning in the downstream direction lead to the strongest effects due to the extreme slowing of the solar wind and consequent compression of the embedded magnetic field. The magnetic volume force therefore cannot be neglected on streamlines that approach the heliopause in the upstream direction, where the volume containing them is a large fraction of the overall of the heliosheath in the upstream direction. The increase in the magnetic pressure may act to bring the upstream terminal shock significantly closer to the sun, potentially reconciling a conflict between models and observations.

Nerney, S.↗

Modeling the Earth's magnetospheric magnetic field confined within a realistic magnetopause

Empirical data-based models of the magnetosphereic magnetic field have been widely used during recent years. However, the existing models (Tsyganenko, 1987, 1989a) have three serious deficiencies: (1) an unstable de facto magnetopause, (2) a crude parametrization by the K(sub p) index, and (3) inaccuracies in the equatorial magnetotail B(sub z) values. This paper describes a new approach to the problem; the essential new features are (1) a realistic shape and size of the magnetopause, based on fits to a large number of observed crossing (allowing a parametrization by the solar wind pressure), (2) fully controlled shielding of the magnetic field produced by all magnetospheric current systems, (3) new flexible representations for the tail and ring currents, and (4) a new directional criterion for fitting the model field to spacecraft data, providing improved accuracy for field line mapping. Results are presented from initial efforts to create models assembled from these modules and calibrated against spacecraft data sets.

Tsyganenko, N. A.↗

Quasi-static evolution of force-free magnetic fields and a model for two-ribbon solar flares

It is shown that a two-dimensional force-free field in the solar corona can evolve in a quasi-static manner toward an open configuration, assuming the coronal field is invariant with respect to translations parallel to the x-axis. The theoretical result is applied to the quantitative theory of the evolution of two-ribbon solar flares of Kopp and Pneuman (1976), and the results are discussed. It is concluded that the two-dimensional force is the principal mechanism for the opening of the coronal magnetic field prior to reconnection during a solar flare.

Aly, J. J.↗