Predicting Flare Properties Using the Minimum Current Corona Model

Abstract

The objective of our original proposal was to use the Minimum Current Corona (MCC) model to determine where strong currents are likely to develop above an active region, and compare the locations with observed flare signatures. If there is a good correspondence, we can also estimate the energy available for the flare from the current sheet in question. In the MCC model, the magnetic field in the corona is represented by the field due to a collection of point sources on the boundary: a Magnetic Charge Topology (MCT) model. Evolving these sources consistent with the evolution of the boundary causes currents to begin flowing in the corona. The minimum energy state occurs when currents flow only along separator field lines: topologically significant field lines which connect magnetic null points. In the absence of reconnection, the magnitudes of these currents can be estimated, along with the energy stored by each.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 27, 2009
Accession Number
ADA503355

Entities

People

  • Graham Barnes

Organizations

  • Northwest Research Associates

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Algorithms
  • Boundaries
  • Databases
  • Department Of Defense
  • Discriminant Analysis
  • Energy
  • Free Energy
  • Line Of Sight
  • Magnetic Fields
  • Magnetic Properties
  • Personal Information Managers
  • Separators
  • Solar Flares
  • Space Weather
  • Time Intervals
  • Topology
  • Weather Forecasting

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Graph Algorithms and Convex Optimization.
  • Plasma Physics / Magnetohydrodynamics
  • Plasma Physics.