ON THE FORMATION OF ACTIVE REGIONS

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2012 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/753/1/L13· OSTI ID:22047712

Stein, Robert F ^[1]; Nordlund, Ake ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics and Astronomy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824 (United States)
2. Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen (Denmark)

Magnetoconvection can produce an active region without an initial coherent flux tube. A simulation was performed where a uniform, untwisted, horizontal magnetic field of 1 kG strength was advected into the bottom of a computational domain 48 Mm wide by 20 Mm deep. The up and down convective motions produce a hierarchy of magnetic loops with a wide range of scales, with smaller loops riding 'piggy-back' in a serpentine fashion on larger loops. When a large loop approaches the surface, it produces a small active region with a compact leading spot and more diffuse following spots.

• OSTI ID: 22047712
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 753, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
ASTROPHYSICS
CONVECTION
GRANULATION
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETISM
SIMULATION
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR CORONA
SUN
SURFACES