THERMAL FINE STRUCTURE AND MAGNETIC FIELDS IN THE SOLAR ATMOSPHERE: SPICULES AND FIBRILS

Journal Article · Sun Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2011 · Astrophysical Journal Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/2041-8205/730/1/L4· OSTI ID:21560437

Judge, Philip G; Low, Boon Chye ^[1]; Tritschler, Alexandra ^[2]

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1. High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research , P.O. Box 3000, Boulder, CO 80307-3000 (United States)
2. National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak , P.O. Box 62, Sunspot, NM-88349 (United States)

The relationship between observed structures in the solar atmosphere and the magnetic fields threading them is known only for the solar photosphere, even then imprecisely. We suggest that some of the fine structures in the more tenuous chromosphere and corona-specifically some populations of spicules and fibrils-correspond to warps in two-dimensional sheet-like structures, as an alternative to conventional interpretations in terms of tube-like structures. The sheets are perhaps related to magnetic tangential discontinuities, which Parker has argued arise naturally in low-{beta} conditions. Some consequences of this suggestion, if it can be confirmed, are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 21560437
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 730, Issue 1; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/2041-8205/730/1/L4; ISSN 2041-8205
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTROPHYSICS
COSMOLOGY AND ASTRONOMY
CHROMOSPHERE
FINE STRUCTURE
MAGNETIC FIELDS
PHOTOSPHERE
SOLAR PROMINENCES
ATMOSPHERES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
STELLAR ACTIVITY
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES