ALFVÉNIC WAVE HEATING OF THE UPPER CHROMOSPHERE IN FLARES
- National Research Council Post-Doc Program, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)
- Division of Mathematics, University of Dundee, Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN (United Kingdom)
We have developed a numerical model of flare heating due to the dissipation of Alfvénic waves propagating from the corona to the chromosphere. With this model, we present an investigation of the key parameters of these waves on the energy transport, heating, and subsequent dynamics. For sufficiently high frequencies and perpendicular wave numbers, the waves dissipate significantly in the upper chromosphere, strongly heating it to flare temperatures. This heating can then drive strong chromospheric evaporation, bringing hot and dense plasma to the corona. We therefore find three important conclusions: (1) Alfvénic waves, propagating from the corona to the chromosphere, are capable of heating the upper chromosphere and the corona, (2) the atmospheric response to heating due to the dissipation of Alfvénic waves can be strikingly similar to heating by an electron beam, and (3) this heating can produce explosive evaporation.
- OSTI ID:
- 22518614
- Journal Information:
- Astrophysical Journal Letters, Vol. 818, Issue 1; Other Information: Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 2041-8205
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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