Thermally Conductive Magnetohydrodynamic Flows in Helmet-Streamer Coronal Structures
Abstract
The behavior of thermally conductive plasma flows in helmet-streamer coronal structures is investigated within the framework of the axisymmetric nonrotating one-fluid MHD model. Continuous subsonic-supersonic solutions satisfying observed boundary conditions at the sun as well as the vanishing of the temperature at infinity are obtained and presented. Special attention is paid to the combined effects of conductive flow (and corresponding thermal force) and rapidly diverging magnetic field on the critical points. In this, the heliocentric distance of the neutral point determining the separation between closed and open field lines (cusp) is treated as a free parameter. These thermally conductive solutions are contrasted with those provided by corresponding isothermal models.
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- February 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1086/168436
- Bibcode:
- 1990ApJ...350..846C
- Keywords:
-
- Magnetic Field Configurations;
- Magnetohydrodynamic Flow;
- Solar Corona;
- Solar Wind;
- Thermal Conductivity;
- Polytropic Processes;
- Time Dependence;
- Solar Physics;
- HYDROMAGNETICS;
- SUN: CORONA