What is the Role of Plasma in Solar Flares?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the role of plasma in solar flares, specifically focusing on the density of plasma during these events and the modeling of solar flare conditions. It encompasses theoretical aspects, modeling approaches, and references to scientific literature.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the typical density of solar flares.
  • Another participant references various articles suggesting that solar flares likely have particle densities similar to those found in the chromosphere and corona, though specific locations are not detailed.
  • A different viewpoint proposes modeling solar flares as having the density of the sun, considering that material is expelled from the sun during these events.
  • Discussion includes details about the chromosphere's characteristics, such as cellular convection patterns and the presence of spicules, which are linked to the magnetic fields associated with sunspots and solar flares.
  • Participants suggest that a robust plasma magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) model is necessary to accurately represent the initial conditions of solar flares, emphasizing the importance of understanding plasma density, currents, and magnetic field dynamics.
  • Several links to scientific papers are provided for further exploration of solar flare statistics and plasma modeling.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the appropriate density models for solar flares, with no consensus reached on the best approach or understanding of the underlying mechanisms.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights limitations in the available data regarding specific locations of density measurements and the complexities involved in modeling plasma behavior during solar flares.

pivoxa15
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What is the density of solar flares usually?
 
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There are some numbers here, but the article doesn't say anything about specific location, i.e. how far from the surface of the sun the data are reported.
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMB49QJNVE_index_0.html

Solar flares would ostensibly have particle densities on the order of the chromosphere and corona.

See - RELEASE OF HELIUM FROM CLOSED-FIELD REGIONS OF THE SUN
http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/ApJ/journal/issues/ApJ/v624n1/61619/61619.web.pdf

The Structure of the Sun
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/Curric_7-12/Chapter_2.pdf
 
Last edited by a moderator:
What about modeling them as having the density of the sun as in the beginning a lot of the stuff are blown out from the sun.
 
In the article in last link (pdf) -
The chromosphere is also characterized by cellular convection patterns, but these cells are much larger than the granules of the photosphere. Near the boundaries of these cells are concentrated magnetic fields that produce vertical jets of material called spicules. Although spicules are considered to be small features of the quiet sun, they are actually about the size of Earth! Flares are much larger and more explosive. The active regions associated with sunspots produce strong magnetic fields, which arch up through the chromosphere and become conduits for material when explosive flares erupt. The cause and timing of these eruptions are of great interest to scientists but are not well understood.

So modeling the initial conditions of the flare based on the density of the chromosphere near sun spots. One would need a good plasma MHD model with knowledge of the plasma density and currents, magnetic field strengths and rate of change of magetic fields (for induced EMF).

See if one can obtain access to the journal Solar Physics

Solar Flare Statistics with a One-Dimensional Mhd Model
http://www.springerlink.com/content/r82p30h54v444207/

Turbulent plasma model of the narrowband dm-spikes
http://solar.physics.montana.edu/cgi-bin/eprint/index.pl?do_by_author=1&authorid=60
 

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