MHD waves in coronal flux tubes

The basic MHD waves of a coronal flux loop are investigated for the rectangular box model of a plasma with oblique magnetic field and line-tied at the ends. The waves found are completely different from those in a periodic box, representative for tokamaks. They consist of a mixture of Alfvén components with a ballooning factor, favouring minimal field line bending, and fast components without such a factor. Pure Alfvén modes are only found as singular limiting cases of cluster spectra of Alfvén-fast waves, where the fast components are localised in a photospheric boundary layer which is dictated by the requirements of line-tying. This justifies the assumption of continuous spectra in coronal loops, required for the mechanism of resonant Alfvén wave heating. The waves consist of large amplitude Alfvén components in the corona and fast components with a small but rapidly varying amplitude in the boundary layer, so that they appear to have the right signature for effective transfer of energy from the photosphere to the corona.     

Alfvén wave heating

This review discusses Alfvén wave heating in non-uniform plasmas as a possible means for explaining the heating of the solar corona. It focusses on recent analytical results that enable us to understand the basic physics of Alfvén wave heating and help us with the interpretation of results of numerical simulations. First we consider the singular wave solutions that are found in linear ideal MHD at the resonant magnetic surface where the frequency of the wave equals the local Alfvén frequency. Next, we use linear resistive MHD for describing the waves in the dissipative region and explain how dissipation modifies the singular solutions found in linear ideal MHD.     

Thermal cyclotron radiation from a hot coronal loop with helical magnetic field

The spectral and polarization properties of thermal cyclotron radio emission from a hot coronal loop with a current along the axis are computed. The magnetic field is supposed to have a component along the loop axis as well as a poloidal part due to the current, both components being of comparable magnitude. In this specific configuration a helical magnetic field is present with a remarkable minimum of its absolute value along the loop axis and a maximum at its periphery. The presence of one or two maxima of magnetic field value along the line of sight results in increasing optical thickness of the gyroresonance layers at appropriate frequencies in the microwave band and, therefore, in enhanced radio emission at those harmonics which are optically thin (for example,s=4). These cannot be observed in models with the commonly employed magnetic field configuration (longitudinal along the loop axis).We show that the frequency spectrum of thermal cyclotron radiation from a hot coronal loop with a helical magnetic field differs from that of the standards-component source (with smooth frequency characteristics and polarization corresponding toe-mode) in that plenty of fine structures (line-like features and cut-offs) are present and theo-mode is prevalent in some frequency intervals. The enhanced radio emission at high harmonics and the complicated form of frequency spectrum in the model considered imply that some microwave sources, which are poorly explained in traditional models of solar active regions, may be associated with helical magnetic fields in hot coronal loops. Computations allow one to indicate spectral and polarizational peculiarities of local sources testifying to the presence of a helical magnetic field.     

Large-scale Coronal Heating, Clustering of Coronal Bright Points, and Concentration of Magnetic Flux

By combining quiet-region Fe XII coronal images from SOHO/EIT with magnetograms from NSO/Kitt Peak and from SOHO/MDI, we show that the population of network coronal bright points and the magnetic flux content of the network are both markedly greater under the bright half of the large-scale quiet corona than under the dim half. These results (1) support the view that the heating of the entire corona in quiet regions and coronal holes is driven by fine-scale magnetic activity (microflares, explosive events, spicules) seated low in the magnetic network, and (2) suggest that this large-scale modulation of the magnetic flux and coronal heating is a signature of giant convection cells. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Modeling of dynamic evolution of coronal loops

Parameters of expanding magnetic loops and arches and of mass flows generated by them in the corona have been computed in a 1D two-fluid approximation. Two possible trigger mechanisms of the coronal transients have been considered: (i) sudden increase of the background magnetic field strength, and (ii) heating and compression plasma inside these magnetic structures. We discuss the formation of shock waves and their dependence on dynamics and geometry of the magnetic structures.     

Synthesis of CME-Associated Moreton and EIT Wave Features from MHD Simulations

Soft X-ray (SXR) waves, EIT waves, and Hα Moreton waves are all associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The knowledge of the characteristics about these waves is crucial for the understanding of CMEs, and hence for the space weather researches. MHD numerical simulation is performed, with the consideration of the quiet Sun atmosphere, to investigate the CME/flare processes. On the basis of the numerical results, SXR, EUV, and Hα images of the eruption are synthesized, where SXR waves, EIT waves, and Hα Moreton waves are identified. It confirms that the EIT waves, which border the expanding dimmming region, are produced by the successive opening (or stretching) of the closed magnetic field lines. Hα Moreton waves are found to propagate outward synchronously with the SXR waves, lagging behind the latter spatially by ～27 Mm in the simulated scenario. However, the EIT wave velocity is only a third of the Moreton wave velocity. The synthesized results also suggest that Hα± 0.45Å would be the best off-band for the detection of Hα Moreton waves.     

Stochastic acceleration of charged particle in nonlinear wave field

Possibility of stochastic acceleration of charged particle by nonlinear waves is investigated. Spatially regular (SR) and spatiotemporal chaotic (STC) wave solutions evolving from saddle steady wave are tested as the fields. In the non-steady SR field the particle is finally trapped by the wave and averagely gains its group velocity, while in the STC field the particle motion displays trapped-free phases with its averaged velocity larger or smaller than the group velocity depending on the charge sign. A simplified model is established to investigate the acceleration mechanism. By analogy with motor protein, it is found that the virtual pattern of saddle steady wave plays a role of asymmetric potential, which and the nonlinear varying perturbation wave are the two sufficient ingredients for the acceleration in our case. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Manifestation of magnetic reconnection in coronal streamer current sheets

We investigate the possibility of observing the effects of magnetic reconnection inside a current sheet forming in a coronal streamer in the extended corona. In particular we study the possibility to observe with the UVCS of SOHO the excitation of the tearing instability in the current sheet.     

Dynamic behavior and topology of 3D magnetic fields

We investigate numerically the dynamical evolution of a boundary driven, topologically complex low plasma. The initial state is a simple, but topologically nontrivial 3D magnetic field, and the evolution is driven by forced motions on two opposite boundaries of the computational domain. A large X-type reconnection event with a supersonic one-sided jet occurs as part of a process that brakes down the large scale topology of the initial field. An energetically steady state is reached, with a double arcade overall topology, in which the driving causes continuous creation of small scale thin current sheets at various locations in the arcade structures.     

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a streamer beside a realistic coronal hole

Existing models of coronal streamers establish their credibility and act as the initial state for transients. The models have produced satisfactory streamer simulations, but unsatisfactory coronal hole simulations. This is a consequence of the character of the models and the boundary conditions. The models all have higher densities in the magnetically open regions than occur in coronal holes (Noci,et al., 1993).     

Relationship of coronal transients to interplanetary shocks: 3D aspects

More than 1000 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) caused by different types of coronal transients have been analyzed up to now, based on the images from white light coronagraphs on board the OSO 7, Skylab, P78-1, and SMM spacecraft. In many cases, the CME images lead us to the impression of loop-like, more planar structures, similar to those of prominence structures often seen in H pictures. There is increasing evidence, though, for a three-dimensional bubble- or cloud-like structure of CMEs. In several cases, CMEs directed toward the earth (or away from it) were identified, as their outer fronts emerged on all sides of the coronagraph's occulting disk, thus suggesting a bubble-like appearance.There now appears to be unanimity about the crucial role that magnetic reconnection plays during the transient process. Recently, direct evidence was found for the pinch-off of CMEs, both from optical observations and from in situ measurements of isolated magnetic clouds' following transient shock waves. However, the detailed sequence of events during the generation of a CME is still unclear.Interplanetary shock waves associated with the CMEs are usually restricted in latitudinal extent to about the angular width of the optically observed CMEs. They may be somewhat less restricted in longitudinal extent. A nearly 1 1 association between CMEs and shock waves measured in situ from spacecraft (Helios 1 and 2, IMP 7 and 8, ISEE 3, Pioneer Venus) can be established, provided the CME and the spacecraft were in the same longitudinal and latitudinal range and the CME speed exceeds 400 km s^–1. Around the past solar activity minimum all CMEs observed were centered at solar latitudes of less than 60°. Around solar maximum, a significant fraction of CMEs also originated from the polar regions. Thus, there is a good chance that the Ulysses spaceprobe will encounter many shocks caused by both low- and high-latitude CMEs, when it finally starts its journey over the Sun's poles.     

三维等离子体MHD气动热环境数值模拟

电磁流动控制技术是一个多学科交叉融合的重要研究方向,在高超声速飞行器气动特性优化、气动热环境减缓、边界层转捩和等离子体分布等流动控制方面显示出广阔的应用前景。考虑高超声速飞行器绕流流场中发生的离解、复合、电离和置换等化学反应,气体分子振动能激发以及化学非平衡效应,耦合电磁场作用并基于低磁雷诺数假设,通过数值模拟求解三维非平衡Navier-Stokes流场控制方程和Maxwell电磁场控制方程,建立磁场与三维等离子体流场耦合数值模拟方法及程序,采用典型算例进行考核。在此基础上,开展不同条件下磁场对再入三维等离子体流场以及气动热环境影响分析。研究表明:建立的高超声速飞行器的等离子体流场与磁场耦合计算方法及程序,其数值模拟结果与文献符合,外加磁场使飞行器头部弓形激波外推,磁场强度越强,激波面外推距离越大;不同磁场强度环境下,流场中温度峰值大小略有变化,变化幅度较小;磁场对绝大部分区域的热流有减缓作用,作用的大小与飞行高度、马赫数以及磁场的配置紧密相关;当前的计算条件下,飞行的高度越高,磁场的作用越明显。     

Effect of areal expansion and coronal heating on the solar wind

Empirical studies have shown that the solar wind speed at Earth is inversely correlated with the areal expansion rate of magnetic flux tubes near the Sun. Recent model calculations that include a self-consistent determination of the coronal temperature allow one to understand the physical basis of this relationship; they also suggest why the solar wind mass flux is relatively constant.     

A Parallel Adaptive 3D MHD Scheme for Modeling Coronal and Solar Wind Plasma Flows

A parallel adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) scheme is described for solving the governing equations of ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) in three space dimensions. This solution algorithm makes use of modern finite-volume numerical methodology to provide a combination of high solution accuracy and computational robustness. Efficient and scalable implementations of the method have been developed for massively parallel computer architectures and high performance achieved. Numerical results are discussed for a simplified model of the initiation and evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the inner heliosphere. The results demonstrate the potential of this numerical tool for enhancing our understanding of coronal and solar wind plasma processes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Phase coherence of MHD waves in the solar wind

Large amplitude MHD waves are commonly found in the solar wind. Nonlinear interactions between the MHD waves are likely to produce finite correlation among the wave phases. For discussions of various transport processes of energetic particles, it is fundamentally important to determine whether the wave phases are randomly distributed (as assumed in quasi-linear theories) or they have a finite coherence. Using a method based on a surrogate data technique and a fractal analysis, we analyzed Geotail magnetic field data (provided by S. Kokubun and T. Nagai through DARTS at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science) to evaluate the phase coherence among the MHD waves in the earth's foreshock region. The correlation of wave phases does exist, indicating that the nonlinear interactions between the waves is in progress. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

高超声速多体分离过程气动加热计算技术

发展了无粘外流解与气动热工程方法相结合的用于全机外形复杂流动气动加热计算技术,并将其与动态多体分离过程流场解相结合,提出了一种高超声速飞行器多体分离过程气动加热特性计算技术,然后耦合结构传热,实现了飞行器热防护系统中结构材料温度分布特性的数值模拟。采用本文方法,针对假定高超声速多体分离布局及飞行条件开展了分离过程中的结构温度分布特性与热流密度分布特性计算,分析并给出了组合体分离过程中部件干扰对气动热的影响特性。结果表明本文发展的计算技术可为高超声速飞行器的防热方案设计、气动热特性定性分析及热防护系统设计等提供技术支持。     

基于混水原理的供热系统节能分析

混水供热对供热运行有很好的调节作用,并逐渐被更多的供热运行自动控制系统所采用。对某分流混水供热自动控制系统进行了分析,指出了分流混水方式的弊端。提出了采用回流混水供热方式可以更有效地进行供热调节和节能降耗,并且具有响应快和准确度高等优点;同时对回流混水供热进行了节能分析、定量计算以及水温控制方程推导等。     

高超声速飞行器瞬态热试验

为了进行高超声速飞行器热防护系统的初步设计和数值计算的验证,设计开发了高超声速飞行器瞬态气动加热地面试验系统及其控制软件.试验系统能够根据飞行器的飞行轨迹和外形参数加载瞬态热流,实时测出结构表面的热流值和温度,得到飞行器的表面试验热流曲线和温度曲线.试验系统采用真空舱模拟飞行环境,并为此设计了冷却床,在真空环境下能比较真实的模拟热防护系统的下表面热环境,使瞬态热试验的原理更加合理,精度进一步提高.      

关于驻波能量的图示法分析

为了使学生更好地理解驻波的能量只在局部区域内流动、没有沿某一固定方向传播这一重要特点,在驻波的能量教学过程中,首先推导出驻波的波腹和波节处媒质质元的能量表达式,再尝试采用图示法定性分析驻波相邻的波腹和波节之间的能量相互转换。图示法具有形象直观、学生易于理解的优点。     

飞行器纵向非线性动力学建模对稳定性的影响

飞行器的稳定性分析与建立的动力学分析模型密切相关.传统的稳定性分析方法是基于小扰动假设建立线性化模型,当飞行状态中非线性特征明显时,其结果误差会带来多大的影响是人们关心的问题.通过建立飞行动力学非线性模型和气动力非线性模型,采用时间推进方法对两类非线性问题进行了比较系统的研究.数值计算结果表明,飞行动力学非线性模型与线性模型相比,周期增大、幅值减小、衰减率增大;而菲线性气动力模型对周期几乎没有影响,但对幅值有一定的影响.