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Differential rotation and the structure and energy content of coronal magnetic fields

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Abstract

It is argued that differential rotation of the photospheric magnetic fields will induce currents in the corona. The work done against surface magnetic stresses will increase the energy content of the coronal magnetic field. The electrical conductivities are high and the foot points of field lines move with the differential rotation. The force-free field equations are solved with this constraint to obtain a minimum estimate of the energy increase for a quadrupole field. During a solar rotation the magnetic energy increases by 25%. Local release of this energy in the corona would have a significant effect. The expansion of field lines as a result of the differential rotation should increase the amount of flux and the field strength in the solar wind region.

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Author notes

  1. M. A. Raadu

    Present address: The Astronomical Institute at Utrecht, The Netherlands

Authors and Affiliations

  1. High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colo., U.S.A.

    M. A. Raadu

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  1. M. A. Raadu
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The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

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Raadu, M.A. Differential rotation and the structure and energy content of coronal magnetic fields. Sol Phys 22, 443–449 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00148709

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00148709

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