Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

On the presence of electric currents in the solar atmosphere

I: A theoretical framework

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

An elementary analysis based on Ampére's Law is given to separate the general magnetic field above the photosphere into two parts B=B 1+B *. The field B 1 is a potential field due to electric currents below the photosphere. The field B * is produced by electric currents above the photosphere combined with the induced mirror currents. By symmetry, B * has a set of field lines lying entirely in the plane z = 0 taken to be the photosphere. This set of field lines can be constructed from given vector magnetograph measurements and represents all the information on the electric currents above the photosphere that a magnetograph can provide. Theoretical illustrations are given and the implications for data analysis are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altschuler, M. D. and Newkirk, Jr., G.: 1969, Solar Phys. 9, 131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anzer, U. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1970, Solar Phys. 11, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Foukal, P.: 1974, Flare Related Magnetic Field Dynamics, NCAR, p. 125.

  • Gold, T.: 1964, in W. N. Hess (ed.), The Physics of Solar Flares, AAS-NASA Symposium, p. 389.

  • Hagyard, M. and Cumings, N. P.: 1975, NASA TMX-64922.

  • Hagyard, M. and Teuber, D.: 1978, Solar Phys. 57, 267.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagyard, M., West, E. A., and Cumings, N. P.: 1977, Solar Phys. 53, 3.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jackson, J. D.: 1965, Classical Electrodynamics, Wiley.

  • Krieger, A.: 1974, Flare Related Magnetic Field Dynamics, NCAR, p. 35.

  • Levine, R. H.: 1975, Solar Phys. 44, 365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Low, B. C.: 1981, Astrophys. J. (to appear).

  • Nakagawa, Y., Raadu, M. A., Billings, D. E., and McNarama, D.: 1971, Solar Phys. 19, 72.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poletto, G., Vaiana, G. S., Zombeck, M. V., Krieger, A. A., and Timothy, A. F., 1975, Solar Phys. 44, 83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rust, D. M. and Roy, J. R.: 1971, in R. Howard (ed.), ‘Solar Magnetic Fields’, IAU Symp. 43, 369.

  • Schmidt, H. U.: 1964, in W. N. Hess (ed.), The Physics of Solar Flares, AAS-NASA Symposium, p. 107.

  • Seehafer, N.: 1978, Solar Phys. 58, 215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stenflo, J. O.: 1978, Rep. Progs. Phys. 41, 865.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaiana, G. S.: 1974, Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. London A281, 365.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marshall Space Flight Center, Space Sciences Laboratory, 35812, Huntsville, Ala., U.S.A.

    M. Hagyard, B. C. Low & E. Tandberg-Hanssen

Authors
  1. M. Hagyard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. C. Low
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. Tandberg-Hanssen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hagyard, M., Low, B.C. & Tandberg-Hanssen, E. On the presence of electric currents in the solar atmosphere. Sol Phys 73, 257–268 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00151681

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00151681

Keywords

Search

Navigation