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Statistical mechanics of velocity and magnetic fields in solar active regions

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Abstract

A statistical mechanics of the velocity and magnetic fields is formulated for an active region plasma. The plasma subjected to the conservation laws emerges in a most probable state which is described by an equilibrium distribution function containing a lagrange multiplier for every invariant of the system. The lagrange multipliers are determined by demanding that the measured expectation values of the invariants be reproduced. For a numerical exercise, we have assumed some probable values for these invariants. The total energy of a coronal loop is estimated from energy balance considerations. Doppler widths of the UV and EUV lines excited in the coronal loop plasma give a measure of the root-mean-square velocities. Measurements of magnetic helicity are not available for the solar corona.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Indian Institute of Astrophysics, 560 034, Bangalore, India

    V. Krishan

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  1. V. Krishan
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Krishan, V. Statistical mechanics of velocity and magnetic fields in solar active regions. Sol Phys 95, 269–280 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152405

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00152405

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