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Thermal runaway as the solar flare trigger mechanism

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Abstract

It is postulated that the solar flare ‘trigger’ mechanism is a thermal runaway which occurs in the inner corona. This runaway is the result of a radiative power function which decreases with increasing temperature. Relationships of the onsets of Hα flares, hard X-ray, soft X-ray and centimeter radio bursts are consistent with the model. Flares are shown to be common solar phenomena which occur preferentially in hot and dense active regions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. E. O. Hulburt Center for Space Research, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

    S. W. Kahler & R. W. Kreplin

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  1. S. W. Kahler
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  2. R. W. Kreplin
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Kahler, S.W., Kreplin, R.W. Thermal runaway as the solar flare trigger mechanism. Sol Phys 14, 372–383 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221322

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00221322

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