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MHD Shocks and the Origin of the Solar Transition Region

Margarita Ryutova and Theodore Tarbell
Phys. Rev. Lett. 90, 191101 – Published 15 May 2003
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Abstract

Simultaneous observations of the solar atmosphere from its surface to the corona obtained with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) show a ubiquitous sequence of events that start from cancellation of photospheric magnetic fields, pass through shock formation, and result in transition region supersonic jets and microflares. These results support a novel view of the energy buildup in the solar atmosphere associated with a cascade of shock waves produced by interacting network magnetic elements in the photosphere and provide insight into the origin of the solar transition region. The findings account for the general mechanisms of energy production, transfer, and release throughout the Sun’s and stellar atmospheres.

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  • Received 28 June 2002

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.90.191101

©2003 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Margarita Ryutova* and Theodore Tarbell

  • Lockheed Martin Solar & Astrophysics Laboratories, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA

  • *Also at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, L-413, Livermore, CA 94550.
  • Electronic address: ryutova1@llnl.gov

See Also

Slingshots on the Sun

Robert Irion
Phys. Rev. Focus 11, 23 (2003)

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Issue

Vol. 90, Iss. 19 — 16 May 2003

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