arXiv subjects

T. D. Arber

Publications and source records attributed to T. D. Arber.

25 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Radiative Hydrodynamic Modeling of the Bastille-Day Flare (14 July, 2000): I. Numerical Simulations

A 1-D loop radiative hydrodynamic model that incorporates the effects of gravitational stratification, heat conduction, radiative losses, external heat input, presence of helium, and Braginskii viscosity is used to simulate elementary flare loops. The physical parameters for the input are taken from observations of the Bastille-Day flare of 2000 July 14. The present analysis shows that: (a) The obtained maximum values of the electron density can be considerably higher (4.2 X 10^{11} cm^{-3} or more) in the case of footpoint heating than in the case of apex heating (2.5 X 10^{11} cm^{-3}). (b) The average cooling time after the flare peak takes less time in the case of footpoint heating than in the case of apex heating. (c) The peak apex temperatures are significantly lower (by about 10 MK) for the case of footpoint heating than for apex heating (for the same average loop temperature of about 30 MK). This characteristic allows us to discriminate between different heating positioning. (d) In both cases (of apex and footpoint heating), the maximum obtained apex temperature T^{max} is practically independent of the heating duration sigma_{t}, but scales directly with the heating rate E_{H0}. (e) The maximum obtained densities at the loop apex, n_e^{max}, increase with the heating rate E_{H0} and heating duration sigma_{t} for both footpoint and apex heating. In Paper II we will use the outputs of these hydrodynamic simulations, which cover a wide range of the parameter space of heating rates and durations, as an input for forward-fitting of the multi-loop arcade of the Bastille-day flare. KEYWORDS: Sun: Flares -- Sun: Activity -- Sun: Corona

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arXiv2004

Acoustic Oscillations in Solar and Stellar Flaring Loops

Evolution of a coronal loop in response to an impulsive energy release is numerically modelled. It is shown that the loop density evolution curves exhibit quasi-periodic perturbations with the periods given approximately by the ratio of the loop length to the average sound speed, associated with the second standing harmonics of an acoustic wave. The density perturbations have a maximum near the loop apex. The corresponding field-aligned flows have a node near the apex. We suggest that the quasi-periodic pulsations with periods in the range 10-300 s, frequently observed in flaring coronal loops in the radio, visible light and X-ray bands, may be produced by the second standing harmonic of the acoustic mode.

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arXiv2002

A Strongly Nonlinear Alfvenic Pulse in a Transversely Inhomogeneous Medium

We investigate the interaction of a plane, linearly polarized, Alfvenic pulse with a one-dimensional, perpendicular to the magnetic field, plasma density inhomogeneity in the strongly nonlinear regime. Our numerical study of the full MHD equations shows that: (i) Plasma density inhomogeneity substantially enhances (by about a factor of 2) the generation of longitudinal compressive waves. (ii) Attained maximal values of the generated transverse compressive perturbations are insensitive to the strength of the plasma density inhomogeneity, plasma beta and the initial amplitude of the Alfven wave. Typically, they reach about 40% of the initial Alfven wave amplitude. (iii) Attained maximal values of the generated relative density perturbations are within 20-40% for 0.5 <= beta <= 2.0. They depend upon plasma beta strongly; and scale almost linearly with the initial Alfven wave amplitude.

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arXiv2001

Non-resonant nonlinear coupling of magnetohydrodynamic waves in inhomogeneous media

A new mechanism for the enhanced generation of compressible fluctuations by Alfven waves is presented. A strongly nonlinear regime of Alfven wave phase-mixing is numerically simulated in a one-dimensionally inhomogeneous plasma of finite temperature. It is found that the inhomogeneity of the medium determines the efficiency of nonlinear excitation of magnetoacoustic waves. The level of the compressible fluctuations is found to be higher (up to the factor of two) in inhomogeneous regions. The amplitude of the generated magnetoacoustic wave can reach up to 30% of the source Alfven wave amplitude, and this value is practically independent of the Alfven wave amplitude and the steepness of Alfven speed profile. The highest amplitudes of compressible disturbances are reached in plasmas with beta of about 0.5. The further growth of the amplitude of compressible fluctuations is depressed by saturation.

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arXiv2001

Nonlinear MHD Waves in the Solar Wind Plasma Structures

We investigate the interaction of magnetohydrodynamic waves with plasma density inhomogeneities. Our numerical study of the full MHD equations shows that: (A) Plasma density inhomogeneities are a source of non-linear generation of transverse compressive waves by a plane Alfven wave, and substantially enhance (by about a factor of 2) the generation of the longitudinal compressive waves. (B) Attained maximal values of the generated transverse compressive waves are insensitive to the strength of the plasma density inhomogeneity and the initial amplitude of the Alfven wave. (C) Efficiency of the generation depends weakly upon the plasma beta parameter. The maximum generated amplitude of transverse compressive wave, up to 32% of the initial Alfven wave amplitude, is reached for about beta=0.5. The results obtained demonstrate that plasma inhomogeneities enhance the efficiency of the non-linear wave coupling.

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arXiv2001

A Weakly Nonlinear Alfvenic Pulse in a Transversely Inhomogeneous Medium

The interaction of a weakly nonlinear Alfvénic pulse with an Alfvén speed inhomogeneity in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field is investigated. Identically to the phase mixing experienced by a harmonic Alfvén wave, sharp transverse gradients are generated in the pulse by the inhomogeneity. In the initial stage of the evolution of an initially plane Alfvénic pulse, the transverse gradients efficiently generate transversely propagating fast magnetoacoustic waves. However, high resolution full MHD numerical simulations of the developed stage of the pulse evolution show that the generation saturates due to destructive wave interference. It is shown that the weakly non-linear description of the generated fast magnetoacoustic wave is well described by the driven wave equation proposed in Nakariakov, Roberts & Murawski (1997), and a simple numerical code (2D MacCromack), which solves it with minimal CPU resources produces identical results to those obtained from the full MHD code ({\it Lare2d}, Arber et al. 2001). A parametric study of the phenomenon is undertaken, showing that, contrary to one's expectations, steeper inhomogenities of the Alfvén speed do not produce higher saturation levels of the fast wave generation. There is a certain optimal gradient of the inhomogeneity that ensures the maximal efficiency of the fast wave generation.

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arXiv1999

Unstable coronal loops : numerical simulations with predicted observational signatures

We present numerical studies of the nonlinear, resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) evolution of coronal loops. For these simulations we assume that the loops carry no net current, as might be expected if the loop had evolved due to vortex flows. Furthermore the initial equilibrium is taken to be a cylindrical flux tube with line-tied ends. For a given amount of twist in the magnetic field it is well known that once such a loop exceeds a critical length it becomes unstableto ideal MHD instabilities. The early evolution of these instabilities generates large current concentrations. Firstly we show that these current concentrations are consistent with the formation of a current sheet. Magnetic reconnection can only occur in the vicinity of these current concentrations and we therefore couple the resistivity to the local current density. This has the advantage of avoiding resistive diffusion in regions where it should be negligible. We demonstrate the importance of this procedure by comparison with simulations based on a uniform resistivity. From our numerical experiments we are able to estimate some observational signatures for unstable coronal loops. These signatures include: the timescale of the loop brightening; the temperature increase; the energy released and the predicted observable flow speeds. Finally we discuss to what extent these observational signatures are consistent with the properties of transient brightening loops.

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