340 research outputs found
Intermittent heating of the solar corona by MHD turbulence
As the dissipation mechanisms considered for the heating of the solar corona would be sufficiently efficient only in the presence of small scales, turbulence is thought to be a key player in the coronal heating processes: it allows indeed to transfer energy from the large scales to these small scales. While Direct numerical simulations which have been performed to investigate the properties of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in the corona have provided interesting results, they are limited to small Reynolds numbers. We present here a model of coronal loop turbulence involving shell-models and Alfvén waves propagation, allowing the much faster computation of spectra and turbulence statistics at higher Reynolds numbers. We also present first results of the forward-modelling of spectroscopic observables in the UV
Nonlinear diffusion equations for anisotropic MHD turbulence with cross-helicity
Nonlinear diffusion equations of spectral transfer are systematically derived
for anisotropic magnetohydrodynamics in the regime of wave turbulence. The
background of the analysis is the asymptotic Alfv\'en wave turbulence equations
from which a differential limit is taken. The result is a universal
diffusion-type equation in -space which describes in a simple way and
without free parameter the energy transport perpendicular to the external
magnetic field for transverse and parallel fluctuations. These
equations are compatible with both the thermodynamic equilibrium and the finite
flux spectra derived by Galtier et al. (2000); it improves therefore the model
built heuristically by Litwick \& Goldreich (2003) for which only the second
solution was recovered. This new system offers a powerful description of a wide
class of astrophysical plasmas with non-zero cross-helicity.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figure
Flows at the Edge of an Active Region: Observation and Interpretation
Upflows observed at the edges of active regions have been proposed as the
source of the slow solar wind. In the particular case of Active Region (AR)
10942, where such an upflow has been already observed, we want to evaluate the
part of this upflow that actually remains confined in the magnetic loops that
connect AR10942 to AR10943. Both active regions were visible simultaneously on
the solar disk and were observed by STEREO/SECCHI EUVI. Using Hinode/EIS
spectra, we determine the Doppler shifts and densities in AR10943 and AR10942,
in order to evaluate the mass flows. We also perform magnetic field
extrapolations to assess the connectivity between AR10942 and AR10943. AR10943
displays a persistent downflow in Fe XII. Magnetic extrapolations including
both ARs show that this downflow can be connected to the upflow in AR10942. We
estimate that the mass flow received by AR10943 areas connected to AR10942
represents about 18% of the mass flow from AR10942. We conclude that the
upflows observed on the edge of active regions represent either large-scale
loops with mass flowing along them (accounting for about one-fifth of the total
mass flow in this example) or open magnetic field structures where the slow
solar wind originates.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophys.
Intermittent turbulent dynamo at very low and high magnetic Prandtl numbers
Context: Direct numerical simulations have shown that the dynamo is efficient
even at low Prandtl numbers, i.e., the critical magnetic Reynolds number Rm_c
necessary for the dynamo to be efficient becomes smaller than the hydrodynamic
Reynolds number Re when Re -> infinity. Aims: We test the conjecture (Iskakov
et al. 2007) that Rm_c actually tends to a finite value when Re -> infinity,
and we study the behavior of the dynamo growth factor \gamma\ at very low and
high magnetic Prandtl numbers. Methods: We use local and nonlocal shell-models
of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence with parameters covering a much wider
range of Reynolds numbers than direct numerical simulations, but of
astrophysical relevance. Results: We confirm that Rm_c tends to a finite value
when Re -> infinity. The limit for Rm -> infinity of the dynamo growth factor
\gamma\ in the kinematic regime behaves like Re^\beta, and, similarly, the
limit for Re -> infinity of \gamma\ behaves like Rm^{\beta'}, with
\beta=\beta'=0.4. Conclusion: Comparison with a phenomenology based on an
intermittent small-scale turbulent dynamo, together with the differences
between the growth rates in the different local and nonlocal models, indicate a
weak contribution of nonlocal terms to the dynamo effect.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure
Mitigation of Industrial Hazards by Water Spray Curtains
PresentationA Nowadays, the water spray curtain is recognized as a useful technique to mitigate major industrial hazards. It combines attractive features such as simplicity of use, efficiency and adaptability to different types of risks. In case of accidental toxic gas releases, the spray curtain may be used as a direct-contact reactor exchanging momentum, heat and mass with the gas phase. The cloud is diluted, warmed, and if toxic, some of its toxic content can be absorbed by the droplets to which chemical reactants can be added. In case of fire, water sprays can provide thermal shielding to maintain the integrity of storage tanks. The curtain behaves as a filter and can produce significant attenuation of the incident radiation that impinges on crucial structures such as petro-chemical storage tanks. Both of these applications have been thoroughly investigated at the von Karman Institute The outcomes of these research projects is a comprehensive engineering code simulating on the one hand the forced dispersion, heating and physico-chemical inhibition of cold pollutant clouds and on the other hand the thermal shielding performance of a water curtain. The numerical approach is supported by laboratory (including wind tunnel tests) and field tests dedicated to investigate the effects of numerous operating parameters on the water spray curtain efficiency and to build a data base for model validation. The paper gives an overview of the main features of the modeling and on practical industrial applications with a special focus on the adequate water curtain operating conditions and the influence of environmental factors
Electron density in the quiet solar coronal transition region from SoHO/SUMER measurements of S VI line radiance and opacity
Context: The sharp temperature and density gradients in the coronal
transition region are a challenge for models and observations.
Aims: We set out to get linearly- and quadratically-weighted average electron
densities in the region emitting the S VI lines, using the observed opacity and
the emission measure of these lines.
Methods: We analyze SoHO/SUMER spectroscopic observations of the S VI lines,
using the center-to-limb variations and radiance ratios to derive the opacity.
We also use the Emission Measure derived from radiance at disk center.
Results: We get an opacity at S VI line center of the order of 0.05. The
resulting average electron density is 2.4 10^16 m^-3 at T = 2 10^5 K. This
value is higher than the values obtained from radiance measurements.
Conversely, taking a classical value for the density leads to a too high value
of the thickness of the emitting layer.
Conclusions: The pressure derived from the Emission Measure method compares
well with previous determinations and implies a low opacity of 5 10^-3 to
10^-2. The fact that a direct derivation leads to a much higher opacity remains
unexplained, despite tentative modeling of observational biases. Further
measurements need to be done, and more realistic models of the transition
region need to be used.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figure
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