Magnetic flares in the protoplanetary nebula and the origin of meteorite chondrules

Abstract

This study proposes and analyzes a model for the chondrule forming heating events based on magnetohydrodynamic flares in the corona of the protoplanetary nebula which precipitate energy in the form of energetic plasma along magnetic field lines down toward the face of the nebula. It is found that flare energy release rates sufficient to melt the prechondrular matter, leading to the formation of the chondrules, can occur in the tenuous corona of a protostellar disk. Energy release rates sufficient to achieve melting require that the ambient magnetic field strength be in the range that has been inferred separately from independent meteorite remanent magnetization studies