Transverse MHD bending waves are considered in an isothermal and compressible two-dimensional current sheet of finite thickness in which the magnetic field changes direction and strength. The general form of the wave equation is obtained. It is shown that rotation of the magnetic field across the current sheet prevents the existence of singular points so that continuous spectrum solutions and the concomitant wave decay disappear. Instead, normal modes exist and closed integral solution for...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), BENDING, KINEMATICS, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES, SUN, WAVE...
The well-known analytical solution of Burgers' equation is extended to curvilinear coordinate systems in three dimensions by a method that is much simpler and more suitable to practical applications than that previously used. The results obtained are applied to incompressible flow with cylindrical symmetry, and also to the decay of an initially linearly increasing wind.
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), BURGER EQUATION, ANALYSIS (MATHEMATICS), SPHERICAL...
This grant was awarded by NASA to The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to construct state-of-the-art, theoretical, two-component, chromospheric models for single stars of different spectral types and different evolutionary status. In our proposal, we suggested to use these models to predict the level of the "basal flux", the observed range of variation of chromospheric activity for a given spectral type, and the decrease of this activity with stellar age. In addition, for red...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), STELLAR EVOLUTION, ASTROPHYSICS, CHROMOSPHERE, CORONAS, WIND...
Observational evidence for the existence of a chromosphere on the cool magnetic white dwarf GD 356 has been reported. In addition, there has been theoretical speculations that cool magnetic white dwarfs may be sources of coronal X-ray emission. This emission, if it exists, would be distinct from the two types of X-ray emission (deep photospheric and shocked wind) that have already been observed from hot white dwarfs. We have used the PSPC instrument on ROSAT to observe three of the most...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), WHITE DWARF STARS, MAGNETIC STARS, X RAY SOURCES, ROSAT...
The final report discusses work completed on proposals to construct state-of-the-art, theoretical, two-component, chromospheric models for single stars of different spectral types and different evolutionary status. We suggested to use these models to predict the level of the "basal flux", the observed range of variation of chromospheric activity for a given spectral type, and the decrease of this activity with stellar age. In addition, for red giants and supergiants, we also proposed...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), CHROMOSPHERE, STELLAR MODELS, STELLAR WINDS, STELLAR...
The source functions and the energy fluxes are derived for wave generation in magnetic flux tubes embedded in an otherwise magnetic- field free, turbulent, and compressible fluid. Specific results for the generation of longitudinal tube waves are presented.
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), FLUX PINNING, LONGITUDINAL WAVES, MAGNETIC FLUX,...
We have suggested that cool magnetic white dwarfs may be sources of X-ray coronal emission and proposed several prominent candidates for this emission. One of these candidates (EG 250) was approved for the C-category observation by the National and International Committee and was observed by ROSAT on April 17, 1991. Unfortunately, the granted exposure time (1071 s) was much shorter than that which was required by theoretical predictions to observe coronal X-ray emission from this object. The...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ASTRONOMICAL SPECTROSCOPY, MAGNETIC STARS, SKY SURVEYS...
New calculations of the acoustic wave energy fluxes generated in the solar convective zone have been performed. The treatment of convective turbulence in the sun and solar-like stars, in particular, the precise nature of the turbulent power spectrum has been recognized as one of the most important issues in the wave generation problem. Several different functional forms for spatial and temporal spectra have been considered in the literature and differences between the energy fluxes obtained for...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ACOUSTIC PROPAGATION, CHROMOSPHERE, CONVECTIVE HEAT TRANSFER,...
This grant was awarded by NASA/MSFC to The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) to investigate the physical processes responsible for heating and wind acceleration in the solar atmosphere, and to construct theoretical, self-consistent and time-dependent solar wind models based on the momentum deposition by finite amplitude and nonlinear Alfven waves. In summary, there are three main goals of the proposed research: (1) Calculate the wave energy spectra and wave energy fluxes carried by...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS, MAGNETIC FLUX, SOLAR...
This paper presents work performed on the generation and physics of acoustic waves in the solar atmosphere. The investigators have incorporated spatial and temporal turbulent energy spectra in a newly corrected version of the Lighthill-Stein theory of acoustic wave generation in order to calculate the acoustic wave energy fluxes generated in the solar convective zone. The investigators have also revised and improved the treatment of the generation of magnetic flux tube waves, which can carry...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ACOUSTIC PROPAGATION, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC TURBULENCE,...
This paper presents work performed on the generation and physics of acoustic waves in the solar atmosphere. The investigators have incorporated spatial and temporal turbulent energy spectra in a newly corrected version of the Lighthill-Stein theory of acoustic wave generation in order to calculate the acoustic wave energy fluxes generated in the solar convective zone. The investigators have also revised and improved the treatment of the generation of magnetic flux tube waves, which can carry...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), ATMOSPHERIC STRATIFICATION, CHROMOSPHERE, CONVECTION,...
We describe the first results from a self-consistent study of Alfven waves for the time-dependent, single-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) solar wind equations, using a modified version of the ZEUS MHD code. The wind models we examine are radially symmetrical and magnetized; the initial outflow is described by the standard Parker wind solution. Our study focuses on the effects of Alfven waves on the outflow and is based on solving the full set of the ideal nonlinear MHD equations. In contrast to...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES, SOLAR WIND, NONLINEAR EQUATIONS,...
In the area of solar physics, new calculations of the acoustic wave energy fluxes generated in the solar convective zone was performed. The original theory developed was corrected by including a new frequency factor describing temporal variations of the turbulent energy spectrum. We have modified the original Stein code by including this new frequency factor, and tested the code extensively. Another possible source of the mechanical energy generated in the solar convective zone is the...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), COMPUTATIONAL ASTROPHYSICS, MAGNETIC FLUX,...
We present a ray-tracing study of the propagation of Pc 3 Alfven mode waves originating at the dayside magnetopause. This study reveals interesting features of a magnetospheric filter effect for these waves. Pc 3 Alfven mode waves cannot penetrate to low Earth altitudes unless the wave frequency is below approximately 30 mHz. Configurations of the dispersion curves and the refractive index show that the gyroresonance and pseudo-cutoff introduced by the heavy ion O(+) block the waves. When the...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), FILTERS, HEAVY IONS, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES, MAGNETOPAUSE,...
We have revisited the problem of propagation of toroidal and linear Alfven waves formulated by Heinemann and Olbert (1980) to compare WKB and non-WKB waves and their effects on the solar wind. They considered two solar wind models and showed that reflection is important for Alfven waves with periods of the order of one day and longer, and that non-WKB Alfven waves are no more effective in accelerating the solar wind than WKB waves. There are several recently published papers which seem to...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), PERIODIC VARIATIONS, PLASMA WAVES, SOLAR WIND, STELLAR...
We present a ray-tracing study of the propagation of Pc 3 Alfven mode waves originating at the dayside magnetopause. This study reveals interesting features of magnetospheric filter effect for these waves. Pc 3 Alfven mode waves cannot penetrate to low Earth altitudes unless the wave frequency is below approximately 30 mHz. Configurations of the dispersion curves and the refractive index show that the gyroresonance and pseudo-cutoff introduced by the heavy ion O(+) block the waves. When the...
Topics: NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS), RAY TRACING, MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC WAVES, MAGNETOPAUSE, PLASMA...
