Analysis of a model in solar magnetohydrostatics

Abstract

The model for resistive diffusion of a force-free magnetic field in a compressible plasma is analysed. Such a model has been suggested for describing the behavior of the solar outer atmosphere and that of solar flares. Previous analysis of the model involved assumptions of linear plasma velocity and constant magnetic energy. This paper deals with nonconstant magnetic energy in the cases of linear plasma velocity and planar plasma velocity. Some necessary conditions on the plasma direction vectors are derived. Finally, some aspects of the model assumptions are discussed, including nonnormality of initial data vectors to initial surfaces.

Keywords

• solar magetohydrostatics
• force-free fields.