New Solar Simulation Shows How Magnetic Fields Control the Sun’s Hot Corona

 

  • Researchers used MAGEC code for simulating the solar atmosphere from the convection zone to the corona.


  • MAGEC is a radiative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation tool. By using this, conservation of mass, momentum, magnetic flux, and energy in a plasma are calculated. It models how plasma (ionized gas) behaves under magnetic fields, radiation, and thermal conduction.


  • The solar atmosphere has shocks (sudden jumps in temperature and density)in the chromosphere. MAGEC uses a shock-capturing method.


  • The Sun’s chromosphere and corona lose energy by emitting radiation. MAGEC computes radiative losses based on local temperature and density.


  • Thermal conduction is very strong along magnetic field lines in the corona but weak across them. MAGEC includes both: Parallel conduction (along B-fields): dominant in the corona. Perpendicular conduction (across B-fields): usually small but found to have cumulative effects. To handle conduction numerically, they used a hyperbolic (flux-limited) approach meaning heat flux reacts like a wave that propagates at a finite speed.


  • Magnetic field geometry controls coronal heating. The researchers found that how magnetic field lines are arranged strongly affects the Sun’s temperature structure. Open magnetic fields → hotter and more extended corona.


  • Magnetic field geometry and cross-field thermal conduction play key roles in shaping coronal temperatures.


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