Hi Loops friends,

 

Attached is a paper just accepted by Solar Physics entitled "The Distinction Between Thermal Nonequilibrium and Thermal Instability," a topic which has caused some confusion.

 

Abstract:

For some forms of steady heating, coronal loops are in a state of thermal nonequilibrium and evolve in a manner that includes accelerated cooling, often resulting in the formation of a cold condensation. This is frequently confused with thermal instability, but the two are in fact fundamentally different. We explain the distinction and discuss situations where they may be interconnected. Large-amplitude perturbations, perhaps associated with MHD waves, likely play a role in explaining phenomena that have been attributed to thermal nonequilibrium but also seem to require cross-field communication.

 

Best wishes,

Jim

 

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James A. Klimchuk

NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Solar Physics Lab, Code 671

Bldg. 21, Rm. 158

Greenbelt, MD  20771

USA

 

Phone:  1-301-286-9060

Fax:      1-301-286-7194

E-mail:  James.A.Klimchuk@nasa.gov

Homepage:  http://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sed/bio/james.a.klimchuk

 

No endorsement by NASA is implied for any correspondence related to my official role in professional organizations.

 

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