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Caltech Lab Experiments and the Insights They Provide Into Solar Corona Phenomena
Author(s) -
Bellan Paul M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-9402
pISSN - 2169-9380
DOI - 10.1029/2020ja028139
Subject(s) - physics , instability , corona (planetary geology) , rope , flux (metallurgy) , rayleigh–taylor instability , magnetic flux , astrophysics , solar physics , coronal radiative losses , magnetic field , astronomy , mechanics , coronal mass ejection , solar wind , engineering , astrobiology , mechanical engineering , materials science , quantum mechanics , venus , metallurgy
A comprehensive overview of two decades of Caltech experiments relevant to solar corona physics is presented. The extent to which the experiments scale to the solar corona, the basic configurations and operation, and the importance of the magnetic force J × B common to all the experiments is discussed. Summaries are given of the various configurations used, the main observations, and interpretations of these observations, including new models developed to provide these interpretations. Topics include observations and explanations for flux rope self‐collimation, axial flows along flux ropes, eruption of arched flux ropes, strapping magnetic fields that inhibit eruption, the torus instability, and effects such as X‐ray emission of a kink‐driven secondary Rayleigh‐Taylor instability.