International Journal of Physics | Vol. 8, No. 7, July 2017 | pp. 49–56
DOI: 10.46882/2017/IJP/000087
Research Article
Title: Fluid Inflow Velocity Mapping and Reconnection Energetics in Solar Chromospheric Flares
Names of Authors: G. R. Davies¹, C. H. Jenkins²
Authors’ Affiliations: ¹School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, UK; ²Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
Abstract: Magnetic reconnection is the fundamental plasma driver behind explosive energy release events in the solar atmosphere, accelerating solar winds and triggering coronal mass ejections. This paper maps fluid inflow velocities and analyzes reconnection energetics within a solar chromospheric active region using high-resolution data from satellite ultraviolet spectrometers. We tracked the Doppler shifts and intensity profiles of the Mg II and C II spectral emission lines to isolate reconnection pathways under low-temperature, high-density conditions. The empirical measurements reveal localized plasma inflows moving at 12.4 km/s, while directed outflows reach velocities of 185.0 km/s into the active coronal loops. Based on these transport metrics, the local dimensionless reconnection rate was calculated to range between 0.04 and 0.07. These values closely align with fast reconnection regimes predicted by the Sweet-Parker theoretical framework modified by hall magnetohydrodynamic effects and plasmoid instabilities. Spectroscopic line-broadening analysis indicates localized turbulent temperatures peaking at 4.5 MK within the current sheet boundary. This high temperature confirms intense localized viscous dissipation. These spectroscopic diagnostics provide direct observational constraints for refining magnetohydrodynamic models of chromospheric heating networks.
Keywords: Solar atmosphere; magnetic reconnection; solar flares; ultraviolet spectroscopy; plasma velocity; magnetohydrodynamics
Manuscript Timeline: Received: March 20, 2017; Revised: May 05, 2017; Accepted: May 28, 2017; Published: July 14, 2017
Citation: Davies, G. R., & Jenkins, C. H. (2017). Fluid Inflow Velocity Mapping and Reconnection Energetics in Solar Chromospheric Flares. International Journal of Physics, 8(7), 49–56.
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