On the formation of active regions

TY - JOUR

T1 - On the formation of active regions

AU - Stein, Robert F.

AU - Nordlund, Åke

PY - 2012/7/1

Y1 - 2012/7/1

N2 - Magnetoconvection can produce an active region without an initial coherent flux tube. A simulation was performed where a uniform, untwisted, horizontal magnetic field of 1kG strength was advected into the bottom of a computational domain 48 Mm wide by 20 Mm deep. The up and down convective motions produce a hierarchy of magnetic loops with a wide range of scales, with smaller loops riding "piggy-back" in a serpentine fashion on larger loops. When a large loop approaches the surface, it produces a small active region with a compact leading spot and more diffuse following spots.

AB - Magnetoconvection can produce an active region without an initial coherent flux tube. A simulation was performed where a uniform, untwisted, horizontal magnetic field of 1kG strength was advected into the bottom of a computational domain 48 Mm wide by 20 Mm deep. The up and down convective motions produce a hierarchy of magnetic loops with a wide range of scales, with smaller loops riding "piggy-back" in a serpentine fashion on larger loops. When a large loop approaches the surface, it produces a small active region with a compact leading spot and more diffuse following spots.

U2 - 10.1088/2041-8205/753/1/L13

DO - 10.1088/2041-8205/753/1/L13

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0004-637X

VL - 753

SP - L13

JO - The Astrophysical Journal Letters

JF - The Astrophysical Journal Letters

IS - 1

ER -