Primary energy releaseThe physical processes by which the magnetic energy of a solar active region is converted to other forms of energy in the appearance of a solar flare are discussed. Observations of the secondary manifestations of flare energy release, such as thermal plasmas and energetic particle emissions, are presented, with particular attention given to the temporal variations of flare radiation, the various forms of energy release, flare energy density, flare locations and sizes, energy distributions and H alpha, hard X-ray and microwave burst events. Current models of the primary energy release process are surveyed, and the models of Spicer (1976, 1977), which explains rapid flare energy release in terms of multiple tearing modes causing reconnection in sheared magnetic fields, and Uchida and Sakurai (1976, 1978), which attributes primary energy release to dynamic collapse caused by the interchange instability of the neutral sheet, are examined in detail.
Document ID
19800052858
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Collected Works
Authors
Kahler, S. (American Science and Engineering, Inc. Cambridge, Mass., United States)
Spicer, D. (Maryland, University College Park, Md., United States)
Uchida, Y. (Tokyo Astronomical Observatory Mitaka, Japan)
Zirin, H. (California Institute of Technology Pasadena, Calif., United States)