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| Paper: |
Current Sheet Statistics in Three-Dimensional Simulations of Coronal Heating |
| Volume: |
474, Numerical Modeling of Space Plasma Flows (ASTRONUM2012) |
| Page: |
159 |
| Authors: |
Lin, L.; Ng, C. S.; Bhattacharjee, A. |
| Abstract: |
In a recent numerical study [Ng et al., Astrophys. J. 747, 109, 2012], with a
three-dimensional model of coronal heating using reduced
magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD), we have obtained scaling results of heating rate
versus Lundquist number based on a series of runs in which random photospheric
motions are imposed for hundreds to thousands of Alfvén time in order to
obtain converged statistical values. The heating rate found in these
simulations saturate to a level that is independent of the Lundquist number. This
scaling result was also supported by an analysis with the assumption of the
Sweet-Parker scaling of the current sheets, as well as how the width, length
and number of current sheets scale with Lundquist number. In order to test
these assumptions, we have implemented an automated routine to analyze
thousands of current sheets in these simulations and return statistical
scalings for these quantities. It is found that the Sweet-Parker scaling
is justified. However, some discrepancies are also found and require further
study. |
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