MHD Ps PDF

Warwick PX420 Solar MHD 2019-2020: Problems 1
Problems
Problem 1 Estimate in km the distance on the Sun corresponding to one
arcsec when the Earth is in perihelion (about 4th of January each year) and
is in 147.5 million km from the Sun and when it is in aphelion (about 4th of
July), in 152.6 million km from the Sun.
Problem 2 The differential rotation of the Sun could be modelled by the

velocity V = V0 (x)ŷ, where y corresponds to the equatorial direction, and
x to the longitude (the poloidal coordinate). Assume that at t = 0 the
magnetic field is purely poloidal, B = B0 x̂, where B0 is constant. For
V0 (x) = V00 cos (x/a), where a = ±πR /2 correspond to the solar poles,
find the time variation rate of the absolute value of the magnetic field.
Problem 3 Show that the adiabatic equation can be expressed as

∂p
+ V · ∇p = −γp∇ · V. (1)
∂t
How would the expression change in the incompressible case?
Problem 4 Observations show that the solar constant increases by 0.1%.

Linking the solar constant with the Sun’s absolute luminosity, and assuming
the Sun emits as a black body, and that the solar radius does not change and
the distance between the Earth and the Sun remains the same, determine the
relative increase in the temperature of the solar surface.
Problem 5 Show that in the case of constant pressure, the energy equation
ργ d
!
p
= −L, (2)
γ − 1 dt ργ
can be rewritten as
dT
ρcp = −L, (3)
dt
where cp is specific heat at constant pressure,
γ kB
cp = .
γ−1 m
Problem 6 There is a dimensionless number, Rm , called the magnetic Reynolds

number.
LV
Rm = , (4)
η
where V is a typical plasma velocity, L is a typical scale and η is the magnetic
diffusivity. The magnetic diffusivity is defined as
1
η= , (5)
µσ
where σ is the electrical conductivity in ohm m−1 .
According to Braginski, in a strongly magnetised plasma η can be esti-
mated as
η = 109 T −3/2 m2 s−1
Estimate the magnetic Reynolds number in the corona, in sunspots and
in the solar wind, making appropriate assumptions about the typical spatial
scales and times.
Problem 7 If the radius of a sunspot is l = 107 m and η = 103 m2 s−1 , esti-

mate the time for the sunspot magnetic field to diffuse away.
Problem 8 A chromospheric magnetic element has a magnetic field of 1000 G,

and a radius 100 km. Determine the radius of the coronal loop which is a
continuation of this element if the field in the loop is estimated as 15 G.
Problem 9 A neutral slab of a non-magnetised plasma of width l is confined

by two regions of a magnetised plasma penetrated by the magnetic field of
strength B0 , parallel to the slab boundaries. The field reverses its direction
from one side of the slab to the other. Neglecting the magnetic diffusivity η,
show that the slab can be in equilibrium. What is the thermodynamic pressure
in the slab?
Problem 10 Sketch the magnetic field lines for B = 1ex + 2xey , and deter-
mine the j × B force at the point x = 0, y = 1.
Problem 11 Investigate the polytropic model of the solar wind. Consider a

steady spherically symmetric outflow from the surface of the Sun. Show that
the MHD equations in spherical coordinates reduce to
1 d 2
(r ρv) = 0, (6)
r2 dr
dv d p GM ρ
ρv =− − , (7)
dr dr r2
!
d p
v = 0. (8)
dr ργ
Show that the Euler equation may be rewritten as
!
dv γ p d γ−1 GM
v =− ρ − , (9)
dr γ−1 ργ dr r2
and deduce the expression
v2 Cs2 GM
+ − = const. (10)
2 γ−1 r
Problem 12 Observations by GOES spacecraft show that the integrated soft
X-ray flux of a solar flare varies with time as F (t) ∝ exp(−t2 /t2f ), where tf
is about 500 s. Determine the expected time dependence of the hard X-ray
and microwave fluxes generated by the flare.
Problem 13 The vertical dependence of the absolute value of the magnetic

field in an active region is estimated as B = B0 (z/a)−4 , where a and B0 are
constant. Take that the density profile is given by the hydrostatic equilibrium,
ρ = ρ0 exp(−z/Λ), where ρ0 and Λ are constant. Determine the height of the
minimum of the Alfvén speed.
Problem 14 The Extreme Ultraviolet Imager onboard SOHO spacecraft ob-

serves an off-limb loop. The emission intensity in the loop is measured to
have the scale height two times larger than outside it. Under the assumption
that the loop cross-section does not change with height, determine the ratio
of the plasma temperatures inside and outside the loop.
Problem 15 Spectroscopic measurements show that outside the loop the plasma
is cooler and less dense than inside. What information it gives you about the
ratio of the magnetic field inside and outside the loop?
Problem 16 Imaging observations in EUV show that the global kink mode
of a coronal loop has the phase speed of 1000 km/s. The loop appears to
be 100 times brighter than the background plasma. Show that in the low-β
q
plasma the kink speed can be estimated as CK ≈ CAi 2/(1 + ρe /ρi ). Using
this expression or otherwise estimate the Alfvén speed in the loop. (Here the
indices in and ex refer to the physical parameters inside and outside in the
loop, respectively.)
Problem 17 The SOHO/SUMER spectral instrument discovered quasi-periodic

oscillations of the intensity and Doppler shift in the coronal emission line
Fexix . The period of the oscillations is in the range of 5-15 min. It is sug-
gested that these oscillations can be interpreted as standing sound waves in
coronal loops.
(a) Consider linear sound waves propagating strictly along the magnetic
field, parallel to the z-axis, neglect dissipation and gravity, and show that the
Euler equation and continuity equations may be reduced to the equations,
∂ Ṽ ∂ p̃ ∂ ρ̃ ∂ Ṽ
ρ0 =− , + ρ0
∂t ∂z ∂t ∂z
where ρ0 is the constant equilibrium density, and the tilde denoted perturba-
tions of the physical value.
(b) Show that with the use of the expression p̃ = Cs2 ρ̃ where Cs is the
sound speed, the above equations combine to the wave equation
∂ 2 Ṽ 2
2∂ V
− C s = 0.
∂t2 ∂z 2
(c) Apply the “rigid wall” boundary conditions (V = 0) at the loop foot-
points (z = 0 and z = L) and determine the resonant frequency of the global
acoustic (also called “longitudinal”) mode of the loop.
Problem 18 A global coronal wave is observed to propagate in a coronal

hole in the horizontal direction. The speed of the wave at the height 50 Mm
is estimated to be 2 times higher than near the bottom of the corona. Consider
the atmosphere to be plane, the magnetic field vertical and uniform, and the
temperature constant, and estimate the temperature.
Problem 19 The temperature of the exponentially stratified plasma in a

coronal hole is 1 MK. The absolute
αvalue of the magnetic field is assumed to
z
depend on height as B0 = B00 , where z0 = 50 Mm and α is a constant.
z0
Observations show that the global coronal compressive wave propagates at the
heights z = 10 Mm and z = 50 Mm at speeds 0.5 Mm s−1 and 0.6 Mm s−1 ,

respectively. Assuming that the wave propagates perpendicularly to the field,
and the plasma β is about 0, determine the index α.
Problem 20 A steady (siphon) flow along an isothermal coronal loop of a

minor radius RL is described by the equations
d
(ρV ) = 0,
ds
dV dp
ρV = − − ρg0 cos(s/RL ),
ds! ds
d p
= 0,
ds ργ
where V is the component of the bulk velocity vector, tangential to the loop,
and s is the coordinate along the loop. Show that these equations could be
combined into the ODE
C2
!
dV
V − s = −g0 cos(s/RL ), (11)
V ds
where Cs2 = γp/ρ is the sound speed.

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Warwick PX420 Solar MHD 2019-2020: Problems 1

Problem 2 The differential rotation of the Sun could be modelled by the

Problem 3 Show that the adiabatic equation can be expressed as

Problem 4 Observations show that the solar constant increases by 0.1%.

Problem 6 There is a dimensionless number, Rm , called the magnetic Reynolds

Problem 7 If the radius of a sunspot is l = 107 m and η = 103 m2 s−1 , esti-

Problem 8 A chromospheric magnetic element has a magnetic field of 1000 G,

Problem 9 A neutral slab of a non-magnetised plasma of width l is confined

Problem 11 Investigate the polytropic model of the solar wind. Consider a

and deduce the expression

Problem 13 The vertical dependence of the absolute value of the magnetic

Problem 14 The Extreme Ultraviolet Imager onboard SOHO spacecraft ob-

Problem 17 The SOHO/SUMER spectral instrument discovered quasi-periodic

Problem 18 A global coronal wave is observed to propagate in a coronal

Problem 19 The temperature of the exponentially stratified plasma in a

heights z = 10 Mm and z = 50 Mm at speeds 0.5 Mm s−1 and 0.6 Mm s−1 ,

Problem 20 A steady (siphon) flow along an isothermal coronal loop of a

where Cs2 = γp/ρ is the sound speed.

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