Plasma Loops in the Solar Corona

The first comprehensive account of the properties of plasma loops, the fundamental structural elements of the solar corona.

R. J. Bray (Author), L. E. Cram (Author), C. Durrant (Author), R. E. Loughhead (Author)

9780521022231, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 30 March 2006

524 pages
24.5 x 17 x 2.7 cm, 0.84 kg

"...well-written, comprehensive, and carefully organized account of the current understanding of coronal loops. It will be a very useful reference." M. A. Berger

This book presents the first comprehensive account of the properties of plasma loops, the fundamental structural elements of the solar corona. Plasma loops cover a wide range of sizes, and range in temperature from tens of thousands to millions of degrees. They not only define the structure of individual active regions but connect different active regions - even across the solar equator. Loops also play an integral and decisive role in the enormous solar explosions called flares. Over recent years a wealth of space and ground-based observations of loops has been obtained in various widely-spaced regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. In this book the authors have selected the best observational material from the literature on which to base a detailed account of the properties of flare and non-flare loops. The book also explores the larger implications of the loop structures in our understanding of solar and stellar coronae. The text is enhanced by a large number of illustrations and unique and beautiful photographs obtained from the ground and from space.

1. Historical introduction
2. Cool loops: observed properties
3. Hot loops: observed properties
4. Flare loops: observed properties
5. Structure, dynamics and heating of loops
6. The plasma loop model of the coronae of the sun and stars.

Subject Areas: Astrophysics [PHVB]