
doi: 10.1086/153972
It has been noted that coronal holes appear to be associated with regions of diverging magnetic field in the corona. We set out to test the hypothesis that coronal holes may be caused by an increased flow of energy into the solar wind resulting directly from this diverging magnetic field pattern. Simple models were devised to approximate the energy flow down into the transition region and up into the solar wind as a function of the temperature, density, and rate of field line divergence in the corona. By assuming the rate of mechanical energy influx into the corona to be constant, it was then possible to solve numerically for the coronal temperature and density as a function of the rate of field line divergence. The results of these calculations demonstrate that a diverging field pattern can, indeed, bring about reductions in the temperature and density at the base of the corona comparable to those observed in coronal holes.
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 11 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
