Electric current in a unipolar sunspot with an untwisted field
Abstract
We apply the Return Flux (RF) sunspot model to a round, unipolar sunspot observed by H. Kawakami (1983). Solving the magnetohydrostatic problem using the gas pressure deficit between the umbral and quiet-Sun atmospheres as a source function, we find a distribution of electric current density in an untwisted, unipolar sunspot as a function of height and radial distance from the sunspot center. Maximum electric current density is about 32 m A m-2 at the bottom of the sunspot.
- Publication:
-
Geophysical Research Letters
- Pub Date:
- November 1990
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 1990GeoRL..17.2273O
- Keywords:
-
- Electric Current;
- Magnetohydrostatics;
- Solar Atmosphere;
- Sunspots;
- Astronomical Models;
- Magnetic Fields;
- Photosphere;
- Radial Distribution;
- Magnetospheric Physics: Electric fields;
- Solar Physics;
- Astrophysics;
- and Astronomy: Magnetic fields;
- and Astronomy: Photosphere and chromosphere;
- and Astronomy: General or miscellaneous;
- Space Plasma Physics: Nonlinear phenomena