2004/02/25 by K. Arzner, Kaspar Arzner, L. Vlahos +1 · 3 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Gamma-ray bursts and supernovae #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #astro-ph
paper · pdf · doi:10.1086/392506
published as Astrophys.J. 605 (2004) L69-L72 · 12 pages, 5 figures, to appear in ApJL
arxiv created 2004/02/25 · openalex publication_date 2004/03/17 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
The sharp magnetic discontinuities that naturally appear in solar magnetic flux tubes driven by turbulent photospheric motions are associated with intense currents. Parker proposed that these currents can become unstable to a variety of microscopic processes, with the net result of dramatically enhanced resistivity and heating (nano-flares). The electric fields associated with such "hot spots" are also expected to enhance particle acceleration. We test this hypothesis by exact relativistic orbit simulations in strong random phase magnetohydrodynamic turbulence that is forming localized super-Dreicer Ohm electric fields (10 2 ≤ E Ω / E D ≤ 10 5 ) occurring in 2%-15% of the volume. It is found that these fields indeed yield a large amplification of acceleration of electrons and ions and can effectively overcome the injection problem. We suggest in this article that nanoflare heating will be associated with sporadic particle acceleration.