2013/06/20 by X. Fang, Xia Fang, Chun Xia +3 · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Physics and Astronomy · #Astrobiology #Astrophysics #Corona (planetary geology) #Coronal loop #Coronal mass ejection #Coronal plane #Dynamics (music) #Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies #Instability #Ionosphere and magnetosphere dynamics #Magnetohydrodynamic drive #Magnetohydrodynamics #Mechanics #Physics #Plasma #Solar and Space Plasma Dynamics #Solar wind #Venus #acm:85-08 #astro-ph.SR #msc:85-08
paper · pdf · doi:10.1088/2041-8205/771/2/l29
12 pages, 4 figures, accepted by ApJ Letters at 2013-05-14
arxiv created 2013/06/20 · openalex publication_date 2013/06/25 · arxiv updated 2015/06/16 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We present the first multidimensional, magnetohydrodynamic simulations that capture the initial formation and long-term sustainment of the enigmatic coronal rain phenomenon. We demonstrate how thermal instability can induce a spectacular display of in situ forming blob-like condensations which then start their intimate ballet on top of initially linear force-free arcades. Our magnetic arcades host a chromospheric, transition region, and coronal plasma. Following coronal rain dynamics for over 80 minutes of physical time, we collect enough statistics to quantify blob widths, lengths, velocity distributions, and other characteristics which directly match modern observational knowledge. Our virtual coronal rain displays the deformation of blobs into V -shaped features, interactions of blobs due to mostly pressure-mediated levitations, and gives the first views of blobs that evaporate in situ or are siphoned over the apex of the background arcade. Our simulations pave the way for systematic surveys of coronal rain showers in true multidimensional settings to connect parameterized heating prescriptions with rain statistics, ultimately allowing us to quantify the coronal heating input.