A simple magnetostatic model of sunspots

✍ Scribed by F. H. Busse

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1973
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 571 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0038-0938
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00152428

✦ Synopsis

An analytical solution is derived for the nonlinear rnagnetostatic balance between the Lorentz forces on one side and the pressure and gravitational forces induced by the magnetic inhibition of granular convection in a sunspot on the other. In order to exhibit the mathematical structure of the problem it has been reduced to the simplest case which still contains the basic physical features. Although the results of a model with a two-dimensional periodic magnetic field are not quantitatively comparable with sunspot observations the conclusion can be drawn that an upper limit on the size of sunspots exists. The results suggest that this upper limit is close to the size of observed large sunspots.