MODELING SOLAR ERUPTIONS

Spiro K. Antiochos

Abstract

The most violent and most energetic examples of solar activity are the giant eruptive events known as coronal mass ejections/eruptive flares. These eruptions are the drivers of major geomagnetic storms and other forms of space weather. Consequently, a great deal of work by a number of research groups has focused on the problem of understanding and modeling the origin and development of solar eruptions. This work has involved both analytic theory and large-scale numerical simulations. Although the problem is far from solved, considerable progress has been made in recent years. In this talk, I will review the progress on understanding the physical mechanisms responsible for solar eruptions and compare and contrast the major theoretical models.

Organization: Naval Research Laboratory
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        e-mail: antiochos@nrl.navy.mil
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   Naval Research Lab
   Washington DC 20375-5352