Posted on 04/28/2009 10:43:34 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
'Sigmoids' are S-shaped structures found in the outer atmosphere of the Sun (the corona), seen with X-ray telescopes and thought to be a crucial part of explosive events like solar flares. Now a group of astronomers have developed the first model to reproduce and explain the nature of the different stages of a sigmoids life.
Professor Alan Hood and Dr. Vasilis Archontis, both from the Mathematical Institute at St. Andrews University, Scotland, will present the teams results at the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science conference at the University of Hertfordshire. Prof. Hood will present some of the work in a talk on Monday 20th April, supplemented by a poster by Dr. Vasilis Archontis on Thursday 23rd April, which will cover the model in more detail.
Recently, the X-Ray Telescope (XRT) on board the Hinode space mission was used to obtain the first images of the formation and eruption phase of a sigmoid at high resolution. These observations revealed that the structure of the sigmoid is complex: it consists of many, differently oriented, loops that all together form two opposite J-like bundles or an overall S-shape. They also showed that at the end of its life the sigmoid produces a 'flare' eruption.
Over the years a series of theoretical and numerical models have been proposed to explain the nature of sigmoids but until now there was no explanation on how such complex structures form, erupt and fade away.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
How exactly did they test the model?
Like with AGW global warming, models are meaningless unless you have real world tests to verify. Otherwise,t hey are just so much math that produces pretty pictures.
I submit like with climate, we do not know how the processes of the sun really work.
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The model successfully predicts the shape of the sigmoid, internal structure and distribution of heat along its length.
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I was just watching a segment today on what the sun is made of. It was really interesting. Of course, I suck up that stuff like my life depended on it!
The Sun is made of jalapeno flavored ice cream. Shh! That’s a secret.
*kof*
*hak*
I won’t tell, for sure! Jalapenos are not on my menu!
(But ice cream is!)
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