On the Interaction of Solar Rotational Discontinuities with a Contact Discontinuity Inside the Solar Transition Region as a Source of Plasma Heating in the Solar Corona

摘要

We consider the self-similar MHD problem of the oblique interference of a solar rotational (Alfven) discontinuity A and a stationary contact discontinuity C. The interaction between A and C is studied for typical conditions in the solar corona. Since solar Alfven waves observed in the solar plasma are numerous, prerequisites exist for the formation of a solar rotational discontinuity that propagates from the chromosphere through the transition region to the corona. Dissipative slow MHD shock waves with insignificant variation of the magnetic field also appear due to the refraction of the solar non-dissipative rotational discontinuities against a contact discontinuity inside the transition region. It is supposed that a real source of plasma heating may exist in the high solar corona due to the well-known mechanism of Landau damping of the dissipative slow MHD shock waves. Frequently observed explosive events may also be triggered in the solar chromospheric plasma. Thereby, we suggest a new model of the coronal plasma heating.