The solar transition region is the site of supersonic plasma jets and sporadic radiative events, whose origin and physical nature have not been understood. Here we show that ubiquitous small-scale magnetic flux "tubes," constantly emerging from subsurface layers, may cause the formation of plasma jets and a sporadic excess of temperature near the solar surface. These flux tubes collide and reconnect, creating a sling-shot effect that generates complex three-dimensional shock waves with the curved surface. Self-focusing of these shocks occurs as they propagate upward in the rarefied atmosphere. Depending on the geometry of the shock collision, highly con- centrated energy may be converted entirely into either heat or strong jets, or distributed between the two.
展开▼
