Role of small-scale dynamics in coronal holes and quiet regions for coronal heating and solar wind acceleration

Y. Yamauchi, H. Wang, and R. L. Moore

Small-scale dynamics such as macrospicules, microflares, and mini-filament eruptions are of interest because they are believed to play an important role in coronal heating and solar wind acceleration in coronal holes and quiet regions through the magnetic network activity. We made high-spatial and tempposter resolution TRACE UV/EUV observations of coronal holes and quiet regions in September 2004 jointly with BBSO H-alpha and magnetogram observations. From the observations, we study the dynamics, structure, and magnetic setting of small-scale explosive events in coronal holes and in quiet regions. Most macrospicules showed brightening at their base in CIV images. This is compatible with these macrospicules being driven by explosive reconnection between short magnetic loops and high-reaching field lines rooted in the network. We also investigate where the differences of physical properties in coronal holes and quiet regions come from, even though the fine-scale magnetic activity of the network is expected to be essentially important in both regions. We report whether any differences between the events in coronal holes and quiet regions are seen. We discuss what we expect of the Solar-B mission for the study of small-scale dynamics on the basis on our observations.

Correspondence

Yohei Yamauchi(yohei.yamauchi@njit.edu), CSTR/NJIT

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