Published online by Cambridge University Press: 30 March 2016
Some 30 years ago it became clear that the solar corona is a plasma with a temperature of the order of 106K. As the underlying layers have only temperatures of 5000 K a mechanism had to be discovered, capable to explain this high temperature. A solution to the problem was found when it was realized that mechanical energy losses, by shock dissipation of wave energy can heat up a plasma to such high temperatures. This mechanical energy is formed in the deeper layers of the atmosphere and transported outwards. Dissipation becomes significant in regions where the density is sufficiently low.
Wave propagation in a compressible medium in the presence of gravity and magnetic fields has been treated as a general problem, among others by Ferraro and Plumpton [1958). Three basic parameters are present: compressibility of the medium, gravity and magnetic field.