A cellular automaton model for the evolution of multi-stranded coronal loops

M. LÓPEZ FUENTES; J. A. KLIMCHUK

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Congreso; 2008 AGU/SPD/AAS Joint Assembly; 2008

AGU/SPD/AAS

We develop simple model based on a cellular automaton that reproduces the main qualitative features of the observed evolution of X-ray loops (Lopez Fuentes et al. 2007). The model is inspired by the idea originally proposed by Parker (1988) of coronal loops made of multiple magnetic strands tangled by photospheric motions. When the mutualinclination between adjacent strands reaches a criticalvalue, reconnection occurs and the plasma is heated. In our model the number and intensity of these "nanoflare"events increase until a stationary (or critical) stateis reached. This stage corresponds to the so called "main phase" of the evolution of observed loops. Using the 0D EBTEL code (Klimchuk 2008) for the plasma response, we create synthetic light curves that we compare with the evolution of real loops. We also study and discuss how the properties of the obtained light curves depend on the physical parameters of the model.