Inhibition of convective collapse of solar magnetic flux tubes by radiative diffusion

Abstract

Proctor and Weiss (1982) have indicated that the interaction of convection with a magnetic field leads to an intermittent distribution of magnetic flux. Such a process can lead to 'equipartition fields' of 700 G which eventually collapse to kilogauss intensity. In the current study, it is shown that radiative diffusion can inhibit this collapse to a varying degree, depending on the field strength and the thickness of the flux elements. At one extreme of the spectrum, thin tubes of rather constant size would be found, taking into account a wide range in field strength from kilogram intensities to the equipartition values of 700 G. It is pointed out that high-resolution observations from space-borne telescopes should reveal the existence of such tubes.