Thermal fine structure and magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere: spicules and fibrils

TL;DR

This paper proposes that certain fine structures in the solar chromosphere and corona, such as spicules and fibrils, may be better understood as warped sheet-like structures related to magnetic discontinuities, challenging traditional tube-based models.

Contribution

It introduces the novel idea that chromospheric and coronal fine structures are warped sheets associated with magnetic tangential discontinuities, offering an alternative to tube-based interpretations.

Findings

Suggests a new interpretation of solar fine structures as warped sheets

Links sheet structures to magnetic tangential discontinuities

Discusses potential implications for solar magnetic field understanding

Abstract

The relationship between observed structures in the solar atmosphere and the magnetic fields threading them is known only for the solar photosphere, even then imprecisely. We suggest that some of the fine structure in the more tenuous chromosphere and corona- specifically some populations of spicules and fibrils- correspond to warps in 2D sheet-like structures, as an alternative to conventional interpretations in terms of tube-like structures. The sheets are perhaps related to magnetic tangential discontinuities, which Parker has argued arise naturally in low-beta conditions. Some consequences of this suggestion, if it can be confirmed, are discussed.