Rayleigh–Taylor instability in partially ionized prominence plasma. Issue Volume 8:Issue S300(2013) (6th January 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khomenko, E.; Díaz, A.; de Vicente, A.; Collados, M.; Luna, M.
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. Volume 8:Issue S300(2013)
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2014-01-06
• Subjects: Instabilities, -- Numerical simulations, -- Chromosphere, -- Magnetic fields, -- Prominences; Astronomy -- Congresses; Astronomy -- Periodicals; 520
• DOI: 10.1017/S174392131301079X
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1743-9213

Abstract

Abstract: We study Rayleigh–Taylor instability (RTI) at the coronal–prominence boundary by means of 2.5D numerical simulations in a single-fluid MHD approach including a generalized Ohm's law. The initial configuration includes a homogeneous magnetic field forming an angle with the direction in which the plasma is perturbed. For each field inclination we compare two simulations, one for the pure MHD case, and one including the ambipolar diffusion in the Ohm's law, otherwise identical. We find that the configuration containing neutral atoms is always unstable. The growth rate of the small-scale modes in the non-linear regime is larger than in the purely MHD case.