Chromospheric Condensation

Characterizing Condensation

DOI: doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abedb4

My first project was an investigation into the dynamics of chromospheric condensation - characteristic downflows seen in the lower solar atmosphere during the impulsive phase of flares. Using 1D numerical simulations, we modeled the chromospheric response to coronal energy deposition. We found condensation to be well described by 1) the peak downflow velocity and 2) the half-life. A parameter investigation found the density gradient of the chromosphere to have a large effect on the half-life. The energy flux released in our model - a stand-in for the reconnection process - affected the peak downflow velocity. This investigation allowed for the development of a toolbox, where the density scale height of the chromosphere and the energy flux delivered to the chromosphere could be infered.