On the Structure of the Solar Corona and Chromosphere

Abstract

The effect of accreted material arriving at the Sun with a high energy per unit mass is to produce a convective atmosphere surrounding the Sun. Even a moderate accretion rate is sufficient to give temperatures in this atmosphere that exceed 10 ⁶ deg. C. The main purpose of the present paper is to investigate the steady state of this atmosphere, which is identified with the corona and chromosphere. Non-steady states are also briefly discussed with reference to prominences, and to other features of the solar atmosphere. †