Current dissipation within the chromosphere-corona transition

Studies of sporadic outbursts, ranging from flares to nanoflares, invariably endow the solar corona with steady plasma conditions, prior to seeking a current flow (or the associated magnetic structure) which induces instability. This study contends that previous conclusions regarding current heating are suspect because they result from false initial assumptions that plasma conditions remain essentially static as the current densities require providing heating buildup. It is shown that account must be taken of the fact that material can only reside at coronal altitudes provided it has previously received sufficient energy to be 'evaporated' from the chromosphere, and continues to obtain enough heat to maintain the large scale height, and of the manner in which plasma manages to permeate the field using energy derived from the disturbed magnetic structure itself. (Author)