Solar Flares

Abstract

The observations of flares have been briefly summarised in Section 1.4.4, whereas a comprehensive account can be found in Svestka (1976b), and results from the Skylab satellite observations have been compiled by Sturrock (1980). The theories for solar flares have been reviewed by many people, such as Sweet (1969), Van Hoven (1976), Priest (1976), Brown and Smith (1980), Sturrock (1980, Chapter 9), Spicer and Brown (1981), and Priest (1982a, b), while an analysis of the magneto-hydrodynamics of the basic flare mechanism is described in Priest (1981a). This latter book includes reviews by Craig and Van Hoven of simple-loop flares (their thermal evolution and magnetic instability), as well as chapters by Birn and Schindler and Pneuman on two-ribbon flares (their magnetostatic equilibria and ‘post’-flare loop evolution). In addition, Svestka describes new observations that have been made since his book was published, and Heyvaerts discusses particle acceleration mechanisms.