Computer Physics Communications 59 (1990) 55—59 55

North-Holland

THE IDEAL MHD STABILITY OF LINE-TIED CORONAL LOOPS:

A TRUNCATED FOURIER SERIES APPROACH

P. DE BRUYNE, M. VELLI’ and A.W. HOOD

Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of St. Andrews, Fife, KYI6 9SS, Scotland

The stability behaviour of a line-tied cylindrically symmetric coronal loop is investigated using a general method presented
by Velli, Einaudi and Hood. The plasma perturbation in the linearised equation of motion is expanded in a truncated Fourier
series in the poloidal and axial directions, and the resulting system of ordinary differential equations for the radial
displacement is solved as an eigenvalue problem. The eigenvalue, be it the 2, critical
where loop
N islength or the growth
of termsrate, is found to
the number in the Fourier
converge rapidly with the order of the truncation (approximately as N
series).
Results for the non-force-free uniform-twist field of Gold and Hoyle are presented and compared with a previous study
based on the energy principle. The instability threshold for the m = 1 kink mode and the m = oo ballooning mode are found to
be of the same order of magnitude when substantial pressure gradients are present. Preliminary results for higher-m modes
indicate that they yield instability thresholds comparable to the ballooning threshold for smaller pressure gradients too.

1. Introduction [3—6].They impose that the coronal displacement

One of the basic problems of solar physics is
the apparent static longevity of coronal structures
and their often sudden transition to dynamical
behaviour. Magnetohydrodynaniic (MHD) stabil-
ity theory should provide some clues for explain-
ing this intriguing enigma.
Flux tubes, in the corona suitably called coronal
ioops, have aroused a lot of interest, mainly be-
cause they form, together with current sheets, the
building blocks of the solar magnetic field. They
are usually modelled as straight plasma cylinders
in static equilibrium, because the observed aspect
ratio is large enough for toroidal coupling to be
neglected. The anchoring of the field lines in the
dense photosphere, which proves to be a major
stabilising mechanism [1,2], is then simulated by
line-tying boundary conditions in the axial direc-
tion. In linear ideal MHD, neglecting dissipative
effects and assuming adiabatic disturbances, the
rigid plate conditions should probably be used
1 Present address: Département de Recherche Spatiale
servatoire de Paris, Section de Meudon, France. European
Space Agency postdoctoral fellow,
0010-4655/90/$03.50 © 1990 — Elsevier Science Publishers B.V. (North-Holland)
~ vanishes at the photosphere.
It is well known from fusion research (see e.g.
Bateman [7]) that the two most dangerous ideal
MHD instabilities are the helical kink modes and
the ballooning modes. The kink mode (with
poloidal wavenumber m = 1) is a current driven
global instability in which the perturbed cylinder
resembles a corkscrew. Its impact on coronal loop
stability has been widely investigated ([8—11] and
references therein). Ballooning modes are driven
by the interaction of an outward pressure force
and unfavourable curvature. They are localised
about a particular flux surface and characterised
by a slow variation along the field lines but a
rapid variation across them in the flux surface
(m = ~ in the limit). They have been studied in a
solar context by, for example, Hood [12].
Since much is known about these two types of
modes, it is surprising that their relationship has
hardly been touched upon in the astrophysical
literature. It has been established that there is a
smooth transition from kink modes to localised
oh- interchange modes as the Suydam criterion [13]
becomes satisfied by varying the wave vector [14],
and that the most dangerous modes go from kinks
56 P. De Bruyne et a!. / MHD stability of coronal loops

to interchanges as increases [15].These are, the perturbed and linearised equation of motion,
however, results from fusion research, where con-
figurations and parameter regimes are different
from the ones applicable to the corona. The aim ~ = v(~ Vp + ypV-~)
of our investigation, for which this paper presents 1
initial results, is to discover how, for coronal loops, + -~ [v x v x (~
x B)] xB
the stability properties of kink modes transform
into these of ballooning modes as the poloidal 1
wavenumber m is increased. In section 2 the + -~ (V x B) x V x (~
x B), (2.6)
method used is outlined, while section 3 discusses
the results for a particular equilibrium, can be decomposed into its components
2~~r a lB2 a + r~—_r(r~r))
2. Equilibrium, linearised equations and numerical
method
-~—
a (Be2 ) T~ + a ~
A coronal loop is modelled as a cylindrically
symmetric current-carrying plasma column of + 2 ~ a
constant density p, rooted in the much denser r ~ + ~ (‘i’,si V’ ~)‘ (2 .7a)
photosphere at z = — ~L and z = ~L. In cylin-
drical coordinates r, 9, z the equilibrium mag- —!.LPW2~ii= B~(y!ipV.~), (2.7b)
netic field and pressure,
B=(O, B
9(r), B~(r)), (2.la) _!SPW2:B24 2
+B2~~j + B’ a / a (re))
p=p(r), (2.lb) asB2B an
0 a~r+B a
—2————
satisfy the magnetohydrostatic equation r az V’ ~),
~i (‘~‘1~
2~ B~ (2.7c)
d/ B (2.2) where a normal mode time dependence, e~”,has
been assumed.
Line-tying is simulated by imposing the rigid plate To cast the eqs. (2.7) with axial boundary con-
boundary conditions on the coronal displacement ditions (2.3) in the form of an eigenvalue problem,
the displacement E is expanded in a Fourier series
= 0, at z = ±~L. (2.3) in the poloidal and axial directions. The reader is
referred to Veil, Einaudi and Hood [16] for an
Introducing the variables ~r’ ~ and ~‘, where extensive discussion. Writing

(2.4a) +cO +~
~ ~nm(T)
(2.4b)
(2.4c) / 2z ÷i))}.
xexP[i(m9+nh1i~,-E (2.8a)

and the parallel and perpendicular derivatives, + +

B-~j=BV, (2.5a) ~
n=—oO m=—~

/ 2z
B~—=(erxB)’V, (2.5b) Xexp[i(m0+nTr~T +1))+~i], (2.8b)
 P. De Bruyne et al. / MHD stability of coronal loops 57

= Re + °° + °° selected and sidebands at k0 ±21T/L, k0 ±

n = —oc m 00 nm\ I 4’Tr/L,... are added. This allows for a large con-
tribution of modes that are unstable in the infinite
x exP[i(mO + n1T(~ + i)) + ~iri], (2.8c) length case without having to add too many stable
modes. With this judicious choice of harmonics a
2 can be obtained
the rigid plate
+00
conditions (2.3) imply: convergence rate of order
and five wavenumbers N
will normally yield a satis-
Vr, m: ~ (r) = 0’ (2.9a) factory result.
= nm The two point boundary value problem (2.10),
+ 00 (2.11) is integrated using the standard Lentim—
Vr, m: ~ ‘qnm(”) = 0; (2.9b) Pereyra method [17], an implementation of which
—00 is readily available (NAG library routine
+ 00 DO2RAF). It makes use of finite differences on a
Vr, m: ~ ~nm ( r) = 0. (2.9c) variably spaced mesh, which allows the resolution
of steep gradients. Because the solution is sought
These boundary conditions do not couple the globally, a global error estimate is obtained. This
harmonics in the poloidal coordinate, hence each enables one to place considerable confidence in
value of m can be treated separately. They do, the final solution. Its accuracy is increased using a
however, cause coupling of the axial harmonics deferred correction technique, in which a Newton
and this renders the stability analysis intrinsically iteration on the truncation error of the finite dif-
two-dimensional. ference approximation is performed. Yet, the
On multiplying the eqs. (2.7) by the appropriate numerous internal tests for convergence render
phase factors and integrating in 0 and z, unknown this reliable routine rather slow compared to, for
surface terms arise that allow the constraints (2.9) instance, a shoot-and-match method. The code
to be applied. An infinite set of coupled second- was run on a VAX 11/785, which limited the
order ordinary differential equations in the radial number of Fourier components to five or seven. It
direction for the components ~nm (with m fixed) is is now being transferred to a Cray X-MP so that
then obtained. Truncation to N Fourier harmon- the convergence properties with increasing N can
ics, ~,,results in a system of (N 1) differential — be analysed.
equations that can be written in the form
(Uy’)’ + Vy’ + Wy =0 (2.10)
3. Results and discussion for the Gold—Hoyle field
where y(r)=r(~l,...,~N.,)T, U, V, Ware (N—
1) x (N 1) matrices, and a prime denotes differ-
— The stability method outlined in the previous
entiat ion with respect to r. The corresponding section is applied to the constant-twist Gold—
boundary conditions are Hoyle field [18],
y~=O at r0 and “~ (2.11) B
9=B0 r/a B=B A/a
2 2 O1+(r/a)2~
i1,...,N1. 1+(r/a)
In practice the boundary condition at infinity is 1 (A/a )2
—

replaced by the requirement that the eigenfunc- i~tP B 2 2 2’

tions vanish at a finite radius T~. For full details, 0 2(1 + (r/a) )
again see ref. [16]. Convergence of the eigenvalue
be it the critical loop length (i.e. the shortest where a is the equilibrium length scale. The
length for which the loop becomes unstable) or the parameter A A/a is a measure for the shear,
growth rate, with increasing order of truncation N with A = 0 and A = 1 yielding a z-pinch and a
is guaranteed by physical arguments. To speed ~ force-free field, respectively. This field was selected
convergence, a central axial wavenumber k
0 is because it has previously been investigated by a
58 P. De Bruyne et a!. / MHD stability of coronal loops
1. 00
number of authors using different techniques, and
hence provides an excellent test for our code. The >~/ a T
force-free case was studied by Hood and Priest [9] 8

(N5TAIE
0.75 L
using a finite difference scheme, by Einaudi and E
Van Hoven [10] who Fourier decomposed the
perturbation in the energy integral, and by Foote o.~o
and Craig [19] by integrating a “fictitious” force
equation in time. They all found a critical loop

length L/a 2.5ii

non-force-free case for
wastheinvestigated
m = 1 kink by,
mode.
for The
in- 025

stance, De Bruyne and Hood [20] who calculated a L/a

0.00
sufficient condition for stability and the instability 0 0 ‘5

region for ballooning modes (m = cc). Fig. 2. Stability diagram (shear parameter A/a versus critical
The system (2.10), (2.11) was integrated with loop length L/a) for the Gold—Hoyle field. Full curves are the
the critical loop length as the eigenvalue. This ballooning instability curves for y = 1 (upper curve) and y =
length was found to be almost independent of the (lower curve); the dashed curve is a sufficient condition for
stability (y 1); the dot-dashed curve is the m = 1 instability
outer radius ?~= r1/a when ~ ~ 20. Figure 1 shows curve (‘y = 1, P~= 20, five harmonics); the cross (x) shows the
the dependence of the critical ioop length on the critical loop length for the m =2 mode for the force-free field
choice of the central wavenumber k0 = ak0 for (i~= 20, seven harmonics). Stable and unstable regions are
five (full curve) and seven (dashed curve) harmon- indicated.
ics, when rn = 1, A = 1, i~ = 20. The different
minima roughly correspond to k0 = —0.32 +
2n’rra/L with n = —1, 0, 1. They agree well with
the 2.5 ii cited above. As the number of harmonics 2. Figure 2 depicts
is increased,
creases. This the amplitude
is not of since
surprising, the oscillations
in the limitde-
of ics then tend to fall off as 1/n
the results for different rn-modes. The full curves
N cc the critical loop length is independent of
—~ are the ballooning (rn = no) instability curves for
the “central” wavenumber. We selected k
0 such y = 1 (upper) and y = 4 (lower). The dashed curve
that the central harmonic had the largest ampli- is a sufficient condition for stability to all rn-modes
tude. The amplitudes of the other Fourier harmon- (y = 1). These curves were computed in ref. [20]
using an energy principle. The dot-dashed curve is
the m = 1 kink instability curve (y = 1, ~ = 20),
8.6 computed with five harmonics. The corresponding
L/a curve for y = 4 is almost indistinguishable from it,
as can be expected from the incompressible nature
8. 4
of kink modes. It can be seen that, as the pressure
gradient becomes more important (i.e. A de-
8.2
creases), the most unstable mode (i.e. the one with
the lowest threshold for instability) transforms
from kink to ballooning. We anticipate that the
8. 0
m = 2, 3,... modes will show a similar behaviour.
- The cross (X) indicates the critical loop length for
7. 8
the m = 2 mode, computed with seven harmonics,
I a k, when the equilibrium is force-free (~ = 20). This
—1.0 —0.5 0.0 0.5
suggests that higher-rn modes will have thresholds
Fig. 1. The critical loop length L/a of the Gold—Hoyle field as comparable to those of ballooning modes for
a function of the central wavenumber ak0, for five (full curve)
and seven (dashed curve) Fourier harmonics, when m 1 smaller pressure forces too. A more extensive study
)~=1, i’~= 20. Note the extended vertical scale. is needed to verify or falsify this conjecture.
 P. De Bruyne et aL
Acknowledgements
PDB acknowledges financial support from the
Umversity of St. Andrews. MV would hke to
thank the Umversity for its kind hospitality. His
visit was supported by the UK Science and En-
gineering Research Council.
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[3] R. Rosner, B.C. Low and T.E. Holzer, in: Physics of the
Sun, vol. 2, eds. P. Sturrock, T. Hoizer, D. Mihalas and R.
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[7] G. Bateman, MHD Instabilities (MIT Press, Cambridge,
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[8] U. Anzer, Sol. Phys. 3 (1968) 298.
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