On the absence of a relationship between the properties of the T[SUB]e[/SUB] greater than or = 10[SUP]6[/SUP] K and the properties of the T[SUB]e[/SUB] less than or = 10[SUP]5[/SUP] solar plasmas

Abstract

When accounting for coronal heat losses (based on previous models) three mechanisms are considered: (1) radiation by coronal plasma; (2) thermal conductivity between the 10<SUP>6</SUP> K corona and the 10<SUP>4</SUP> K chromosphere and (3) mass motions, mostly into the solar wind. According to these models, thermal conductivity is the most efficient among the coronal heat loss mechanisms. In this paper, we describe studies of the relationships between structures having temperatures of T<SUB>e</SUB> greater than or = 1 x 10<SUP>6</SUP> and those with temperatures of T<SUB>e</SUB> less than 7 x 10<SUP>5</SUP> K. We show that effects of thermal conduction between the hot and cold regions are not seen at the expected levels, implying that unimpaired continuity is not being maintained between the 10<SUP>6</SUP> and 10<SUP>4</SUP> K plasma regions. As a consequence of these findings, we stress that no conclusion on the properties of T<SUB>e</SUB> greater than or = 1 x 10<SUP>6</SUP> K plasmas can be drawn from properties of the so-called transition region (3 x 10<SUP>4</SUP> less than or = T<SUB>e</SUB> less than or = 7 x 10<SUP>5</SUP> K) plasmas.