The Origin of Solar Activity

Abstract

The basic physical problems and principles of solar activity, insofar as they are presently understood, are reviewed, with emphasis on the general question of why magnetic fields produce activity. It is evident from the magnetic antics displayed by the sun that there is much yet to be learned of the dynamical properties of large-scale magnetic fields embedded in highly conducting gases. The problem posed by the observed magnetic activity of the sun is of fundamental importance to all of astrophysics.