MHD instability at the cathode spot as the origin of the vortex formation in high-intensity plasma arcs

Magnetohydrodynamic instability in a high-intensity arc, similar to typical arcs in DC electric arc furnaces, is simulated using an induction based model under 2D axisymmetric conditions. Time-averaged results show a good agreement with steady-state calculated results expected for a stable arc. The transient results declare that z-pinch close to the cathode, occurring due to the high electrical current density, is responsible for arc instability in this region. The unstable behavior of the arc can be evaluated in a periodic procedure. Moreover, correlations between the fluctuations in total voltage drop curve and the arc shape are investigated: when the arc is in form of column (or bell) the total voltage drop is on a minimum peak; if there is an irregular expansion of the arc in form of arms, the total voltage drop shows a maximum peak.

A physics-based method that can predict imminent large solar flares

Solar flares are highly energetic events in the Sun’s corona that affect Earth’s space weather. The mechanism that drives the onset of solar flares is unknown, hampering efforts to forecast them, which mostly rely on empirical methods. We present the κ-scheme, a physics-based model to predict large solar flares through a critical condition of magnetohydrodynamic instability, triggered by magnetic reconnection. Analysis of the largest (X-class) flares from 2008 to 2019 (during solar cycle 24) shows that the κ-scheme predicts most imminent large solar flares, with a small number of exceptions for confined flares. We conclude that magnetic twist flux density, close to a magnetic polarity inversion line on the solar surface, determines when and where solar flares may occur and how large they can be.