A cancellation nanoflare model for solar chromospheric and coronal heating

Abstract

Nanoflare models for heating the solar corona usually assume magnetic braiding and reconnection as the source of the energy. However, recent observations at record spatial resolution from the SUNRISE balloon mission suggest that photospheric magnetic flux cancellation is much more common than previously realized. We therefore examine the possibility of three-dimensional reconnection driven by flux cancellation as a cause of chromospheric and coronal heating. In particular, we estimate how the heights and amount of energy release produced by flux cancellation depend on flux size, flux cancellation speed, and overlying field strength.