Prof Alan Hood
Professor
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3710
- awh@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Office
- 305 MI
- Location
- Mathematical Institute
Research areas
My main research interests are in solar physics and the modelling of observations within the framework of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD). In particular, my interests lie in the magnetic and thermal equilibrium structures and the stability of magnetic fields to ideal and resistive MHD instabilities.The stability of magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere differs from the laboratory situation because of steep density gradients that effectively anchor the magnetic footpoints. The inclusion of this line tying effect showed that sufficient magnetic energy could be stored in the magnetic field to explain the energy release in a solar flare. The numerical techniques involve solving coupled linear partial differential equation (PDE). Localised modes have been investigated using a Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin(WKB) approach. This stability work has resulted in a collaborative CASE award with the Culham Laboratory, Abingdon, United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA).Line tying strongly stabilises resistive unstabilities, for example the tearing mode, by coupling together the usual Fourier modes. This work is currently of great interest in explaining the energy release mechanism in solar flares. Coupling of magnetic effects to thermal effects, including thermal conduction and radiation, is being investigated to see how the basic instabilities are modified.
For further information, see the Solar and Magnetospheric MHD Theory Group
PhD supervision
- Lilli Maria Nadol
Selected publications
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Multithermal apparent damping of slow waves due to strands with a Gaussian temperature distribution
Doorsselaere, T. V., Prasad, S. K., Pant, V., Banerjee, D. & Hood, A., 18 Jan 2024, arXiv, 9 p.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
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Open access
Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches: effects on a structured, active region, multi-threaded coronal loop
Cozzo, G., Reid, J., Pagano, P., Reale, F. & Hood, A. W., 1 Oct 2023, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 678, 14 p., A40.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Helicity-conserving relaxation in unstable and merging magnetic flux ropes
Browning, P., Gordovskyy, M. & Hood, A., 16 Aug 2023, arXiv.Research output: Working paper › Preprint
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Open access
Self-consistent nanoflare heating in model active regions: MHD avalanches
Reid, J., Threlfall, J. & Hood, A. W., 1 Jan 2023, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 518, 1, p. 1584-1600 17 p., stac3188.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Self-consistent nanoflare heating in model active regions: MHD avalanches in curved coronal arcades
Reid, J., Threlfall, J. & Hood, A. W., 28 Sept 2023, The Era of Multi-Messenger Solar Physics. Cauzzi, G. & Tritschler, A. (eds.). Cambridge University Press, Vol. 18, S372. p. 116-118 3 p. (Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Open access
Ambipolar diffusion: self-similar solutions and MHD code testing. Cylindrical symmetry
Moreno-Insertis, F., Nóbrega-Siverio, D., Priest, E. R. & Hood, A. W., Jun 2022, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 662, 14 p., A42.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
MHD avalanches in magnetized solar plasma: proliferation and heating in coronal arcades
Reid, J., Threlfall, J. & Hood, A. W., 16 Nov 2022, 48th EPS Conference on Plasma Physics. Klinger, T., Hobirk, J., Orlando, S., Lancia, L., Maric, D. & Westerhof, E. (eds.). European Physical Society, 4 p. O4.J801. (Europhysics Conference Abstracts (ECA) series; vol. 46A).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution
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Open access
A fast multi-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic formulation of the transition region adaptive conduction (TRAC) method
Johnston, C. D., Hood, A. W., De Moortel, I., Pagano, P. & Howson, T. A., Oct 2021, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 654, 16 p., A2.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Can multi-threaded flux tubes in coronal arcades support a magnetohydrodynamic avalanche?
Threlfall, J., Reid, J. & Hood, A. W., 16 Aug 2021, In: Solar Physics. 296, 8, 20 p., 120.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Line-tied boundary conditions can cause resonant absorption models to generate unphysically large boundary layers
Prokopyszyn, APK., Wright, AN. & Hood, AW., 10 Jun 2021, In: Astrophysical Journal. 914, 1, 19 p., 15.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review