Prof Alan Hood
Professor
- Phone
- +44 (0)1334 46 3710
- awh@st-andrews.ac.uk
- Office
- 311 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
Selected publications
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Open access
Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches II. EUV line emission from a multi-threaded coronal loop
Cozzo, G., Reid, J., Pagano, P., Reale, F., Testa, P., Hood, A. W., Argiroffi, C., Petralia, A., Alaimo, E., D'Anca, F., Sciortino, L., Todaro, M., Lo Cicero, U., Barbera, M., de Pontieu, B. & Martínez-Sykora, J., 16 Sept 2024, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 689, 13 p., A184.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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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
The thermodynamic response of heating at coronal null points
Johnson, D., Hood, A. W., Cargill, P., Reid, J. & Johnston, C. D., 19 Jul 2024, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 532, 4, p. 4261-4271 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
Multithermal apparent damping of slow waves due to strands with a Gaussian temperature distribution
Van Doorsselaere, T., Krishna Prasad, S., Pant, V., Banerjee, D. & Hood, A., 11 Mar 2024, In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. 683, 9 p., A109.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches
Cozzo, G., Reid, J., Pagano, P., Reale, F. & Hood, AW., 29 Sept 2023, In: Astronomy & Astrophysics. 678, 14 p., A40.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Open access
The thermodynamic response of heating at coronal null points
Johnson, D., Hood, A. W., Cargill, P., Reid, J. & Johnston, C. D., 1 Aug 2024, In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 532, 4, p. 4261-4271 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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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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Helicity-conserving relaxation in unstable and merging twisted magnetic flux ropes
Browning, P. K., Gordovskyy, M. & Hood, A. W., 15 Dec 2023, Helicities in geophysics, astrophysics, and beyond. Kuzanyan, K., Yokoi, N., Georgoulis, M. K. & Stepanov, R. (eds.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, p. 189-202 14 p. (Geophysical monograph series; no. 283).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
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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