On the relationship between magnetic field strength and loop lengths in solar coronal active regions

Abstract

By assuming that coronal active regions are made up of many loops, we investigate the relationship between the average magnetic field strength and loop length for a sample of active regions observed by the Soft X-ray Telescope aboard Yohkoh. We use photospheric magnetic data from the Michelson Doppler Imager and compute extrapolated field lines that match the observed soft X-ray emission. We compare our results with a previous study and find them to be consistent and a logical extension of such work. Such studies have important implications for solar coronal heating models.