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A simple method to compute spherical harmonic coefficients for the potential model of the coronal magnetic field

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Abstract

It is impossible to make a direct measurement of the coronal magnetic field from the ground. The coronal magnetic field is, then, usually inferred by extrapolation of the observed photospheric magnetic field. The so-called ‘potential model’ has been used for this extrapolation. We have to solve the Laplacian equation of the magnetic scalar potential. This magnetic scalar potential can be expanded into a spherical harmonic series. In this paper, new simple recursion formulae are proposed to solve the Laplacian equation; that is, to determine the spherical harmonic coefficients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Physics, Chubu University, Kasugai, 487, Aichi, Japan

    Kazuyuki Hakamada

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  1. Kazuyuki Hakamada
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Hakamada, K. A simple method to compute spherical harmonic coefficients for the potential model of the coronal magnetic field. Sol Phys 159, 89–96 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733033

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00733033

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