A publicly available simulation of an enhanced network region of the Sun^⋆

¹ Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, PO Box 1029 Blindern, 0315 Oslo, Norway
e-mail: mats.carlsson@astro.uio.no
² Institute for Solar Physics, Department of Astronomy, Stockholm University, AlbaNova University Centre, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
³ Lockheed Martin Solar & Astrophysics Lab, Org. A021S, Bldg. 252, 3251 Hanover Street Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA

Received: 21 August 2015
Accepted: 13 October 2015

Abstract

Context. The solar chromosphere is the interface between the solar surface and the solar corona. Modelling of this region is difficult because it represents the transition from optically thick to thin radiation escape, from gas-pressure domination to magnetic-pressure domination, from a neutral to an ionised state, from MHD to plasma physics, and from near-equilibrium (LTE) to non-equilibrium conditions.

Aims. Our aim is to provide the community with realistic simulations of the magnetic solar outer atmosphere. This will enable detailed comparison of existing and upcoming observations with synthetic observables from the simulations, thereby elucidating the complex interactions of magnetic fields and plasma that are crucial for our understanding of the dynamic outer atmosphere.

Methods. We used the radiation magnetohydrodynamics code Bifrost to perform simulations of a computational volume with a magnetic field topology similar to an enhanced network area on the Sun.

Results. The full simulation cubes are made available from the Hinode Science Data Centre Europe. The general properties of the simulation are discussed, and limitations are discussed.