The problem of how the Sun's corona is heated is of central importance to solar physics research. In this thesis we model three main areas. The first, annihilation, is a feature of non-ideal MHD and focusses on how magnetic field of opposite polarity meets at a null point and annihilates, after having been advected with plasma toward a stagnation point in the plasma flow. Generally, the null point of the field and the stagnation point of the flow are coincident at the origin, but in chapter 2 a simple extension is considered where an asymmetry in the boundary conditions of the field moves the null point away from the origin. Chapter 3 presents a model of reconnective annihilation in three dimensions. It represents flux being advected through the fan plane of a 3D null, and diffusing through a thin diffusion region before being annihilated at the spine line, and uses the method of matched asymptotic expansions to find the solution for small values of the resistivity. The second area of the thesis covers null collapse. This is when the magnetic field in close proximity to a null point is disturbed, causing the field to fold up on itself and collapse. This is a feature of ideal MHD, and causes a strong current to build up, allowing non-ideal effects to become important. When using linearised equations for the collapse problem, we are in fact looking at a linear instability. If this instability initiates a collapse, this is only a valid model until non-linear effects become important. By talking about collapse in chapters 4 and 5 (as it is talked about in the literature), we mean that the linear instability initiates collapse, which in principle, non-linear effects could later stop. Chapter 4 introduces a two-dimensional model for collapse, using the ideal, compressible, linearised MHD equations. It is a general solution in which all spatially linear nulls and their supporting plasma flows and pressure gradients can be checked for susceptibility to collapse under open boundary conditions. Chapter 5 uses the model introduced in chapter 4 to investigate the collapse of three-dimensional, potential nulls (again, spatially linear) for all possible supporting plasma flows and pressure gradients. Using this model, all nulls under consideration are found to collapse and produce large currents, except for a group of 2D O-type nulls supported by highly super-Alfvenic plasma flows. The third area of this thesis involves numerically simulating a model of heating by coronal tectonics (Priest et al, 2002). A simple magnetic field is created and the boundary is driven, also in a simple manner. Current sheets which scale with grid resolution are seen to build up on the quasi-separatrix layers, and there is some evidence of magnetic reconnection.

In this thesis we investigate current sheets in the solar corona. The well known 1D model for the tearing mode instability is presented, before progressing to 2D where we introduce a non-uniform resistivity. The effect this has on growth rates is investigated and we find that the inclusion of the non-uniform term in η cause a decrease in the growth rate of the dominant mode. Analytical approximations and numerical simulations are then used to model current sheet formation by considering two distinct experiments. First, a magnetic field is sheared in two directions, perpendicular to each other. A twisted current layer is formed and we find that as we increase grid resolution, the maximum current increases, the width of the current layer decreases and the total current in the layer is approximately constant. This, together with the residual Lorentz force calculated, suggests that a current sheet is trying to form. The current layer then starts to fragment. By considering the parallel electric field and calculating the perpendicular vorticity, we find evidence of reconnection. The resulting temperatures easily reach the required coronal values. The second set of simulations carried out model an initially straight magnetic field which is stressed by elliptical boundary motions. A highly twisted current layer is formed and analysis of the energetics, current structures, magnetic field and the resulting temperatures is carried out. Results are similar in nature to that of the shearing experiment.

Magnetic fields are fundamental to the structure and dynamics of the Sun’s corona. Observations show them to be locally complex, with highly sheared and twisted fields visible in solar filaments/prominences. The free magnetic energy contained in such fields is the primary source of energy for coronal mass ejections, which are important—but still poorly understood drivers of space weather in the near-Earth environment. In this thesis, a new model is developed for the evolution of the large-scale magnetic field in the global solar corona. The model is based on observations of the radial magnetic field on the solar photosphere (visible surface). New active regions emerge, and their transport and dispersal by surface motions are simulated accurately with a surface flux transport model. The 3D coronal magnetic field is evolved in response to these photospheric motions using a magneto-frictional technique. The resulting sequence of nonlinear force-free equilibria traces the build-up of magnetic helicity and free energy over many months. The global model is applied to study two phenomena: filaments and coronal mass ejections. The magnetic field directions in a large sample of observed filaments are compared with a 6-month simulation. Depending on the twist of newly-emerging active regions, the correct chirality is simulated for up to 96% of filaments tested. On the basis of these simulations, an explanation for the observed hemispheric pattern of filament chirality is put forward, including why exceptions occur for filaments in certain locations. Twisted magnetic flux ropes develop in the simulations, often losing equilibrium and lifting off, removing helicity. The physical basis for such losses of equilibrium is demonstrated through 2D analytical models. In the 3D global simulations, the twist of emerging regions is a key parameter controlling the number of lift-offs, which may explain around a third of observed coronal mass ejections.

In this Thesis the theoretical understanding of oscillations in coronal structures is developed. In particular, coronal loops are modelled as magnetic slabs of plasma. The effect of introducing inhomogeneities on the frequency of oscillation is studied. Current observations indicate the existence of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes in the corona, so there is room for improved modelling of these modes to understand the physical processes more completely. One application of the oscillations, on which this Thesis concentrates, is coronal seismology. Here, the improved theoretical models are applied to observed instances of coronal MHD waves with the aim of determining information regarding the medium in which these waves propagate. In Chapter two, the effect of gravity on the frequency of the longitudinal slow MHD mode is considered. A thin, vertical coronal slab of magnetised plasma, with gravity acting along the longitudinal axis of the slab is studied, and the effect on the frequency of oscillation for the uniform, stratified and structured cases is addressed. In particular, an isothermal plasma, a two-layer plasma and a plasma with a linear temperature profile are studied. Here, a thin coronal loop, with its footpoints embedded in the chromosphere-photosphere is modelled, and the effects introduced by both gravity and the structuring of density at the footpoint layers are studied. In this case, gravity increases the frequency of oscillation and causes amplification of the eigenfunctions by stratification. Furthermore, density enhancements at the footpoints cause a decrease in the oscillating frequency, and can inhibit wave propagation, depending on the parameter regime. In Chapter three, the effects introduced to the transverse fast MHD mode when gravity acts across a thin coronal slab of magnetised plasma are considered. This study concentrates on the modification of the frequency due to the dynamical effect of gravity in the equation of motion, neglecting the effect of stratification. Here, gravity causes a reduction of the oscillating frequency of the fundamental fast mode, and increases the lower cutoff frequency. In effect, for this configuration, gravity allows the transition between body and surface modes, in a slab geometry. It is found, in these two studies, that each harmonic is affected in a unique manner due to structuring or stratification of density. With this knowledge, in Chapter four, a new parameter is derived; P1/2P2, the ratio of the period of the fundamental harmonic of oscillation to twice the period of its first harmonic. This parameter is shown to be a measure of the longitudinal structuring of density along a coronal loop, and the departure of this ratio from unity can yield information regarding the lengthscales of the structure. This process is highlighted using the known observations, indicating that P1/2P2 may prove to be a useful diagnostic tool for coronal seismology. Finally, in Chapter five, outwardly propagating coronal slow MHD modes are observed and are used to infer coronal parameters. The possibility of using these oscillations to infer near-resolution lengthscales in coronal loops -- fine-scale strands -- is also discussed. TRACE observations are used to determine the average period, phase speed, detection length, amplitude and energy flux for the propagating slow MHD mode. The indication is that the source of these oscillations appears very localised in space, and the driver only acts for a few periods, suggesting the perturbations are driven by leaky p-modes (solar surface modes).

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Recent observations have shown that coronal shocks driven by coronal mass ejections can develop and accelerate particles within several solar radii in large solar energetic particle (SEP) events. Motivated by this, we present an SEP acceleration study that including the process in which a fast shock propagates through a streamer-like magnetic field with both closed and open field lines in the low corona region. The acceleration of protons is modeled by numerically solving the Parker transport equation with spatial diffusion both along and across the magnetic field. We show that particles can be sufficiently accelerated to up to several hundred MeV within 2-3 solar radii. When the shock propagates through a streamer-like magnetic field, particles are more efficiently accelerated compared to the case with a simple radial magnetic field, mainly due to perpendicular shock geometry and the natural trapping effect of closed magnetic fields. Our results suggest that the coronal magnetic field configuration is an important factor for producing large SEP events. We further show that the coronal magnetic field configuration strongly influences the distribution of energetic particles, leading to different locations of source regions along the shock front where most high-energy particles are concentrated. This work may have strong implications for SEP observations. The upcoming Parker Solar Probe will provide in situ observations for the distribution of energetic particles in the coronal shock region, and test the results of the study.

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Observations of the surface of the Sun reveal multi-scaled, mixed magnetic features that carpet the entire solar surface. Not surprisingly, the global magnetic fields extrapolated from these observations are highly complex. This thesis explores the topology of the Sun's global coronal magnetic fields. The magnetic skeleton of a magnetic field provides us with a way of examining the magnetic field and quantifying its complexity. Using specialised codes to find the magnetic skeletons which were written during the course of this work, we first examine potential field extrapolations of the global solar coronal magnetic field determined from observed synoptic magnetograms from the Heliospheric Magnetic Imager on the Solar Dynamics Observatory. The resolution of the PFSS models is found to be very important for discovering the true nature of the global magnetic skeleton. By increasing the maximum number of harmonics used in the potential field extrapolations and, therefore, the grid resolution, 60 times more null points may be found in the coronal magnetic field. These high resolution fields also have a large global separator network which connects the coronal magnetic field over large distances and involves between 40 % and 60 % of all the null points in the solar atmosphere. This global separator network exists at both solar minimum and solar maximum and has separators that reach high into the solar atmosphere (> 1R☉) even though they connect null points close to the solar surface. These potential field extrapolations are then compared with magnetohydrostatic (MHS) extrapolations of the coronal magnetic field which also provide us with information about the plasma in the corona. With a small component of electric current density in the direction perpendicular to the radial direction, these MHS fields are found to have a plasma beta and pressure typical of the corona. As this small component of electric current density grows, the heliospheric current sheet is warped significantly and the magnetic field, plasma beta and pressure become unphysical. Torsional spine reconnection is also studied local to a single null point. First using a dynamical relaxation of a spiral null point under non-resistive magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) to a MHS equilibrium is form in which a current layer has built up around the spine lines. Then the reconnection under resistive MHD in this current sheet is studied. The current about the spine lines is dissipated and the magnetic energy is mainly converted into heat directly as the field lines untwist about the spine line.