Solar Electrical Discharges

Abstract

HEMENWAY et al.¹ state, “We conclude that most of these submicron particles have come from the Sun, although this hypothesis poses formidable problems”. These problems do not arise if the white streaks which can clearly be seen in the perimeter of sunspots are electrical discharges, because the temperature at points between or remote from these discharges at their level is low enough for particles to form and radiation pressure would cause some of them to be ejected. The presence of atmospheric particles generally leads to the formation of electrical charges².