ENERGY-RELEASE IN A PROMINENCE-LOADED FLARING LOOP

Zaitsev and Stepanov (1991, 1992) proposed a mechanism for energy rele ase in solar fares that involves the intrusion of dense prominence mat erial into a coronal loop. The resulting non-steady stare conditions a re claimed to increase the resistance of the loop by 8-10 orders of ma gnitude. It is shown here that the dramatic increase in resistance cal culated by Zaitsev and Stepanov depends on a gross overestimate of the of the magnitude of the magnetic force in the loop prior to the flare trigger. A more realistic estimate of the increase due to the mechani sm suggests that it is by no more than about four orders of magnitude. As a consequence, the 'prominence-loading' mechanism does not provide a tenable flare model.