PROMINENCE FORMATION BY LOCALIZED HEATING

We describe a model for the formation of the cool condensed material t hat comprises a coronal filament or prominence. Numerical calculations are presented which demonstrate that large condensations form in a co ronal loop if the loop satisfies two key requirements: (1) the loop he ating must be localized near the chromospheric footpoints, and (2) the loop must have a dipped geometry in order to support the prominence c ondensation against gravity. We calculate one-dimensional equilibrium solutions for the equations of force and energy balance assuming optic ally thin radiative losses and a parameterized form for the coronal he ating. This physical situation is modeled as a boundary value problem, which we solve numerically using a B-spline collocation scheme. The r elation of our solutions to the well-known loop scaling laws is discus sed, and the implications of our model for active region and quiescent prominences are discussed.