THE SPHERICAL MAGNETIC VORTEX AS AN ELEMENT OF SOLAR-ACTIVITY

A solution of the magnetohydrostatic problem describing a spherical ma gnetic vortex with three electric-current components, well known in pl asma physics and astrophysics, is analyzed from the point of view of f lare energy release. The solution is generalized to the case of a unif orm gravitational field. Two sets of intermittent discrete states (for ce-free and singular) are discussed. Two possible mechanisms that coul d lead to loss of the system's equilibrium are considered: relatively slow Ohmic dissipation, and external perturbations that rotate one of the inner magnetic tori by 180 degrees, producing neutral current shee ts inside the spheroid. The energetic and temporal estimates for the p rocess are in consistent with observations.