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Flux tube
 
 
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A flux tube is a generally tube-like (cylindrical
Cylinder (geometry)

A cylinder is one of the most curvilinear basic geometric shapes: the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given straight line, the axis of the cylinder....
) region of space containing a magnetic field
Magnetic field

A magnetism field is a vector field which can exert a magnetic force on moving electric charges and on magnetic dipoles . When placed in a magnetic field, magnetic dipoles tend to align their axes parallel to the magnetic field....
, such that the field at the side surfaces is parallel to them. Both the cross-sectional area of the tube and the field contained may vary along the length of the tube, but the magnetic flux
Magnetic flux

Magnetic flux, represented by the Greek letter F , is a measure of quantity of magnetism, taking into account the strength and the extent of a magnetic field....
 is always constant.

As used in astrophysics
Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of astronomical objects such as galaxy, stars, planets, exoplanets, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions....
, a flux tube generally has a larger magnetic field and other properties that differ from the surrounding space.






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Encyclopedia


A flux tube is a generally tube-like (cylindrical
Cylinder (geometry)

A cylinder is one of the most curvilinear basic geometric shapes: the surface formed by the points at a fixed distance from a given straight line, the axis of the cylinder....
) region of space containing a magnetic field
Magnetic field

A magnetism field is a vector field which can exert a magnetic force on moving electric charges and on magnetic dipoles . When placed in a magnetic field, magnetic dipoles tend to align their axes parallel to the magnetic field....
, such that the field at the side surfaces is parallel to them. Both the cross-sectional area of the tube and the field contained may vary along the length of the tube, but the magnetic flux
Magnetic flux

Magnetic flux, represented by the Greek letter F , is a measure of quantity of magnetism, taking into account the strength and the extent of a magnetic field....
 is always constant.

As used in astrophysics
Astrophysics

Astrophysics is the branch of astronomy that deals with the physics of the universe, including the physical properties of astronomical objects such as galaxy, stars, planets, exoplanets, and the interstellar medium, as well as their interactions....
, a flux tube generally has a larger magnetic field and other properties that differ from the surrounding space. They are commonly found around star
Star

A star is a massive, luminous ball of Plasma that is held together by its own gravity. The nearest star to Earth is the Sun, which is the source of most of the energy on Earth....
s, including the Sun
Sun

The Sun , a G V star, is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass....
, which has many flux
Flux

In the various subfields of physics, there exist two common usages of the term flux, both with rigorous mathematical frameworks.*In the study of transport phenomena , flux is defined as the amount that flows through a unit area per unit time....
 tubes of around 300 km diameter. Sunspot
Sunspot

A sunspot is a region on the Sun's surface that is marked by intense magnetism activity, which inhibits convection, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
s are also associated with larger flux tubes of 2500 km diameter. Some planet
Planet

A planet , as 2006 definition of planet by the International Astronomical Union , is a celestial body orbiting a star or Stellar evolution#Stellar remnants that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared the neighbourhood of planetesimals....
s also have flux tubes. A well-known example is the flux tube between Jupiter
Jupiter

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the Solar system by size planet within the Solar System. It is two and a half times as massive as all of the other planets in our Solar System combined....
 and its moon Io
Io (moon)

'Io' is the innermost of the four Galilean moons natural satellite of Jupiter and, with a diameter of 3,642 Kilometre, the List of moons by diameter in the Solar System....
.

See also

  • Birkeland current
    Birkeland current

    A Birkeland current is a specific magnetic field aligned current in the Earth?s magnetosphere which flows from the magnetotail towards the Earth on the dawn side and in the other direction on the dusk side of the magnetosphere....
  • Flux transfer event
    Flux transfer event

    A flux transfer event occurs when a magnetic portal opens in the Earth's magnetosphere through which high-energy particles flow from the Sun. This connection, while previously thought to be permanent, has been found to be brief and very dynamic....