THE STRUCTURE OF RADIATIVE SLOW-MODE SHOCKS

We investigate the structure of slow-mode MHD shocks in a plasma where both radiation and thermal conduction are important. In such a plasma a slow shock dissociates into an extended foreshock, an isothermal subshock, and a downstream radiative cooling region. Our analysis, which is both numerical and analytical, focuses on the nearly switch-off shocks which are generated by magnetic reconnection in a strong magnetic field. These shocks convert magnetic energy into kinetic energy and heat, and we find that for typical flare conditions about 2/3 of the conversion occurs in the subshock while the remaining 1/3 occurs in the foreshock. We also find that no stable, steady-state solutions exist for radiative slow shocks unless the temperature in the radiative region downstream of the subshock falls below 10(5) K. These results suggest that about 2/3 of the magnetic energy released in flare loops is released at the top of the loop, while the remaining 1/3 is released in the legs of the loop.