© Charles Chandler

 

The effect of the thickness of the topmost layer on the radiation emitted by the star. In the first panel, a weak electron drift is well distributed by repulsion between electrons. In the second panel, a somewhat faster drift starts to tunnel through the resistance as a sunspot. In the third panel, with an even thicker layer of resistance, a sustained electric current discharges the potential, and the electron drift outside of the tunnel is much weaker. The result is a dimmer star, but with more dramatic flares.