Magnetic Flux Cancellation Observed in the Sunspot Moat

In this paper we study the evolution of magnetic fields of a 1F/2.4C solar flare and following magnetic flux cancellation. The data are Big Bear Solar Observatory and SOHO/MDI observations of active region NOAA 8375. The active region produced a multitude of subflares, many of them being clustered along the moat boundary in the area with mixed polarity magnetic fields. The study indicates a possible connection between the flare and the flux cancellation. The cancellation rate, defined from the data, was found to be 3×10¹⁹ Mx h^–1. We observed strong upward directed plasma flows at the cancellation site. Suggesting that the cancellation is a result of reconnection process, we also found a reconnection rate of 0.5 km s^–1, which is a significant fraction of Alfvén speed. The reconnection rate indicates a regime of fast photospheric reconnection happening during the cancellation.     

Filament Eruption in NOAA 11093 Leading to a Two-Ribbon M1.0 Class Flare and CME

We present a multi-wavelength analysis of an eruption event that occurred in active region NOAA 11093 on 7 August 2010, using data obtained from SDO, STEREO, RHESSI, and the GONG Hα network telescope. From these observations, we inferred that an upward slow rising motion of an inverse S-shaped filament lying along the polarity inversion line resulted in a CME subsequent to a two-ribbon flare. Interaction of overlying field lines across the filament with the side-lobe field lines, associated EUV brightening, and flux emergence/cancelation around the filament were the observational signatures of the processes leading to its destabilization and the onset of eruption. Moreover, the time profile of the rising motion of the filament/flux rope corresponded well with flare characteristics, viz., the reconnection rate and hard X-ray emission profiles. The flux rope was accelerated to the maximum velocity as a CME at the peak phase of the flare, followed by deceleration to an average velocity of 590 km s⁻¹. We suggest that the observed emergence/cancelation of magnetic fluxes near the filament caused it to rise, resulting in the tethers to cut and reconnection to take place beneath the filament; in agreement with the tether-cutting model. The corresponding increase/decrease in positive/negative photospheric fluxes found in the post-peak phase of the eruption provides unambiguous evidence of reconnection as a consequence of tether cutting.     

Themis,BBSO, MDI and trace observations of a filament eruption

We describe a filament destabilization which occurred on 5 May 2001 in NOAA AR 9445, before a flare event. The analysis is based on Hα data acquired by THEMIS operating in IPM mode, Hα data and magnetograms obtained at the Big Bear Solar Observatory, MDI magnetograms and 171 Å images taken by TRACE. Observations at 171 Å show that ～ 2.5 hours before the flare peak, the western part of the EUV filament channel seems to split into two parts. The bifurcation of the filament in the Hα line is observed to take place ～ 1.5 hours before the flare peak, while one thread of the filament erupts ～10 min before the peak of the flare. Our analysis of longitudinal magnetograms shows the presence of a knot of positive flux inside a region of negative polarity, which coincides with the site of filament bifurcation. We interpret this event as occurring in two steps: the first step, characterized by the appearance of a new magnetic feature and the successive reconnection in the lower atmosphere between its field lines and the field lines of the old arcade sustaining the filament, leads to a new filament channel and to the observed filament bifurcation; the second step, characterized by the eruption of part of the filament lying on the old PIL, leads to a second reconnection, occurring higher in the corona.     

The flare-associated magnetic changes in an active region

The associations of flares to flux emergence and cancellation have been further examined and clarified with the aid of complete time sequences of vector magnetograms of an active region for a 4-day period around the central meridian passage.It is found that the emergence of new flux and its driven flux cancellation with existing flux is a wholly inseparable, elementary process in the active region, favorable for flare occurence. The early discovery ofstructures magnetique evolutive (Martreset al., 1968) is confirmed and identified to be the net result of this process.All events of flux cancellation appear in the interface of two topologically separated magnetic loops. Direct indications of magnetic reconnection between two cancelling components in the photospheric layer are identified. The cancellation is most likely a slow reconnection in the lower atmosphere of the Sun. The quite popular view of interpreting flux cancellation as a pure flux submergence could not fit the magnetic topology learned from alignments of the transverse magnetic field. In this sense, the association of flares to flux cancellation seems to represent a coupling of the slow reconnection in the lower atmosphere to the fast reconnection higher in the corona.This slow reconnection can even take place below the photosphere. In one case, an inferred sub-photospheric reconnection eventually prevents one pole of an emerging flux region with the polarity opposite to the background from showing up at the photospheric level.Six of all eight flares which appeared in this period are spatially and temporally associated with the emergence of new flux and its driven cancellation. They might be divided into two groups. The first group of flares appears at the early phase of flux emergence and in close proximity to the cancelling site between new and old flux; the second ones appear after several hours of flux cancellation, centering around the cancelling site.     

Observation of Interactions and Eruptions of Two Filaments

We present new observations of the interactions of two close, but distinct, Hα filaments and their successive eruptions on 5 November 1998. The magnetic fields of the filaments are both of the sinistral type. The interactions between the two filaments were initiated mainly by an active filament of one of them. Before the filament eruptions, two dark plasma ejections and chromospheric brightenings were observed. They indicate that possible magnetic reconnection had occurred between the two filaments. During the first filament eruption, salient dark mass motions transferring from the left erupting filament into the right one were observed. The right filament erupted 40 minutes later. This second filament eruption may have been the result of a loss of stability owing to the sudden mass injection from the left filament. Based on the Hα observations, we have created a sketch for understanding the interactions between two filaments and accompanying activities. The traditional theory of filament merger requires that the filaments share the same filament channel and that the reconnection occurs between the two heads, as simulated by DeVore, Antiochos, and Aulanier (Astrophys. J. 629, 1122, 2005; 646, 1349, 2006). Our interpretation is that the external bodily magnetic reconnection between flux ropes of the same chirality is another possible way for two filament bodies to coalesce. Electronic Supplementary Material The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Granular-Scale Elementary Flux Emergence Episodes in a Solar Active Region

We analyse data from Hinode spacecraft taken over two 54-minute periods during the emergence of AR 11024. We focus on small-scale portions within the observed solar active region and discover the appearance of very distinctive small-scale and short-lived dark features in Ca ii H chromospheric filtergrams and Stokes I images. The features appear in regions with close-to-zero longitudinal magnetic field, and are observed to increase in length before they eventually disappear. Energy release in the low chromospheric line is detected while the dark features are fading. Three complete series of these events are detected with remarkably similar properties, i.e. lifetime of ≈ 12 min, maximum length and area of 2 – 4 Mm and 1.6 – 4 Mm², respectively, and all with associated brightenings. In time series of magnetograms a diverging bipolar configuration is observed accompanying the appearance of the dark features and the brightenings. The observed phenomena are explained as evidencing elementary flux emergence in the solar atmosphere, i.e. small-scale arch filament systems rising up from the photosphere to the lower chromosphere with a length scale of a few solar granules. Brightenings are explained as being the signatures of chromospheric heating triggered by reconnection of the rising loops (once they have reached chromospheric heights) with pre-existing magnetic fields, as well as being due to reconnection/cancellation events in U-loop segments of emerging serpentine fields. The characteristic length scale, area and lifetime of these elementary flux emergence events agree well with those of the serpentine field observed in emerging active regions. We study the temporal evolution and dynamics of the events and compare them with the emergence of magnetic loops detected in quiet Sun regions and serpentine flux emergence signatures in active regions. The physical processes of the emergence of granular-scale magnetic loops seem to be the same in the quiet Sun and active regions. The difference is the reduced chromospheric emission in the quiet Sun attributed to the fact that loops are emerging in a region of lower ambient magnetic field density, making interactions and reconnection less likely to occur. Incorporating the novel features of granular-scale flux emergence presented in this study, we advance the scenario for serpentine flux emergence.     

A Filament—Associated Halo Coronal Mass Ejection

1 INTRODUCTIONCoronal majss ejections (CMEs) are often seen as spectacular eruptions of matter fromthe Sun which propagate outward through the heliosphere and often interact with the Earth'smagnetosphere (Hundhausen, 1997; Gosling, 1997; and references herein). It is well known thatthese interactions can have substalltial consequences on the geomagnetic environment of theEarth, sometimes resulting in damage to satellites (e.g., McAllister et al., 1996; Berdichevskyet al., 1998). CMEs…     

Atmospheric Dynamics and Magnetic Activity Associated With A Coronal Mass Ejection

By using multi-wavelength observations, we explored the atmospheric dynamics and the surface magnetic activity in NOAA 9026, which were associated with the initiation of a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) on 6 June, 2000. In an interval of less than two hours, two X-class X-ray flares took place successively, each along with one eruption of a filament. However, only the second X-class flare which is characterized by a rather large-scale (larger than a general active region in area) EUV dimming was associated with the CME initiation. It seems that a flare with an extensive dimming is more likely to be CME-associated. We focused our study on the daily evolution of the vector magnetic field in this region from 4 to 9 June and have found the following results. (1) The gradual squeeze and cancellation of the opposite polarity magnetic fields are the main patterns of magnetic evolution. Moreover, there is a spatial coincidence between the sites of magnetic flux cancellation and the locations of the early filament activation and the flare brightenings. (2) The current system increased in the first two days and began to decrease at least ten hours before the CME initiation. It underwent dramatic disruption from 6 to 7 June. (3) The transverse component of the the vector magnetic field appeared helical in configuration. It changed from compact to loose and dissipated from a small to a large area. Here we suggest that although the first filament eruption and first flare were not in step with the CME initiation, they seem to be a part of the entire process. The observed evolution of the magnetic field implies a continuous transport of magnetic energy and complexity from the lower atmosphere to the corona. Moreover, the slow magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere, manifested as magnetic flux cancellation, and the helicity re-distribution, appear to play a key role in the energy build-up process of the flares and the initiation of the halo CME.     

Evolution of Magnetic Nonpotentiality in NOAA AR 9077

Based on photospheric vector magnetograms obtained at Huairou Solar Observing Station, we have studied the evolution of magnetic nonpotentiality in NOAA AR 9077 from 11 to 15 July 2000. We focus our analysis on the daily change of nonpotential characteristics in the photospheric magnetic field preceding the `Bastille Day' flare. We have identified the following evolving patterns: (1) The shear-angle distribution underwent dramatic change in the filament channel. At a key site of the filament environment, the magnetic shear changed sign from positive to negative. (2) The old current systems disrupted, and new but weaker systems formed before this major event. Similar changes are identified for the longitudinal current helicity. (3) The source field weakened before the flare, and the density of free magnetic energy decreased at the photospheric level. These obvious changes lasted at least nine hours before the `Bastille Day' flare, and they took place where a large amount of magnetic flux disappeared in magnetic flux cancellation. The site of dramatic changes is also found to coincide with the base of helical magnetic ropes which were seen in a 3-D force-free reconstruction. We suggest that the observed evolution of the magnetic nonpotentiality represents a continuous transportation of magnetic energy and complexity from the lower atmosphere to the corona. This transportation seems to be responsible for the energy build-up for the major flare. Moreover, the slow magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere, observed as magnetic flux cancellation, appears to play a key role in this energy build-up process. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1014258426134     

Where Do Solar Filaments Form?: Consequences for Theoretical Models

This paper examines the locations where large, stable solar filaments form relative to magnetic bipoles lying underneath them. The study extends the earlier work of F. Tang to include two additional classification categories for stable filaments and to consider their population during four distinct phases of the solar cycle. With this new classification scheme, results show that over 92% of filaments form in flux distributions that are nonbipolar in nature where the filament lies either fully (79%) or partially (13%) above a polarity inversion line (PIL) external to any single bipole. Filaments that form within a single bipole (traditionally called Type A) are not as common as previously thought. These results are a significant departure from those of F. Tang. Consistency with the earlier work is shown when our data are regrouped to conform to the two-category classification scheme for filaments adopted by F. Tang. We also demonstrate that only filaments that form along the external PIL lying between two bipoles (62% of the full sample, traditionally called Type B) show any form of solar cycle dependence, where their number significantly increases with magnetic activity over the solar cycle. Finally, current observations and theoretical models for the formation of filaments are discussed in the context of the present results. We conclude that key elements in the formation of the majority of filaments considered within this study must be the convergence of magnetic flux resulting in either flux cancellation or coronal reconnection.     

Solar coronal heating by magnetic cancellation – III. Thermodynamics

We present two-dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamics simulations of a coronal X-ray bright point (XBP) caused by a cancelling magnetic feature (CMF). Cancellation is driven by converging motions of two magnetic bipolar sources. These sources are initially disconnected from each other so that both, the CMF and the associated reconnection/heating event (i.e. the XBP), are modelled in a self-consistent way. In the initial state, there is no X-point but two separatrices are present. Hence, the reconnection/heating and the cancellation phases have not yet started. Our numerical experiments end shortly after the converging magnetic bipole has fully cancelled. By this time, reconnection in the inner domain has ceased and occurs only at the base. Solving the energy equation with various heating and cooling terms included, and considering different bottom boundary conditions, reveals that the unrealistically high temperatures produced by Ohmic heating are reduced to more moderate temperatures of 1.5–2 MK consistent with observations of XBPs, if thermal conduction is included and density and temperature are fixed at the base.     

Magnetic reconnection and coronal transients

Every two-ribbon flare observed during the Skylab period produced an observable coronal transient, provided the flare occurred close enough to the limb. The model presented here treats these two events as a combined process. Transients that occur without flares are believed to involve magnetic fields that are too weak to produce significant chromospheric emission. Adopting the hypothesis that the rising flare loop systems observed during two-ribbon flares are exhibiting magnetic reconnection, a model of a coronal transient is proposed which incorporates this reconnection process as the driving force. When two oppositely directed field lines reconnect a lower loop is created rooted to the solar surface (the flare loop) and an upper disconnected loop is produced which is free to rise. The magnetic flux of these upper loops is proposed as the driver for the transient. The force is produced by the increase in magnetic pressure under the filament and transient.A quantitative model is developed which treats the transient configuration in terms of four distinct parts- the transient itself with its magnetic field and material, the region just below the transient but above the filament, the filament with its magnetic field, and the reconnected flux beneath the filament. Two cases are considered - one in which all the prominence material rises with the transient and one in which the material is allowed to fall out of the transient. The rate of rise of the neutral line during the reconnection process is taken from the observations of the rising X-ray flare loop system during the 29 July, 1973 flare. The MHD equations for the system are reduced to four non-linear ordinary coupled differential equations which are solved using parameters believed to be realistic for solar conditions. The calculated velocity profiles, widths, etc., agree quite well with the observed properties of coronal transients as seen in white light. Since major flares are usually associated with a filament eruption about 10–15 min before the flare and since this model associates the transient with the filament eruption, we suspect that the transient is actually initiated some time before the actual flare itself.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

太阳光球层磁重联的直接证据

本文首次给出了发生在太阳光球磁重联的一个直接的观测证据。 这一磁重联的观测特征是:(1)重联发生在一新浮现磁通量区的一极与极性相反的老磁通量之间;(2)重联前中性线附近磁剪切明显;(3)被重联两极为一对消磁结构,重联发生在稳定的磁通量损失数小时之后;(4)一个级别为C2.9的亚耀斑发生在重联之前。该耀斑以重联区为中心,双带离重联位置2～3万公里,直到耀斑极大相后14分钟,重联仍未发生;(5)重联后,磁对消速率呈增大趋势。     

Dual-filament initiation of a Coronal Mass Ejection: Observations and Model

We propose a new model for the initiation of solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and CME-associated flares. The model is inferred from observations of a quiescent filament eruption in the north-western quadrant of the solar disk on 4 September 2000. The event was observed with the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (5.7 GHz), the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (17 GHz) and SOHO/EIT and LASCO. Based on the observations, we suggest that the eruption could be caused by the interaction of two dextral filaments. According to our model, these two filaments merge together to form a dual-filament system tending to form a single long filament. This results in a slow upward motion of the dual-filament system. Its upward expansion is prevented by the attachment of the filaments to the photosphere by filament barbs as well as by overlying coronal arcades. The initial upward motion is caused by the backbone magnetic field (first driving factor) which connects the two merging filaments. Its magnetic flux increases slowly due to magnetic reconnection of the cross-interacting legs of these filaments. If a total length of the dual-filament system is large enough, then the filament barbs detach themselves from the solar surface due to magnetic reconnection between the barbs with oppositely directed magnetic fields. The detachment of the filament barbs completes the formation of the eruptive filaments themselves and determines the helicity sign of their magnetic fields. The appearance of a helical magnetic structure creates an additional upward-directed force (second driving factor). A combined action of these two factors causes acceleration of the dual-filament system. If the lifting force of the two factors is sufficient to substantially extend the overlying coronal magnetic arcade, then magnetic reconnection starts below the eruptive filament in accordance with the classical scheme, and the third driving factor comes into play.     

An EUV Jet and Hα Filament Eruption Associated with Flux Cancelation in a Decaying Active Region

Using data from the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE), Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), and Hida Observatory (HO), we present a detailed study of an EUV jet and the associated Hα filament eruption in a major flare in the active region NOAA 10044 on 29 July 2002. In the Hα line wings, a small filament was found to erupt out from the magnetic neutral line of the active region during the flare. Two bright EUV loops were observed rising and expanding with the filament eruption, and both hot and cool EUV plasma ejections were observed to form the EUV jet. The two thermal components spatially separated from each other and lasted for about 25 minutes. In the white-light corona data, a narrow coronal mass ejection (CME) was found to respond to this EUV jet. We cannot find obvious emerging flux in the photosphere accounting for the filament eruption and the EUV jet. However, significant sunspot decay and magnetic-flux cancelation owing to collision of opposite flux before the events were noticed. Based on the hard X-ray data from RHESSI, which showed evidence of magnetic reconnection along the main magnetic neutral line, we think that all of the observed dynamical phenomena, including the EUV jet, filament eruption, flare, and CME, should have a close relation to the flux cancelation in the low atmosphere.     

Eruption of an Active-Region Filament Driven by an Emerging Bipole

1 INTRODUCTION Filaments are cool, dense material suspended in the hot, tenuous corona. It is widely accepted that the global magnetic field surrounding the filaments plays a key role in their formation, structure and stability (Tandberg-Hanssen1995). Fil…     

Coronal Flux Recycling Times

High-cadence, high-resolution magnetograms have shown that the quiet-Sun photosphere is very dynamic in nature. It is comprised of discrete magnetic fragments which are characterized by four key processes – emergence, coalescence, fragmentation and cancellation. All of this will have consequences for the magnetic field in the corona above. The aim of this study is to gauge the effect of the behavior of the photospheric flux fragments on the quiet-Sun corona. By considering a sequence of observed magnetograms, photospheric flux fragments are represented by a series of point sources and the resulting potential field arising from them is examined. It is found that the quiet-Sun coronal flux is generally recycled on time scales considerably shorter than the corresponding time scales for the recycling of photospheric flux. From the motions of photospheric fragments alone, a recycling time of coronal flux of around 3 h is found. However, it is found that the amount of reconnection driven by the motions of fragments is comparable to the amount driven by emergence and cancellation of flux, resulting in a net flux replacement time for the corona of only 1.4 h. The technique used in this study was briefly presented in a short research letter (R. M. Close et al., Astrophys. J., 612, L81, 2004); here the technique is discussed in far greater depth. Furthermore, an estimate is made of the currents required to flow along separator field lines in order to sustain the observed heating rates (assuming separator reconnection is the key mechanism by which the solar corona is heated).     

Probing the Role of Magnetic-Field Variations in NOAA AR 8038 in Producing a Solar Flare and CME on 12 May 1997

We carried out a multi-wavelength study of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) and an associated flare, occurring on 12 May 1997. We present a detailed investigation of magnetic-field variations in NOAA Active Region 8038 which was observed on the Sun during 7??C?16 May 1997. This region was quiet and decaying and produced only a very small flare activity during its disk passage. However, on 12 May 1997 it produced a CME and associated medium-size 1B/C1.3 flare. Detailed analyses of H?? filtergrams and SOHO/MDI magnetograms revealed continual but discrete surge activity, and emergence and cancellation of flux in this active region. The movie of these magnetograms revealed the two important results that the major opposite polarities of pre-existing region as well as in the emerging-flux region were approaching towards each other and moving magnetic features (MMF) were ejected from the major north polarity at a quasi-periodicity of about ten hours during 10??C?13 May 1997. These activities were probably caused by magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere driven by photospheric convergence motions, which were evident in magnetograms. The quantitative measurements of magnetic-field variations such as magnetic flux, gradient, and sunspot rotation revealed that in this active region, free energy was slowly being stored in the corona. Slow low-layer magnetic reconnection may be responsible for the storage of magnetic free energy in the corona and the formation of a sigmoidal core field or a flux rope leading to the eventual eruption. The occurrence of EUV brightenings in the sigmoidal core field prior to the rise of a flux rope suggests that the eruption was triggered by the inner tether-cutting reconnection, but not the external breakout reconnection. An impulsive acceleration, revealed from fast separation of the H?? ribbons of the first 150 seconds, suggests that the CME accelerated in the inner corona, which is also consistent with the temporal profile of the reconnection electric field. Based on observations and analysis we propose a qualitative model, and we conclude that the mass ejections, filament eruption, CME, and subsequent flare were connected with one another and should be regarded within the framework of a solar eruption.     

Measurements of Flux Cancellation During Filament Formation

We study the process of flux cancellation and filament formation in a nest of three decaying active regions, using data from SOHO MDI and EIT, and Hα images from Meudon and Big Bear. We find that there are no apparent EUV loops connecting the two poles of a cancelling feature prior to and during cancellation, suggesting an absence of coronal magnetic connectivity between these opposite polarity flux patches. We further find that the cancellation occurs at the ends of the Hα sections of the filament and is accompanied by a noticeable increase in Hα intensity and linkage of the Hα sections, but that the locations of the links remain the weakest in Hα absorption. We present our measurements of the amount of flux cancelled at each site and show it is in agreement with an estimate of the axial flux contained in the filament. We also observe two events of flux emergence, and find that they do not influence the filament formation in this case. We compare our results with similar measurements in recent papers and find agreement for the amounts of cancelled flux per patch, except for one case in a young emerging active region, for which we provide an alternative interpretation. We conclude that our measurements of flux cancellation are consistent with both the scenarios in which the filament is formed through ``head-to-tail" linkage, as well as the scenario in which filament flux tubes emerge as a whole from below the photosphere, but that only the former scenario is consistent with the apparent absence of coronal magnetic links between the cancelling magnetic patches.     

Solar coronal heating by magnetic cancellation – II. Disconnected and unequal bipoles

Two-dimensional numerical magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a cancelling magnetic feature (CMF) and the associated coronal X-ray bright point (XBP) are presented. Coronal magnetic reconnection is found to produce the Ohmic heating required for a coronal XBP. During the BP phase where reconnection occurs above the base, about 90–95 per cent of the magnetic flux of the converging magnetic bipole cancels at the base. The last ≈5 to 10 per cent of the base magnetic flux is cancelled when reconnection occurs at the base. Reconnection happens in a time-dependent way in response to the imposed converging footpoint motions. A potential field model gives a good first approximation to the qualitative behaviour of the system, but the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) experiments reveal several quantitative differences: for example, the effects of plasma inertia and a pressure build-up in-between the converging bipole are to delay the onset of coronal reconnection above the base and to lower the maximum X -point height.