Relation between the active region magnetic field and solar flares

A weak active region (NOAA 11158) appeared on the solar disk near the eastern limb. This region increased rapidly and, having reached the magnetic flux higher than 10²² Mx, produced an X-class flare. Only weak field variations at individual points were observed during the flare. An analysis of data with a resolution of 45 s did not indicate any characteristic features in the photospheric field dynamics during the flare. When the flux became higher than 3 × 10²² Mx, active region NOAA 10720 produced six X-class flares. The field remained quiet during these flares. An increase in the magnetic flux above ～10²² Mx is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the appearance of powerful flares. Simple active regions do not produce flares. A flare originates only when the field distribution in an active region is complex and lines of polarity inversion have a complex shape. Singular lines of the magnetic field can exist only above such active regions. The current sheets, in the magnetic field of which the solar flare energy is accumulated, originate in the vicinity of these lines.     

Numerical MHD simulations of the appearance of a series of current sheets above the active region AR 0365

The first attempt at numerical MHD simulations of the appearance of several current sheets above an active region before a series of elementary flares is described. Energy accumulates in the field of each sheet that can be released during one of the flares. The computations started three days before the appearance of a series of flares, i.e., before the emergence of a new magnetic flux in the active region. The initial (potential) magnetic field was calculated by solving the Laplace equation with an oblique derivative. The boundary conditions on the photosphere were specified from maps of the measured magnetic field in the active region for various instants of time. The Peresvet program solving the full system of MHD equations with dissipative terms was used in the computations. An absolutely implicit scheme conservative relative to the magnetic flux was used. The problem of properly choosing the size of the computational domain and finding the positions of singular magnetic field lines is discussed.     

太阳活动上升期源表面太阳风质量流量的速度关系分析

以ＩＰＳ速度、光球磁场、Ｋ─日冕偏振亮度和卫星实地观测数据为基础，综合生成处于太阳活动上升期的１９７６年１０个太阳周（１６４３─１６５２卡林顿周）的源表面高度（Ｒ＝２．５Ｒ_ｓ，Ｒ_ｓ为太阳半径）和日球空间中（ＩＡＵ）太阳同质量流量速度谱。结果表明，速度谱存在与太阳活动上升期一致的＂三段＂结构，且各段分别与不同的磁结构区相对应。     

On a Magnetic Anomaly in the Umbra of the Following Spot of an NOAA 12192 Active Region

This paper examines the evolution and morphology of a magnetic anomaly: the appearance and disappearance of a longitudinal magnetic flux with opposite polarity at an area of about 10 arc seconds in the umbra of the following sunspot of an NOAA 12192 active region, which was observed from 21 to 26 October 2014 in the SDO/HMI and SOLIS/VSM magnetograms. Information collected by spacecraft and under on-ground observations including data from the Sun Service of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences are analyzed. Based on the methods of observation and determination of longitudinal magnetic fields in SDO/HMI in line FeI 6173.34 Å it was revealed, that combinations of contours appearing due to magnetic force lines inclinations relative to the line-of-sight and line-of-sight velocities can cause a significant undervalue of the magnetic field intensity in magnetograms, but polarity does not reverse. The fine spatial structure, evolution features, close correlation with ultraviolet loops system in SDO/AIA images, “moustaches”, and no temporal and spatial correlation with flares point to a connection between the detected anomaly and the new magnetic flux emergence of opposite polarity in a spot’s umbra at an earlier decay stage. We analyze magnetic force lines reconnection and show that annigilation of the magnetic fields of opposite polarities can take place for many hours at small (~30 km) scales and this fact is verified by observation results. There are additional facts in favor of the cluster model of a solar spot by Severny-Parker.

     

Reversed polarity patches at the CMB and geomagnetic field reversal

The International Geomagnetic Reference Field models (IGRF) for 1900–2000 are used to calculate the geomagnetic field distribution in the Earth’ interior from the ground surface to the core-mantle boundary (CMB) under the assumption of insulated mantle. Four reversed polarity patches, as one of the most important features of the CMB field, are revealed. Two patches with +Z polarity (downward) at the southern African and the southern American regions stand out against the background of ™Z polarity (upward) in the southern hemisphere, and two patches of ™Z polarity at the North Polar and the northern Pacific regions stand out against the +Z background in the northern hemisphere. During the 1900–2000 period the southern African (SAF) patch has quickly drifted westward at a speed of 0.20–.3° /a; meanwhile its area has expanded 5 times, and the magnetic flux crossing the area has intensified 30 times. On the other hand, other three patches show little if any change during this 100-year period. Extending upward, each of the reversed polarity patches at the CMB forms a chimney-shaped “reversed polarity column” in the mantle with the bottom at the CMB. The height of the SAF column has grown rapidly from 200km in 1900 to 900km in 2000. If the column grows steadily at the same rate in the future, its top will reach to the ground surface in 600–700 years. And then a reversed polarity patch will be observed at the Earth’s surface, which will be an indicator of the beginning of a magnetic field reversal. On the basis of this study, one can describe the process of a geomagnetic polarity reversal, the polarity reversal may be observed firstly in one or several local regions; then the areas of these regions expand, and at the same time, other new reversed polarity regions may appear. Thus several poles may exist during a polarity reversal.     

太阳高能粒子(SEP)传播数值模拟中的太阳风背景场研究

太阳高能粒子(SEP)事件是一类重要的空间天气灾害性事件,如能准确预报SEP事件,人们便可以采取必要的防护措施,保障卫星、星载设备以及航天员的安全,尽可能地降低经济损失.因此,其数值预报研究在空间天气预报研究中占有很重要的地位.SEP事件中的高能粒子在不同的时间尺度内被耀斑过程或者CME驱动的激波加速,并且在被扰动后的行星际太阳风中传输,这些过程都紧紧依赖于太阳风背景场.因此获取更加接近物理真实的太阳风背景场是模拟SEP事件的重要部分,也是提高SEP物理模式的关键因素之一.我们目前的工作基于张明等发展的SEP在行星际空间传播的模型,尝试将Parker太阳风速度解及WIND飞船观测的磁场实时数据融入模型中,研究不同的太阳风速度以及真实磁场分布对SEP在行星际空间中传播的影响.通过求解聚焦传输方程,我们的模拟结果表明:(1)快太阳风条件下,绝热冷却效应项发挥了更大的作用,使粒子能量衰减的更快,而慢太阳风对粒子的通量变化没有显著影响;(2)加入观测的磁场数据时,粒子的全向通量剖面发生了比较明显的变化,具体表现在:通量峰值推迟到达、出现多峰结构、各向异性也发生一些改变.分析表明真实磁场的极性对粒子在行星际空间中传播有着重要的影响.     

基于双金属球三维电场探空仪的一次雷暴云内电荷结构观测研究

本文自主研制性能稳定的双金属球三维电场探空仪,并结合气象探空仪等构建了雷暴电场-气象综合探空系统,实现了雷暴云内三维电场及温度、湿度的同步测量.2019年夏季对华北平原地区雷暴开展穿云观测,并结合地面大气电场、雷达回波、变分多普勒雷达分析系统(VDRAS)反演的动力场等资料进行综合研究,首次给出该地区雷暴云内的电场和电荷结构分布特征.对2019年8月7日发生的一次中尺度对流系统电场探空发现,在雷暴减弱阶段,其弱回波区内存在5个极性交替的电荷区:4.4~5.6 km之间的上部正电荷区(0℃附近)、3.6~4.4 km之间的中部负电荷区和1.0~3.6 km之间的下部正电荷区,此外在1 km下方有一个负极性电荷区,雷暴云顶附近5.7~6.9 km之间为一个弱负极性屏蔽电荷区.其中,中部负电荷区和下部正电荷区由多个不同强度、不同厚度的电荷层构成.此外,电场探空系统在中部负电荷区高度范围内经历的上升—下沉—再次上升的往返探空数据表明,雷暴云内动力环境复杂,电荷结构分布相似但又有所差异,反映了实际雷暴云内电荷分布的时空不均匀性和复杂性.     

Tangential discontinuities and the optical analogy for stationary fields. VII. Effects of resistivity

Abstract

The relatively large resistivity in the solar photosphere and chromosphere softens the ideal tangential discontinuities of magnetostatic equilibrium into continuous transitions in field direction over scales of 0.1–10 km. This softening is communicated upward at the Alfvén speed into the active solar corona. The degree of softening is a vital part of the theory of magnetic heat input to the active X-ray corona, because the very low resistivity of the coronal gas provides effective dissipation only if the current sheets are reduced to a thickness of 10^?2km.

A close examination of the problem shows that the Alfvén transit time up into the corona is large compared to the characteristic time of 1 sec in which the coronal tangential discontinutities are formed. It also shows that the principal effect of the resistivity is to create a thin surface layer of fluid on adjacent flux bundles, which causes a general drift of the flux but does not directly broaden the current sheets higher up in the field. In fact the motions of the surface layers do not extend upwards beyond the first winding pattern at each end of a coronal loop.

It appears that the photospheric and chromospheric resistivity is without striking consequences for magnetic heating in the corona.     

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a solar flare: 2. Flare model and simulation using active-region magnetic maps

The results of a three-dimensional MHD simulation and data obtained using specialized spacecraft made it possible to construct an electrodynamic model of solar flares. A flare results from explosive magnetic reconnection in a current sheet above an active region, and electrons accelerated in field-aligned currents cause hard X rays on the solar surface. In this review, we considered works where the boundary and initial conditions on the photosphere were specified directly from the magnetic maps, obtained by SOHO MDI in the preflare state, in order to simulate the formation of a current sheet. A numerical solution of the complete set of MHD equations, performed using the new-generation PERESVET program, demonstrated the formation of several current sheets before a series of flares. A comparison of the observed relativistic proton spectra and the simulated proton acceleration along a magnetic field singular line made it possible to estimate the magnetic reconnection rate during a flare (∼10⁷ cm s⁻¹). Great flares (of the X class) originate after an increase in the active region magnetic flux up to 10²² Mx.     

Model of quiescent prominence with the helical magnetic field

A new exact analytical solution of the magnetohydrostatic problem describes the equilibrium of a solitary, dense-cool solar filament maintained against the gravity by magnetic force in hot solar corona at heights up to 20–40 Mm. The filament is assumed to be uniform along the axis (the translation symmetry). The magnetic field of the filament has the helical structure (magnetic flux rope) with a typical strength of a few Gauss in the region of minimal temperature (about 4000 K). The model can be applied to the quiescent prominence of both normal and inverse magnetic polarity.

     

Skin-layer of the eruptive magnetic flux rope in large solar flares

The analysis of observations of large solar flares made it possible to propose a hypothesis on existence of a skin-layer in magnetic flux ropes of coronal mass ejections. On the assumption that the Bohm coefficient determines the diffusion of magnetic field, an estimate of the skin-layer thickness of ~10⁶ cm is obtained. According to the hypothesis, the electric field of ~0.01–0.1 V/cm, having the nonzero component along the magnetic field of flux rope, arises for ~5 min in the surface layer of the eruptive flux rope during its ejection into the upper corona. The particle acceleration by the electric field to the energies of ~100 MeV/nucleon in the skin-layer of the flux rope leads to their precipitation along field lines to footpoints of the flux rope. The skin-layer presence induces helical or oval chromospheric emission at the ends of flare ribbons. The emission may be accompanied by hard X-ray radiation and by the production of gamma-ray line at the energy of 2.223 MeV (neutron capture line in the photosphere). The magnetic reconnection in the corona leads to a shift of the skin-layer of flux rope across the magnetic field. The area of precipitation of accelerated particles at the flux-rope footpoints expands in this case from the inside outward. This effect is traced in the chromosphere and in the transient region as the expanding helical emission structures. If the emission extends to the spot, a certain fraction of accelerated particles may be reflected from the magnetic barrier (in the magnetic field of the spot). In the case of exit into the interplanetary space, these particles may be recorded in the Earth’s orbit as solar proton events.     

P波极性数据所揭示的台湾地区三维应力结构的初步结果

采用综合震源机制方法,利用503393个P波极性数据反演了台湾地区的三维应力结构.对于给定点,根据该点及邻近区域地震的所有P波极性数据采用地震综合震源机制进行估算,P波极性数据的权重由高斯距离函数给定.该方法可以采用大量P波极性数据,包括不能确定单个地震震源机制的P波极性数据.与传统的震源机制确定应力场的方法相比,该方...     

Solar polar magnetic field

The solar polar magnetic field has attracted the attention of researchers since the polar magnetic field reversal was revealed in the middle of the last century (Babcock and Livingston, 1958). The polar magnetic field has regularly reversed because the magnetic flux is transported from the sunspot formation zone owing to differential rotation, meridional circulation, and turbulent diffusion. However, modeling of these processes leads to ambiguous conclusions, as a result of which it is sometimes unclear whether a transport model is actual. Thus, according to the last Hinode data, the problem of a standard transport model (Shiota et al., 2012) consists in that a decrease in the polar magnetic flux in the Southern Hemisphere lags behind such a decrease in the flux in the Northern Hemisphere (from 2008 to June 2012). On the other hand, Svalgaard and Kamide (2012) consider that the asymmetry in the sign reversal simply results from the asymmetry in the emerging flux in the sunspot formation region. A detailed study of the polar magnetic flux evolution according to the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) data for May 2010–December 2012 is illustrated in the present work. Helioseismic & Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetic data in the form of a magnetic field component along the line of sight (the time resolution is 720 s) are used here. The magnetic fluxes in sunspot formation regions and at high latitudes have been compared.     

The emergence of braided magnetic fields

We study the emergence of braided magnetic fields from the top of the solar interior through to the corona. It is widely believed that emerging regions smaller than active regions are formed in the upper convection zone near the photosphere. Here, bundles of braided, rather than twisted, magnetic field can be formed, which then rise upward to emerge into the atmosphere. To test this theory, we investigate the behaviour of braided magnetic fields as they emerge into the solar atmosphere. We compare and contrast our models to previous studies of twisted flux tube emergence and discuss results that can be tested observationally. Although this is just an initial study, our results suggest that the underlying magnetic field structure of small emerging regions need not be twisted and that braided field, formed in the convection zone, could suffice.     

Magnetic flux evolution inside and outside a polar coronal hole based on data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)

This paper presents the analysis results of the magnetic flux inside and outside a polar coronal hole in the north during the period August 1?C2, 2010. The location of the polar coronal hole is determined from Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) images in the Fe XII, XXIV (193 ?) line, obtained by an Atmospheric Imager Assembly (AIA) of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Magnetic data are represented by the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field strength, measured with an Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI). Both data sets are sampled at an interval of 720 s and are remapped onto a Carrington coordinate grid with a resolution of 0.001 in sine latitude and 0.1 degree in longitude. The preliminary results show a magnetic flux of the new cycle??s polarity (positive polarity in the north) appearing inside the coronal hole on a time scale of several hours. This ??new flux?? does not correlate with the magnetic flux of the old solar cycle (negative polarity in the north).     

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of a solar flare: 1. Current sheet in the corona

The results of modeling the preflare situation in the solar corona, obtained using a numerical solution for a complete set of three-dimensional MHD equations, are reviewed. Any assumptions concerning the flare development character or the active region’s behavior before a flare are not introduced. The initial and boundary conditions on the photosphere are specified from magnetic field measurements before a flare. The photospheric field sources are approximated by magnetic dipoles. The usage of the PERESVET program indicated that a current sheet is formed in the vicinity of a singular magnetic field line in the corona. The sheet is formed due to disturbances coming from the photosphere. The energy necessary for a flare is stored in the current sheet magnetic field during 2–3 days. The main construction principles of the PERESVET program, which makes it possible to use the maps of a measured photospheric field as boundary conditions, are presented.     

The correlation between geomagnetic disturbances and topology of quasi-open structures in the solar magnetic field

Results of photospheric magnetic field extrapolation in a potential approximation and of the technique for separating the open part of magnetic flux have revealed that changes in the relationship between the open part of the south polarity magnetic flux obtained in the chromosphere and corona from July to November 2006 correlate with variations in the Akasofu parameter calculated from data on the solar wind parameters and interplanetary magnetic field at Lagrange point L1, and with the K _p index.     

2001年3月2日磁通量传输事件特性的研究

2001年3月2日11:00 至11:15 UT 期间,Cluster Ⅱ在南半球极尖区晨侧附近磁鞘内探测到3个通量传输事件（简称FTEs）. 本文利用Cluster Ⅱ星簇4颗卫星观测到的磁场和等离子体资料研究了这些通量传输事件的磁场形态和粒子特征. 并利用它们探测到的空间磁场梯度资料由安培定律直接求出星簇所在区域的电流分布. 结果指出：（1）BY占优势的行星际磁场结构在磁层顶的重联可以在极尖区附近发生;（2）FTEs通量管形成初期内外总压差和磁箍缩应力不一定平衡,达到平衡有一发展过程;（3）FTEs通量管截面在L M平面内的线度约为1.89RE;（4）FTEs通量管中等离子体主要沿轴向场方向流动,整个通量管以慢于背景等离子体的速度沿磁层顶向南向尾运动;（5）FTEs通量管中不仅有轴向电流,也存在环向电流. 轴向电流基本沿轴向磁场方向流动. 轴向和环向电流在管内均呈体分布,因而轴向电流产生的环向磁场接近管心时不断减小到零,而环向电流生成的轴向场则不断增大到极值;（6）在通量管的磁鞘部分观测到磁层能量粒子流量的增强,这表明通量管通过磁层顶将磁鞘和磁层内部连通起来了.     

Origin and structures of solar eruptions Ⅱ: Magnetic modeling

The topology and dynamics of the three-dimensional magnetic field in the solar atmosphere govern various solar eruptive phenomena and activities, such as flares, coronal mass ejections, and filaments/prominences. We have to observe and model the vector magnetic field to understand the structures and physical mechanisms of these solar activities. Vector magnetic fields on the photosphere are routinely observed via the polarized light, and inferred with the inversion of Stokes profiles. To analyze these vector magnetic fields, we need first to remove the 180° ambiguity of the transverse components and correct the projection effect. Then, the vector magnetic field can be served as the boundary conditions for a force-free field modeling after a proper preprocessing. The photospheric velocity field can also be derived from a time sequence of vector magnetic fields.Three-dimensional magnetic field could be derived and studied with theoretical force-free field models, numerical nonlinear force-free field models, magnetohydrostatic models, and magnetohydrodynamic models. Magnetic energy can be computed with three-dimensional magnetic field models or a time series of vector magnetic field. The magnetic topology is analyzed by pinpointing the positions of magnetic null points, bald patches, and quasi-separatrix layers. As a well conserved physical quantity,magnetic helicity can be computed with various methods, such as the finite volume method, discrete flux tube method, and helicity flux integration method. This quantity serves as a promising parameter characterizing the activity level of solar active regions.     

Observing,Modeling, and Interpreting Magnetic Fields of the Solid Earth

Many Earth system processes generate magnetic fields, either primary magnetic fields or in response to other magnetic fields. The largest of these magnetic fields is due to the dynamo in the Earth’s core, and can be approximated by a geocentric axial dipole that has decayed by nearly 10% during the last 150 years. This is an order of magnitude faster than its natural decay time, a reflection of the growth of patches of reverse flux at the core–mantle boundary. The velocity of the North magnetic pole reached some 40 km/yr in 2001. This velocity is the highest recorded so far in the last two centuries. The second largest magnetic field in the solid Earth is caused by induced and remanent magnetization within the crust. Controlled in part by the thermo-mechanical properties of the crust, these fields contain signatures of tectonic processes currently active, and those active in the distant past. Recent work has included an estimate of the surface heat flux under the Antarctic ice cap. In order to understand the recent changes in the Earth’s magnetic field, new high-quality measurements are needed to continue those being made by Ørsted (launched in 1999), CHAMP and the Ørsted-2 experiment onboard SAC-C (both launched in 2000). The present paper is motivated by the advent of space surveys of the geomagnetic field, and illustrates how our way of observing, modeling, and interpreting the Earth’s magnetic field has changed in recent years due to the new magnetic satellite measurements.