Coronal Flux Rope Equilibria in Closed Magnetic Fields

Using a 2.5-dimensional ideal MHD model in Cartesian coordinates,we investigate the equilibrium properties of coronal magnetic flux ropes in background magnetic fields that are completely closed.The background fields are produced by a dipole,a quadrupole,and an octapole,respectively,located below the photosphere at the same depth.A magnetic flux rope is then launched from below the photo-sphere,and its magnetic properties,i.e,the annular magnetic fluxφp and the axial magnetic fluxφz,are controlled by a single emergence parameter.The whole sys-tem eventually evolves into equilibrium,and the resultant flux rope is characterized by three geometrical parameters:the height of the rope axis,the half-width of the rope,and the length of the vertical current sheet below the rope.It is found that the geometrical parameters increase monotonically and continuously with increasing φp and φz:no catastrophe occurs.Moreover,there exists a steep segment in the profiles of the geometrical parameters versus either φp or φz,and the faster the background field decays with height,the larger both the gradient and the growth amplitude within the steep segment will be.     

Background Magnetic Fields: Cellular Structure,its Rotation Variations and Relationship with Coronal Holes

By analyzing data on background magnetic fields (BMF) covering a significant portion of solar activity cycles 20 and 21, it is shown that cellular structure is characteristic for BMF, irrespective of the cycle phase. According to present views, cellular structure in the distribution of different parameters, the magnetic field in particular, can be a consequence of the mass motion of a convective or some other origin. The size, lifetime and some rotation characteristics of BMF cells are estimated experimentally.It is found that BMF cell rotation characteristics undergo cyclic variations. The character of the cyclic variations in rotation differentiality of BMF cells is in agreement with those observed for sunspots, chromospheric filaments, green corona and coronal holes. It is shown that a detailed correspondence exists between cyclic variations in rotation differentiality of BMF cells and coronal holes, which undoubtedly bears witness to the presence of a correlation between these phenomena.     

Estimating the Relative Helicity of Coronal Magnetic Fields

To quantify changes of the solar coronal field connectivity during eruptive events, one can use magnetic helicity, which is a measure of the shear or twist of a current-carrying (non-potential) field. To find a physically meaningful quantity, a relative measure, giving the helicity of a current-carrying field with respect to a reference (potential) field, is often evaluated. This requires a knowledge of the three-dimensional vector potential. We present a method to calculate the vector potential for a solenoidal magnetic field as the sum of a Laplacian part and a current-carrying part. The only requirements are the divergence freeness of the Laplacian and current-carrying magnetic field and the sameness of their normal field component on the bounding surface of the considered volume.     

晚型星的磁场与软X射线相关性

本文讨论了晚型星的磁场强度与ＲＯＳＡＴ软Ｘ射线的相关性,用四种模型拟合了ＲＯＳＡＴ的观测结果,讨论了各种模型的优缺点,同时发现单星的星冕温度与磁场强度的相关性很好．因此可以认为磁场是晚型星星冕很重要的加热机制．由处理ＲＯＳＡＴ数据得到的星冕温度,可估计晚型星表面的磁场强度．     

Solar Magnetic Carpet II: Coronal Interactions of Small-Scale Magnetic Fields

This paper is the second in a series of studies working towards constructing a realistic, evolving, non-potential coronal model for the solar magnetic carpet. In the present study, the interaction of two magnetic elements is considered. Our objectives are to study magnetic energy build-up, storage and dissipation as a result of emergence, cancellation, and flyby of these magnetic elements. In the future these interactions will be the basic building blocks of more complicated simulations involving hundreds of elements. Each interaction is simulated in the presence of an overlying uniform magnetic field, which lies at various orientations with respect to the evolving magnetic elements. For these three small-scale interactions, the free energy stored in the field at the end of the simulation ranges from 0.2 – 2.1×10²⁶ ergs, whilst the total energy dissipated ranges from 1.3 – 6.3×10²⁶ ergs. For all cases, a stronger overlying field results in higher energy storage and dissipation. For the cancellation and emergence simulations, motion perpendicular to the overlying field results in the highest values. For the flyby simulations, motion parallel to the overlying field gives the highest values. In all cases, the free energy built up is sufficient to explain small-scale phenomena such as X-ray bright points or nanoflares. In addition, if scaled for the correct number of magnetic elements for the volume considered, the energy continually dissipated provides a significant fraction of the quiet Sun coronal heating budget.     

冕洞内矢量磁场的分布和演化

冕洞是太阳日冕中低温低密度的区域,是高速太阳风的源区.目前,冕洞的很多性质还远未被人们所理解.磁场研究是理解太阳上各种现象的重要手段.因此,我们力图通过研究冕洞内的磁场特别是矢量磁场的分布和演化,回答冕洞研究中存在的问题.综合利用SOHO、Hinode、STEREO、SDO等卫星数据,我们第1次对冕洞内矢量磁场的演化、冕洞磁场的非势性等方面进行了较详细的研究,取得了一系列的研究成果.(1)冕洞不同层次太阳大气对冕洞小尺度磁场结构分布和演化的响应.我们研究了冕洞内及冕洞边界上磁场的分布和演     

Radio Observations of Gyroresonance Emission from Coronal Magnetic Fields

We review the basic characteristics of thermal gyroresonance (also known as cyclotron) emission from solar active regions, and show how radio observations combined with our understanding of the basic mechanism can reveal much of the magnetic and thermal structure of the corona over active regions.     

On Magnetic Fields of Active Regions at Coronal Heights

This paper analyzes the magnetic field structure of active regions at coronal heights determined by means of multi-wavelength observations of polarized radio emission in the microwave range, and compares it with the force-free magnetic field extrapolation into the corona from the photospheric magnetograms. Our method of one-dimensional radio stereoscopy indicates higher magnetic field strength compared with the field reconstructed from photospheric magnetograms. It is shown that the sense of inclinations of the field lines we obtained from the radio data matches the shape of the reconstructed magnetic field lines, although the degree of the inclinations is very different.     

Relating White-Light Coronal Images to Magnetic Fields and Plasma Flow

The solar magnetic field is key to a detailed understanding of the Sun's atmosphere and its transition to the solar wind. However, the lack of detailed magnetic field measurements everywhere except at the photosphere has made it challenging to determine its topology and to understand how it produces the observed plasma properties of the corona and solar wind. Recent progress based on the synthesis of diversified observations has shown that the corona is highly filamentary, that the coronal magnetic field is predominantly radial, and that the ability of closed fields to trap plasma at the base of the corona is a manifestation of how the solar field controls the solar wind. In this paper, we explain how these results are consistent with the relationship between density structure of white-light images and fields and flow. We point out that the ‘shape’ of the corona observed in white-light images is a consequence of the steep fall-off in density with radial distance, coupled with the inherent limitation in the sensitivity of the observing instrument. We discuss how the significant variation in radial density fall-off with latitude leads to a coronal shape that is more precisely revealed when a radial gradient filter is used, but which also gives a false impression of the tracing of highly non-radial fields. Instead, the coronal field is predominantly radial, and the two magnetic features that influence the shape of the corona are the closed fields at the base of the corona, and the polarity reversal forming the heliospheric current sheet in the outer corona. An erratum to this article is available at .     

The Magnetic Structure of a Coronal X-Ray Bright Point

X-ray bright points are small dynamic loop structures that are observed all over the solar corona. The high spatial and temporal resolution of the TRACE instrument allows bright points to be studied in much greater detail than previously possible. This paper focuses on a specific bright point which occurred for about 20 hours on 13–14 June 1998 and examines its dynamic structure in detail. This example suggests that the mechanisms that cause bright points to form and evolve are more complex than previously thought. In this case, reconnection probably plays a major part during the formation and brightening of the loop structure. However, later on the foot points rotate injecting twist into the bright point which may cause an instability to occur with dynamic results. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1017907406350     

The Topology of Background Magnetic Fields and Solar Flare Activity

We investigate the topological properties and evolution of background magnetic fields on synoptic maps from Wilcox Solar Observatory using mathematical morphology methods in terms of the Minkowski functionals. The total length of the neutral line, the total areas occupied by positive and negative polarities, and the Euler characteristics of background magnetic fields vary over an eleven-year cycle. Changes in the length of the neutral line that separates the polarities of the background magnetic field correlate well with flare activity. A time–longitude analysis of solar flare activity revealed a complicated organization and rotation of the entire flare ensemble. On the time–longitude diagram, flare activity is organized into the patterns which follow the rearrangements in background magnetic field and exhibit coexisting and alternating modes of rigid rotation. The character of rotation of the entire flare ensemble is similar to the rotation of background magnetic fields. The emergence of background magnetic fields and changes in their topology and rotation are often accompanied by enhancements in flare activity. A comparative analysis of the topological changes in background magnetic fields and flare activity reveals their causal relation.     

The Force-Free Electrodynamics Method for the Extrapolation of Coronal Magnetic Fields from Vector Magnetograms

We present a new improved version of our force-free electrodynamics (FFE) numerical code in spherical coordinates that extrapolates the magnetic field in the inner solar corona from a photospheric vector magnetogram. The code satisfies the photospheric boundary condition and the condition ??B=0 to machine accuracy. The performance of our method is evaluated with standard convergence parameters, and is found to be comparable to that of other nonlinear force-free extrapolations.     

Determination of the Coronal and Interplanetary Magnetic Field Strength and Radial Profiles from Large-Scale Photospheric Magnetic Fields

We propose a new model for the magnetic field at different distances from the Sun during different phases of the solar cycle. The model depends on the observed large-scale non-polar (\({\pm}\, 55^{\circ }\)) photospheric magnetic field and on the magnetic field measured at polar regions from \(55^{\circ }\) N to \(90^{\circ }\) N and from \(55^{\circ }\) S to \(90^{\circ }\) S, which are the visible manifestations of cyclic changes in the toroidal and poloidal components of the global magnetic field of the Sun. The modeled magnetic field is determined as the superposition of the non-polar and polar photospheric magnetic field and considers cycle variations. The agreement between the model predictions and magnetic fields derived from direct in situ measurements at different distances from the Sun, obtained with different methods and at different solar activity phases, is quite satisfactory. From a comparison of the magnetic fields as observed and calculated from the model at 1 AU, we conclude that the model magnetic field variations adequately explain the main features of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) radial, \(B_{\mathrm{x}}\), component cycle evolution at Earth’s orbit. The modeled magnetic field averaged over a Carrington rotation (CR) correlates with the IMF \(B_{\mathrm{x}}\) component also averaged over a CR at Earth’s orbit with a coefficient of 0.691, while for seven CR-averaged data, the correlation reaches 0.81. The radial profiles of the modeled magnetic field are compared with those of already existing models. In contrast to existing models, ours provides realistic magnetic-field radial distributions over a wide range of heliospheric distances at different cycle phases, taking into account the cycle variations of the solar toroidal and poloidal magnetic fields. The model is a good approximation of the cycle behavior of the magnetic field in the heliosphere. In addition, the decrease in the non-polar and polar photospheric magnetic fields is shown. Furthermore, the magnetic field during solar cycle maxima and minima decreased from Cycle 21 to Cycle 24. This implies that both the toroidal and poloidal components, and therefore the solar global magnetic field, decreased from Cycle 21 to Cycle 24.     

磁光效应与太阳黑子磁场结构

本文在考虑磁光效应条件下,根据对斯托克斯参数转移方程组求得的数值解,计算了单极太阳黑子的线偏振讯号的单色像,并与美国马歇尔空间飞行中心的观测资料进行了对比,结果表明,径向黑子磁场模型给出与观测相似的单色像,而旋涡形模型导致与观测有显著差异的图像。因此可以认为径向模型更接近于实际情况。     

Coronal Hole Influence on the Observed Structure of Interplanetary CMEs

We report on the coronal hole (CH) influence on the 54 magnetic cloud (MC) and non-MC associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs) selected for studies during the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshops (CDAWs) focusing on the question if all CMEs are flux ropes. All selected CMEs originated from source regions located between longitudes 15E?–?15W. Xie, Gopalswamy, and St. Cyr (2013, Solar Phys., doi: 10.1007/s11207-012-0209-0 ) found that these MC and non-MC associated CMEs are on average deflected towards and away from the Sun–Earth line, respectively. We used a CH influence parameter (CHIP) that depends on the CH area, average magnetic field strength, and distance from the CME source region to describe the influence of all on-disk CHs on the erupting CME. We found that for CHIP values larger than 2.6 G the MC and non-MC events separate into two distinct groups where MCs (non-MCs) are deflected towards (away) from the disk center. Division into two groups was also observed when the distance to the nearest CH was less than 3.2×10⁵ km. At CHIP values less than 2.6 G or at distances of the nearest CH larger than 3.2×10⁵ km the deflection distributions of the MC and non-MCs started to overlap, indicating diminishing CH influence. These results give support to the idea that all CMEs are flux ropes, but those observed to be non-MCs at 1 AU could be deflected away from the Sun–Earth line by nearby CHs, making their flux rope structure unobservable at 1 AU.     

Coronal Mass Ejections,Magnetic Fields,and the Green Corona in Cycle 23

We study a time – latitudinal distribution of CMEs observed by the SOHO spacecraft, their projected speeds and associated magnetic fields, as well as the north – south (N – S) asymmetry of solar surface magnetic fields, and the coronal green line intensities. We have found that (a) there exists an intricate relation between the average projected velocity of CMEs and the mean value of large-scale magnetic fields; (b) there exists a pronounced N – S asymmetry in both the distribution and the number of CMEs; (c) this asymmetry is in favor of the northern hemisphere at the beginning of the cycle, and of the southern hemisphere from 2001 onward, being, in fact, (d) closely related with the N – S asymmetry in the distribution of large-scale magnetic fields and the coronal green line intensities.     

The Coronal Emission of Photospheric Magnetic Fragments

This paper examines the relationship between magnetic dipoles in the photosphere and X-ray bright points (XBPs) in the corona, using an XBP special campaign dataset obtained by the Yohkoh SXT and the NSO/Kitt Peak magnetograph. We find that for the cases where a simple dipole exists in the photosphere, the condition that they are separated by a distance less than the interaction distance defined by Longcope1998 is favorable for an XBP to be observed. For the cases where the magnetic topology is more complicated due to the addition of an extra fragment, we find that the geometry of the magnetic fragments is a major factor that determines if an XBP is observed. XBPs are more likely to be formed above magnetic fragments arranged in such a way that photospheric motions giving rise to reconnection between any two fragments will also give rise to reconnection with the remaining fragment.