Role of Helicity in the Formation of Intermediate Filaments

In the last few years new observations have shown that solar filaments and filament channels have a surprising hemispheric pattern. To explain this pattern, a new theory for filament channel and filament formation is put forward. The theory describes the formation of a specific type of filament, namely the intermediate filament which forms either between active regions or at the boundary of an active region. It describes the formation in terms of the emergence of a sheared activity complex. The complex then interacts with remnant flux and, after convergence and flux cancellation, the filament forms in the channel. A key feature of the model is the net magnetic helicity of the complex. With the correct sign a filament channel can form, but with the opposite sign no filament channel forms after convergence. It is shown how the hemispheric pattern of helicity in emerging flux regions produces the observed hemispheric pattern for filaments.     

Association of solar prominences and coronal magnetic sheets from their observed correlation with type III radiobursts

It is shown that coronal structures in which are excited type III bursts (observed with the Nançay radioheliograph) have a good correlation with existence of plage filaments.By accepting that type III bursts reveal the presence of coronal magnetic neutral sheets, an interpretation of results is proposed and discussed in relation with theories of formation of filaments from coronal neutral sheets. It is suggested that the delay of one day observed in several cases between the type III burst occurrence and the filament appearance may be of the order of the filament condensation time from the neutral sheet.     

Evolution of fibrils with special reference to flare activity

We show observational results on the pre-flare evolutions of H structures as well as the developments of H flares. It is shown that the chromospheric features are brought to a sheared state before flares due to motions of footpoints which correspond to particular sunspot motions. Generally in evolutions of the chromospheric features it is found that motions and reconnections of the footpoints play essential roles. The following three stages are found for development of the neutral line filament before flares: (1) formation of a filament as a result of reconnection; (2) increase of the shear of the filament due to the shear motion; and (3) reconnection of fine components of the filament to form an elongated component immediately before flares. We further show developments of two particular flares with and without the filament, and point out basic release processes of flares. The flare that occurred at the filament (July 5, 1974) started with the activation of the elongated component of the filament after the process (3). The main phase of a two-ribbon flare is considered as the rises of short components of the filament triggered by the rising motion of the elongated component. The flare of September 10, 1974 occurred at the region where fibrils connect the sunspots in distorted form. Pre-flare distortion was produced by translational rotation of the sunspot. Development of this two-ribbon flare is interpreted as being due to successive rises of the fibrils with a self-trigger mechanism.On leave from Tokyo Astronomical Observatory (present address).     

The eruption of active region filaments and its relation to the triggering of a solar flare

The formation and eruption of active region filaments is supposed to be caused by the increase of a concentrated current embedded in the active region background magnetic field of an active region according to the theory of Van Tend and Kuperus (1978).The onset of a filament eruption is due to either changes in the background magnetic field or the increase of the filament current intensity. Both processes can be caused by the emergence of new magnetic flux as well as by the motion of the photospheric footpoints of the magnetic field lines. It is shown that if the background field evolves from a potential field to a nearly force-free field the vertical equilibrium of the current filament is not affected, but large forces are generated along the filament axis. This is identified as the cause of filament activation and the increase in filament turbulence during the flare build-up phase. Depending on the evolution of the background field and the current filament, two different scenarios for flare build-up and filament eruption are distinguished.This work was done while one of the authors (M.K.) was participating in the CECAM workshop on Physics of Solar Flares held at Orsay, France, in June 1979.     

Magnetic changes observed in the formation of two filaments in a complex active region: TRACE and MSDP observations

This paper is focused on the formation of two filaments in a complex center of decaying active regions (AR 8329 and AR 8326), located in the northern hemisphere. The observations were obtained in Hα by the Multi-channel Subtractive Double Pass spectrograph (MSDP mounted on the German telescope VTT in Tenerife) and EUV lines with TRACE (Transition Region And Corona Explorer). High Doppler shifts are found to be related to the ends of filament segments where canceling magnetic fields are also located (as seen on magnetograms from Big Bear Solar Observatory). At these locations, velocities along the line of sight, derived by using a cloud model method reach −20 km s⁻¹, the segments of filaments merge and frequently a time-related sub-flare is observed by TRACE. The chirality of the filament segments has been determined by different methods: the segments of dextral chirality join together and form a long dextral filament, and a single filament of sinistral chirality forms end to end with the dextral filament but does not merge with it. Assuming a model of twisted flux tube for filament material, we suggest that the dextral filament has negative helicity and a relationship between its formation and the close by sunspot with the same sign of helicity.     

Magnetic changes observed in the formation of two filaments in a complex active region: TRACE and MSDP observations

This paper is focused on the formation of two filaments in a complex center of decaying active regions (AR 8329 and AR 8326), located in the northern hemisphere. The observations were obtained in Hα by the Multi-channel Subtractive Double Pass spectrograph (MSDP mounted on the German telescope VTT in Tenerife) and EUV lines with TRACE (Transition Region And Corona Explorer). High Doppler shifts are found to be related to the ends of filament segments where canceling magnetic fields are also located (as seen on magnetograms from Big Bear Solar Observatory). At these locations, velocities along the line of sight, derived by using a cloud model method reach −20 km s⁻¹, the segments of filaments merge and frequently a time-related sub-flare is observed by TRACE. The chirality of the filament segments has been determined by different methods: the segments of dextral chirality join together and form a long dextral filament, and a single filament of sinistral chirality forms end to end with the dextral filament but does not merge with it. Assuming a model of twisted flux tube for filament material, we suggest that the dextral filament has negative helicity and a relationship between its formation and the close by sunspot with the same sign of helicity.     

Coupling of small-and large-scale filament eruptions

We present observations of the eruption of a large-scale quiescent filament(LF) that is associated with the formation and eruption of a miniature filament(MF). As a result of convergence and subsequent cancelation of opposite-polarity magnetic flux, MF was formed just below the spine of the LF's right segment. Probably triggered by a nearby newly emerging flux, MF underwent a failed eruption immediately after its full development, which first ejected away from the spine of LF and then drained back to the Sun.This eruption no sooner started than the overlying LF's right segment began to rise slowly and the LF's other parts were also disturbed, and eventually the whole LF erupted bodily and quickly. These observations suggest that the MF can serve as an intermediary that links the photospheric small-scale magnetic-field activities to the eruption of the overlying large filament. It appears that, rather than directly interacting with the supporting magnetic field of LF, small-scale flux cancelation and emergence in the LF's channel can manifest themselves as the formation and eruption of MF and so indirectly affect the stability of LF.     

[Ti ii] and [Ni ii] emission from the strontium filament of η Carinae

We study the nature of the [Ti  ii ] and [Ni  ii ] emission from the so-called strontium filament found in the ejecta of η Carinae. To this purpose, we employ multilevel models of the Ti  ii and Ni  ii systems, which are used to investigate the physical condition of the filament and the excitation mechanisms of the observed lines. For the Ti  ii ion, for which no atomic data were previously available, we carry out ab initio calculations of radiative transition rates and electron impact excitation rate coefficients. It is found that the observed spectrum is consistent with the lines being excited in a mostly neutral region with an electron density of the order of 10⁷ cm⁻³ and a temperature around 6000 K. In analysing three observations with different slit orientations recorded between 2000 March and 2001 November, we find line ratios that change among various observations, in a way consistent with changes of up to an order of magnitude in the strength of the continuum radiation field. These changes result from different samplings of the extended filament due to the different slit orientations used for each observation, and yield clues on the spatial extent and optical depth of the filament. The observed emission indicates a large Ti/Ni abundance ratio relative to solar abundances. It is suggested that the observed high Ti/Ni ratio in gas is caused by dust–gas fractionation processes and does not reflect the absolute Ti/Ni ratio in the ejecta of η Carinae. We study the condensation chemistry of Ti, Ni and Fe within the filament and suggest that the observed gas phase overabundance of Ti is likely the result of selective photoevaporation of Ti-bearing grains. Some mechanisms for such a scenario are proposed.     

On the mechanism of formation of loop prominences

A mechanism is suggested for the formation of loop-type prominences in solar-active regions following flare events. The mechanism is based on the already existing idea of compression of a coronal plasma element resulting in enhanced radiation and consequent cooling of the element. A model is suggested for such a compression based on the concept of a contracting, force-free filamentary structure. If the current in a filament increases with time, then there is a radial contraction of the filament. Since the coronal plasma is frozen into the magnetic field lines of the filament, a contraction of the filament causes a compression of the filamentary plasma. This model of compression is shown to be in approximate qualitative and quantitative agreement with observations.     

Automatic Solar Filament Detection Using Image Processing Techniques

We present an automatic solar filament detection algorithm based on image enhancement, segmentation, pattern recognition, and mathematical morphology methods. This algorithm cannot only detect filaments, but can also identify spines, footpoints, and filament disappearances. It consists of five steps: (1) The stabilized inverse diffusion equation (SIDE) is used to enhance and sharpen filament contours. (2) A new method for automatic threshold selection is proposed to extract filaments from local background. (3) The support vector machine (SVM) is used to differentiate between sunspots and filaments. (4) Once a filament is identified, morphological thinning, pruning, and adaptive edge linking methods are used to determine the filament properties. (5) Finally, we propose a filament matching method to detect filament disappearances. We have successfully applied the algorithm to Hα full-disk images obtained at Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO). It has the potential to become the foundation of an automatic solar filament detection system, which will enhance our capabilities of forecasting and predicting geo-effective events and space weather.     

Modelling the Global Solar Corona: III. Origin of the Hemispheric Pattern of Filaments

We consider the physical origin of the hemispheric pattern of filament chirality on the Sun. Our 3D simulations of the coronal field evolution over a period of six months, based on photospheric magnetic measurements, were previously shown to be highly successful at reproducing observed filament chiralities. In this paper we identify and describe the physical mechanisms responsible for this success. The key mechanisms are found to be (1) differential rotation of north – south polarity inversion lines, (2) the shape of bipolar active regions, and (3) evolution of skew over a period of many days. As on the real Sun, the hemispheric pattern in our simulations holds in a statistical sense. Exceptions arise naturally for filaments in certain locations relative to bipolar active regions or from interactions among a number of active regions.     

Stereoscopic Analysis of the 31 August 2007 Prominence Eruption and Coronal Mass Ejection

The spectacular prominence eruption and CME of 31 August 2007 are analyzed stereoscopically using data from NASA??s twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft. The technique of tie pointing and triangulation (T&T) is used to reconstruct the prominence (or filament when seen on the disk) before and during the eruption. For the first time, a filament barb is reconstructed in three-dimensions, confirming that the barb connects the filament spine to the solar surface. The chirality of the filament system is determined from the barb and magnetogram and confirmed by the skew of the loops of the post-eruptive arcade relative to the polarity reversal boundary below. The T&T analysis shows that the filament rotates as it erupts in the direction expected for a filament system of the given chirality. While the prominence begins to rotate in the slow-rise phase, most of the rotation occurs during the fast-rise phase, after formation of the CME begins. The stereoscopic analysis also allows us to analyze the spatial relationships among various features of the eruption including the pre-eruptive filament, the flare ribbons, the erupting prominence, and the cavity of the coronal mass ejection (CME). We find that erupting prominence strands and the CME have different (non-radial) trajectories; we relate the trajectories to the structure of the coronal magnetic fields. The possible cause of the eruption is also discussed.     

UBVRI photometry and polarimetry of the young eclipsing binary EK Cep

Multicolor photometric and polarimetric observations of the eclipsing binary EK Cep at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory in 1995 and 2006–2007 are reported. Polarimetric observations were made of stars in the neighborhood of EK Cep. It is shown that the observed linear polarization of EK Cep is determined by a variable circumstellar constituent, as well as by the interstellar component. Various possible mechanisms for formation of the intrinsic polarization of binary stars are discussed. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 117–126 (February 2009).     

Study of an Extended EUV Filament Using SoHO/SUMER Observations of the Hydrogen Lyman Lines

A?filament and its channel close to the solar disk were observed in the complete hydrogen Lyman spectrum, and in several EUV lines by the SUMER (Solar Ultraviolet Measurement of Emitted Radiation) and CDS (Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer) spectrographs on the SoHO satellite, and in H?? by ground-based telescopes during a multi-instrument campaign in May 2005. It was a good opportunity to get an overview of the volume and the density of the cold plasma in the filament channel; these are essential parameters for coronal mass ejections. We found that the width of the filament depends on the wavelength in which the filament is observed (around 15?arcsec in H??, 30?arcsec in L??, and 60?arcsec in EUV). In L?? the filament is wider than in H?? because cool plasma, not visible in H??, is optically thick at the L?? line center, and its presence blocks the coronal emission. We have derived physical plasma properties of this filament fitting the Lyman spectra and H?? profiles by using a 1D isobaric NLTE model. The vertical temperature profile of the filament slab is flat (T??7000?K) with an increase to ???20?000?K at the top and the bottom of the slab. From an analysis of the L?? and H?? source functions we have concluded that these lines are formed over the whole filament slab. We have estimated the geometrical filling factor in the filament channel. Its low value indicates the presence of multi-threads.     

太阳的磁绳暗条和一个Ⅲb级耀斑

2000年9月14－18日在紫金山天文台赣榆观测站观测到太阳上有一个中小型活动区，黑子面积不大，但有一个奇特的活动区暗条，16日产生了一个Ⅲb级耀斑，有较强的地球物理效应。计算该区的磁结构，结果发现此磁绳状暗条与磁中性线附近低磁弧系相关，磁场在磁绳附近有强剪切，QSL分析显示三维磁重联能够在暗条附近出现，这可解释大耀斑的形成。     

Lopsided galaxies: the case of NGC 891

It has been known for a long time that a large fraction of disc galaxies are lopsided. We simulate three different mechanisms that can induce lopsidedness: flyby interactions, gas accretion from cosmological filaments and ram pressure from the intergalactic medium. Comparing the morphologies, H  i spectrum, kinematics and   m = 1  Fourier components, we find that all of these mechanisms can induce lopsidedness in galaxies, although in different degrees and with observable consequences. The time-scale over which lopsidedness persists suggests that flybys can contribute to ∼20 per cent of lopsided galaxies. We focus our detailed comparison on the case of NGC 891, a lopsided, edge-on galaxy with a nearby companion (UGC 1807). We find that the main properties of NGC 891 (morphology, H  i spectrum, rotation curve, existence of a gaseous filament pointing towards UGC 1807) favour a flyby event for the origin of lopsidedness in this galaxy.     

Formation of the CME Leading Edge Observed in the 2003 February 18 Event

This work investigates a typical coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on 2003 February 18, by various space and ground instruments, in white light, Ha, EUV and X-ray. The Ha and EUV images indicate that the CME started with the eruption of a long filament located near the solar northwest limb. The white light coronal images show that the CME initiated with the rarefaction of a region above the solar limb and followed by the formation of a bright arcade at the boundary of the rarefying region at height 0.46 R(?) above the solar surface. The rarefying process synchronized with the slow rising phase of the eruptive filament, and the CME leading edge was observed to form as the latter started to accelerate. The lower part of the filament brightened in Ha as the filament rose to a certain height and parts of the filament was visible in the GOES X-ray images during the rise. These brightenings imply that the filament may be heated by the magnetic reconnection below the filament in the early stage of the eruption. We suggest that a possible mechanism which leads to the formation of the CME leading edge and cavity is the magnetic reconnection which takes place below the filament after the filament has reached a certain height.     

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.     

Fine-scale structures and material flows of quiescent filaments observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope

Study of the small-scale structures and material flows associated with solar quiescent filaments is very important for understanding the formation and equilibrium of solar filaments.Using high resolution Ha data observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope,we present the structures of barbs and material flows along the threads across the spine in two quiescent filaments on 2013 September 29 and on 2012 November 2,respectively.During the evolution of the filament barb,several parallel tube-shaped structures formed and the width of the structures ranged from about2.3 Mm to 3.3 Mm.The parallel tube-shaped structures merged together accompanied by material flows from the spine to the barb.Moreover,the boundary between the barb and surrounding atmosphere was very neat.The counter-streaming flows were not found to appear alternately in the adjacent threads of the filament.However,the large-scale patchy counter-streaming flows were detected in the filament.The flows in one patch of the filament have the same direction but flows in the adjacent patch have opposite direction.The patches of two opposite flows with a size of about 10" were alternately exhibited along the spine of the filament.The velocity of these material flows ranged from 5.6 km s~(-1) to 15.0 km s~(-1).The material flows along the threads of the filament did not change their direction for about two hours and fourteen minutes during the evolution of the filament.Our results confirm that the large-scale counterstreaming flows with a certain width along the threads of solar filaments exist and are coaligned well with the threads.     

Conditions for the Formation and Maintenance of Filaments – (Invited Review)

Observational conditions for the formation and maintenance of filaments are reviewed since 1989 in the light of recent findings on their structure, chirality, inferred magnetic topology, and mass flows. Recent observations confirm the necessary conditions previously cited: (1) their location at a boundary between opposite-polarity magnetic fields (2) a system of overlying coronal loops, (3) a magnetically-defined channel beneath, (4) the convergence of the opposite-polarity network magnetic fields towards their common boundary within the channel and (5) cancellation of magnetic flux at the common polarity boundary. Evidence is put forth for three additional conditions associated with fully developed filaments: (A) field-aligned mass flows parallel with their fine structure (B) a multi-polar background source of small-scale magnetic fields necessary for the formation of the filament barbs and (C) a handedness property known as chirality which requires them to be either of two types, dextral or sinistral. One-to-one relationships have been established between the chirality of filaments and the chirality of their filament channels and overlying coronal arcades. These findings reinforce earlier evidence that every filament magnetic field is separate from the magnetic field of the overlying arcade but both are parts of a larger magnetic field system. The larger system has at least quadrupolar footprints in the photosphere and includes the filament channel and subphotospheric magnetic fields, This ‘systems’ view of filaments and their environment enables new perspectives on why arcades and channels are invariable conditions for their existence. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005026814076