Variations of the Photospheric Magnetic Field Following the Eruptive Event on June 7, 2011

Field variations in the region of the eruptive event on June 7, 2011 are studied based on vector measurements of the photospheric magnetic field by the SDO/HMI instrument. Variations of the modulus (B), the radial (B_r) and the transverse (B_t) components of the magnetic induction, and the inclination angle (α) of the field lines to the radial direction from the center of the Sun are analyzed. It is found that, in the part of the flare region near the polarity inversion line (PIL) after the onset of the flare, the magnitude and the transverse component of the magnetic induction as well as the angles α abruptly increase. During the slow rise of filament near its channel, the inclination angles of the field lines decrease. It is shown that diverging flare ribbons are above the regions of the photosphere with local maxima of the field modulus and with deep minima of the inclination angles of the field lines at all stages of their existence over their entire length with the exception of small areas. It is established that the azimuth decreases after the onset of the flare near the PIL of the photospheric magnetic field, which means an increase in the shear. On the contrary, at a distance from the PIL there is a slight decrease in the shear.

     

Some Features of the Variation of the Magnetic Field Characteristics in the Umbra of Sunspots During Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections

The observed variations of the magnetic properties of sunspots during eruptive events (solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs)) are discussed. Variations of the magnetic field characteristics in the umbra of the sunspots of active regions (ARs) recorded during eruptive events on August 2, 2011, March 9, 2012, April 11, 2013, January 7, 2014, and June 18, 2015, are studied. The behavior of the maximum of the total field strength B_max, the minimum inclination angle of the field lines to the radial direction from the center of the Sun α_min (i.e., the inclination angle of the axis of the magnetic tube from the sunspot umbra), and values of these parameters B_mean and α_mean mean within the umbra are analyzed. The main results of our investigation are discussed by the example of the event on August 2, 2011, but, in general, the observed features of the variation of magnetic field properties in AR sunspots are similar for all of the considered eruptive events. It is shown that, after the flare onset in six AR sunspots on August 2, 2011, the behavior of the specified magnetic field parameters changes in comparison with that observed before the flare onset.     

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.     

Microwave radiation of solar active regions before X flares according to the RATAN-600 observations in 2011

The evolution of the microwave radiation from four active regions, where strong X-ray flares (X-class, GOES) occurred in 2011, has been studied. Daily multiwavelength RATAN-600 radio observations of the Sun in the 1.6–8.0 cm range have been used. It has been indicated that the radiosource above the photospheric magnetic field neutral line (above the region with the maximal convergence of the fields opposite in sign) becomes predominant in the structure of the active region microwave radiation one to two days before a powerful flare as in the eruptive events previously studied with RATAN-600. The appearance of such a radiosource possibly reflects the current sheet formation in the corona above the active region. The energy necessary for a flare is stored in the magnetic field of active region, which can be considered as a factor for predicting a powerful flare.     

The Atypical Sunquake of May 10, 2012, and Specifics of Nonstationary Processes in the Active Region with a Magnetic Field of Composite Topology

The M flare that arises after magnetic field emersion in a small spot is analyzed. The disturbance, which propagated downwards and generated a source of acoustic waves (sunquake), was simultaneous with an outburst of hard X-radiation. The reasons of such sunquakes are discussed. Rearrangement of the magnetic configuration in the analyzed event is confirmed: field lines and strong currents at low altitudes above the polarity boundary line are transformed into the currents along the system of loops oriented at wide angles to the neutral line. This rearrangement occurred in the proximity of a small region (sigmoid) presumably identified by the location of the primary pulse energy release. In this case, there was no development of a high-energy sigmoid flare with the formation and ejection of large-scale magnetized ropes. Apparently, this was hindered by the nonstationarity of the phenomena at this activity center with a magnetic field of composite topology and multiple flare-generating centers.     

2001年4月2日太阳耀斑及其太阳质子事件的观测结果研究

2001年4月2日, 太阳爆发了一个近年来X射线通量最大的一次耀斑并伴有质子事件, 利用“资源一号”卫星星内粒子探测器和神舟二号飞船X射线探测器的观测资料, 对这一事件的高能粒子响应进行了特例研究. “资源一号”卫星运行于太阳同步轨道, 高度约800km, 和宁静时期的统计结果对比, 这次耀斑后, 星内粒子探测器在地球极盖区（地球开磁场区）观测到耀斑粒子的出现, 这是宁静时期没有的; 神舟二号飞船轨道高度400km, 倾角为42°, X射线探测器在42°中高纬地区也观测到高能电子通量比宁静时明显的增加, 这表明, 太阳耀斑引起的近地空间辐射环境的变化遍及纬度约40°以上的区域, 甚至在40°N附近400 km左右的高度上仍然有响应. 但是, 中高纬度、极光带和极盖区的粒子来源, 加速机制和响应方式却不一定相同, 需要分别讨论. 资料分析和对比还表明, 质子事件的强度并不一定和耀斑的X射线通量成正比, 因此, 近地空间高能粒子对耀斑的响应也不是完全决定于X射线强度.     

Obtaining of information about the IMF evolution from an analysis of the geomagnetic field data

A comparison of the time variations in the geomagnetic field characteristics (the u and aa indices of geomagnetic activity) with the variation in the solar magnetic dipole inclination shows close agreement between these variations. The linear correlation coefficients between the u and aa indices, the u index and solar magnetic dipole inclination, and the aa index and solar magnetic dipole inclination are 0.93, 0.45, and 0.49, respectively. This makes it possible to extend studying the IMF evolution in the 11-year cycle of solar activity to the 170-year period beginning from 1835. It has been indicated that the time variation in the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) surface deviation from the solar magnetic equator plane, calculated based on the actual HCS configuration, is in good agreement with the time variation in the amplitude of the Fourier series second harmonics in a harmonic analysis of the series of daily data on the IMF sign in the vicinity of the Earth. The linear correlation coefficient is 0.9 in this case.     

Structure and development of the spotless flare on March 16, 1981

The morphological peculiarities of the 1N (N09W22) two-ribbon spotless flare on March 16, 1981, as well as its connection with a magnetic field, have been considered. In contrast to major flares of the active region, this spotless flare is characterized by a large-scale development process, a large distance from the magnetic neutral line, and the absence of the spread of the ribbons. The development of the flare had four periods. At the beginning of each period, a sharp increase in the brightness of the flare was observed along with a simultaneous decrease in the area of the flare ribbons. The areas of the ribbons varied synchronously during all of the periods. However, the situation changed abruptly near the maximum: the area of one of the ribbons increased, whereas the area of the other ribbon decreased. In our opinion, this behavior is a manifestation of real physical processes in the flare source and was a precursor of the beginning of the flare decay. The magnetic field and its topology, as well as the cellular structure of the chromosphere, were primarily responsible for the evolution of the flare. Almost all of the mottles and bright parts of the flare were localized in the immediate vicinity of magnetic hills with field intensities from 80 to 250 G. The main structural elements of the flare have been identified. A phenomenon called the tunnel effect has been revealed: the flare progresses inside a tunnel formed by the system of dark arch structures (filaments). The results indicate that spotless flares apparently constitute a specific class of flare phenomena and the study of them is of great interest for understanding of the origin of solar flares.     

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.     

Magnetic field dynamics based on SOHO/MDI data in the region of flares related to halo coronal mass ejections

Variations in the photospheric magnetic field in the region of solar flares, related to halo coronal mass ejections (HCMEs) with velocities V > 1500, 1000 < V < 1500, and V < 650 km/s, have been studied based on SOHO/MDI data. Using data with a time resolution of 96 min, it has been indicated that on average the ??B _L?? and ??|B _L|?? field characteristics increase nonmonotonically during 1?C1.5 days before a flare and decrease during 0.5?C1 days after a flare for groups of ejections with V > 1000 km/s for all considered HCME groups. Angle brackets designate averaging of the measured B _L magnetic field component and its magnitude |B _L| within an area with specified dimensions and the center coincident with the projection onto the region where the flare center field is measured. It has been established that a solar flare related to an HCME originates when the ??B _L?? and ??|B _L|?? values are larger than the boundary values in the flare region. Based on 1-min data, it has been found for several HCMEs with V > 1500 km/s that the beginning of powerful flares related to ejections is accompanied by rapid impulsive or stepped variations in ??B _L?? and ??|B _L|?? near the center of a flare with a size of approximately 4.5°. It has been established that the HCME velocity positively correlates with the |??B _L??| value at the flare onset.     

Magnetic variation generated by a tangential magnetic dipole located in the Earth's core

Summary The harmonically variable magnetic field, generated by a tangential magnetic dipole (TMD), located eccentrically at the surface of the Earth's core, is investigated for various periods of time variations and for a three-layer conductivity model of the Earth. Numerical computations have shown that the field is inductively damped for variation periods of less than 500 years as compared to the field of a static TMD. It is proved that the field appropriate to the TMD, has a more complicated distribution of the Earth's surface than the field of a radial magnetic dipole. Comparison with maps of the non-dipole part of the geomagnetic field shows that the TMD is not as suitable for interpreting the observed non-dipole field and its variations as the eccentric radial magnetic dipole.     

地震前后岩石圈磁场变化特征分析

本文以九江—瑞昌M_s5.7级地震和汶川M_s8.0级地震为研究对象,根据两个震区地震后观测所得地磁场三分量数据和“2005.0中国地磁图”项目所积累的地磁场三分量数据,建立了两个震区的岩石圈磁场模型.通过对比分析两个震区岩石圈磁场总强度、磁偏角、磁倾角三个独立分量地震前后的时空变化特征,初步探讨地震与岩石圈磁场变化关系,寻找有效震磁变化信息.结果表明：（1）两次震中均位于岩石圈磁场的磁偏角和磁倾角零值线附近;（2）震后震中百公里范围内岩石圈磁场分量均出现了不同程度的异常变化;（3）震中附近岩石圈磁场出现了明显的与地震相关的变化,该变化在两个震区表现出相近的规律性.     

Geomagnetic variations for the interval 7000–25,000 yr B.P. as recorded in a core of sediment from station 1474 of the Black Sea cruise of “Atlantis II”

Palaeomagnetic measurements have been carried out on 474 specimens taken at about 2.5-cm intervals along an 11 m long piston core.The magnetic inclination exhibits variations with a period of approximately 2800 yr deduced from five radiocarbon age determinations along the core. The assumption that this period was regular allows “magnetic” ages to be assigned to the core and when these are plotted against depth, two straight lines are obtained indicative of steady rates of deposition of 0.4 mm yr^?1 since about 15,000 yr B.P. and 0.8 mm yr^?1 before then. The radiocarbon ages, except that at 16,800 yr, fit these lines suggesting that the assumption that the magnetic inclination fluctuated with regular period is justified. These swings correlate well, but on a two to one basis, with swings in inclination described for core V10-58 from the Aegean Sea (N.D. Opdyke, D. Ninkovich, W. Lowrie and J.D. Hays, 1972). The extra detail carried by the Black Sea core is possibly explained by the faster rate of deposition.The close correspondence of the periodity of these inclination swings with that observed in declination at Lake Windermere (F.H. Mackereth, 1971) is noted and the possibility that they are both caused by oscillations in intensity of the same geomagnetically active region in the core is discussed.The ratio of NRM intensity to susceptibility varies between about 0.4 and 25 within the banded lutites. This range of values may reflect different magnetic mineralogy in the two types of band, of which there are typically 3–7 per specimen, as well as variations in geomagnetic field intensity.     

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.     

The magnetic topology of a sigmoid

Recent surveys of solar features have linked the “sigmoid-to-arcade” scenario observed in the soft X-ray corona to coronal mass ejection (CME) onset (Geophys. Res. Lett. 26 (1999) 627, Geophys. Res. Lett. 14 (1998) 2481). Further to these observations, incorporation of extreme-ultraviolet, white light and H-alpha data into such a survey (Geophys. Res. Lett. 27 (2000) 2161) has illustrated the need for a quantitative definition of the term “sigmoid” and further understanding of such features if they are to be used as a means by which to predict CME onset. We analyse two sample active regions in detail, each appearing both sigmoidal and eruptive in Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope (SXT) full-disk data. Both regions were observed during October 1997 and each produced a flare displaying eruptive characteristics. In each case, formation of a flare-arcade was observed by both SXT and the extreme ultraviolet imaging telescope (EIT) following the event. EUV dimming and coronal EIT waves were also observed in each case. We have studied each active region both before and after eruption using soft X-ray, EUV and H-alpha data. A linear force-free field extrapolation has also been applied as a means by which to determine the active region field deviation from potential in each case. Each active region was observed to erupt by means of a different mechanism and while both events show signatures of eruption and consequently, mass ejection, only one produced a CME large enough to be observed by the SoHO large angle spectroscopic coronagraph. The implications of these observations in terms of CME prediction are discussed.     

太阳活动区磁场与CMEs和太阳质子事件

文中选了５ 个典型活动区, 分析了这些活动区的磁场, 与活动区相应的ＣＭＥｓ, 太阳爆发事件和太阳质子事件我们发现, 对于Ｅ ≥１０ｍｅＶ 的太阳质子事件有相应的源活动区, 源耀斑和ＣＭＥ; 活动区矢量磁场有剪切, 磁场剪切越强质子事件越强; 多数在质子耀斑发生前出现磁流浮现; 太阳１０ｃｍ 射电爆发持续时间长文中结果还佐证了Ｓｈｅａｌｙ 等的结果： Ｘ 射线耀斑的长持续时间与ＣＭＥ 的发生正相关另外,在５ 个活动区中, 有三个大耀斑发生前没有明显的磁剪切作为它们的先兆, 它们是非质子源耀斑这是Ｍｏｏｒｅ, Ｈａｇｙａｒｄ 和Ｄａｖｉｓ 的磁场强剪切是耀斑产生的必要条件的反例     

Solar flare model: Comparison of the results of numerical simulations and observations

The electrodynamic flare model is based on numerical 3D simulations with the real magnetic field of an active region. An energy of ∼10³² erg necessary for a solar flare is shown to accumulate in the magnetic field of a coronal current sheet. The thermal X-ray source in the corona results from plasma heating in the current sheet upon reconnection. The hard X-ray sources are located on the solar surface at the loop foot-points. They are produced by the precipitation of electron beams accelerated in field-aligned currents. Solar cosmic rays appear upon acceleration in the electric field along a singular magnetic X-type line. The generation mechanism of the delayed cosmic-ray component is also discussed.     

Extremely strong geomagnetic storm of September 2–3, 1859, according to the archived data of observations at the Russian network

A retrospective analysis of the Russian magnetic observations of the Carrington event that occurred on September 2–3, 1859, has been performed. The conclusion has been made that this event was caused by the series of three recurrent eruptive solar flares during ～40 h. The characteristics of the geomagnetic crochet, related to a considerable flux of the ionizing electromagnetic radiation during this flare, have been studied. The value and direction of a magnetic field disturbance, registered during the maximum of the geomagnetic storm of September 2, unambiguously indicate that all Russian stations were in the auroral oval zone, which was strongly expanded southward from its average position. The disturbance dependence on the station longitude—the absence of magnetometer pinning in Nerchinsk—is interpreted as the possible manifestation of a strong asymmetry in the effective contour of the current system, which was connected to the heliosphere and covered the disturbed magnetosphere and ionosphere during the short period that lasted only 1–3 h.