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…     

晕状日冕物质抛射

主要介绍晕状日冕物质抛射（halo CMEs)的产生机制，包括向量磁场演化是怎样触发halo CMEa的：halo CME与耀斑，暗条活动的相互关系怎样，是否有规律可循，暗条爆发，耀斑等活动现象是如何相互联系的，halo CME事件是由一个活动区域或一个活动事件驱动物，还是多个活动区或多个活动事件相互作用的结果，给出两个halo CME的日面起源的观测例证，提出相反极笥的磁场对消是CME日面源区磁场演化的主要特征。     

Hα Dimming Associated With the Eruption of a Coronal Sigmoid in the Quiet Sun

We report on the occurrence of Hα dimming associated with a sigmoid eruption in a quiet-sun region on 14 August 2001. The coronal sigmoid in soft X-ray images from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope was located over an Hα filament channel. Its eruption was accompanied by a flare of GOES X-ray class C2.3 and possibly associated with a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) observed with the Large Angle and Spectroscopic Coronagraphs (LASCO) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). During the eruption, coronal bipolar double dimming took place at the regions with opposite magnetic polarities around the two sigmoid ends, but the underlying chromospheric channel did not show observable changes corresponding to the coronal eruption. Different from the erupting coronal sigmoid itself, however, the coronal dimming had a detectable chromosphere counterpart, i.e., Hα dimming. By regarding the sigmoid as a coronal sign for a flux rope, these observations are explained in the framework of the flux rope model of CMEs. The flux rope is possibly deeply rooted in the chromosphere, and the coronal and Hα dimming regions mark its evacuated feet, through which the material is possibly fed to the halo CME.     

On Flare-CME Characteristics from Sun to Earth Combining Remote-Sensing Image Data with <Emphasis Type="Italic">In Situ</Emphasis> Measurements Supported by Modeling

We analyze the well-observed flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) from 1 October 2011 (SOL2011-10-01T09:18) covering the complete chain of effects – from Sun to Earth – to better understand the dynamic evolution of the CME and its embedded magnetic field. We study in detail the solar surface and atmosphere associated with the flare and CME using the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and ground-based instruments. We also track the CME signature off-limb with combined extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and white-light data from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO). By applying the graduated cylindrical shell (GCS) reconstruction method and total mass to stereoscopic STEREO-SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) coronagraph data, we track the temporal and spatial evolution of the CME in the interplanetary space and derive its geometry and 3D mass. We combine the GCS and Lundquist model results to derive the axial flux and helicity of the magnetic cloud (MC) from in situ measurements from Wind. This is compared to nonlinear force-free (NLFF) model results, as well as to the reconnected magnetic flux derived from the flare ribbons (flare reconnection flux) and the magnetic flux encompassed by the associated dimming (dimming flux). We find that magnetic reconnection processes were already ongoing before the start of the impulsive flare phase, adding magnetic flux to the flux rope before its final eruption. The dimming flux increases by more than 25% after the end of the flare, indicating that magnetic flux is still added to the flux rope after eruption. Hence, the derived flare reconnection flux is most probably a lower limit for estimating the magnetic flux within the flux rope. We find that the magnetic helicity and axial magnetic flux are lower in the interplanetary space by ～?50% and 75%, respectively, possibly indicating an erosion process. A CME mass increase of 10% is observed over a range of \({\sim}\,4\,\mbox{--}\,20~\mathrm{R}_{\odot }\). The temporal evolution of the CME-associated core-dimming regions supports the scenario that fast outflows might supply additional mass to the rear part of the CME.     

Magnetic source regions of coronal mass ejections

The majority of flare activity arises in active regions which contain sunspots, while Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) activity can also originate from decaying active regions and even so-called quiet solar regions which contain a filament. Two classes of CME, namely flare-related CME events and CMEs associated with filament eruption are well reflected in the evolution of active regions. The presence of significant magnetic stresses in the source region is a necessary condition for CME. In young active regions magnetic stresses are increased mainly by twisted magnetic flux emergence and the resulting magnetic footpoint motions. In old, decayed active regions twist can be redistributed through cancellation events. All the CMEs are, nevertheless, caused by loss of equilibrium of the magnetic structure. With observational examples we show that the association of CME, flare and filament eruption depends on the characteristics of the source regions:

?the strength of the magnetic field, the amount of possible free energy storage,

?the small- and large-scale magnetic topology of the source region as well as its evolution (new flux emergence, photospheric motions, cancelling flux), and

?the mass loading of the configuration (effect of gravity). These examples are discussed in the framework of theoretical models.

     

Magnetic Flux Changes and Cancellation Associated with X-Class and M-Class Flares

We perform a statistical study of permanent changes in longitudinal fields associated with solar flares by tracking magnetic features. The YAFTA feature tracking algorithm is applied to GONG++ 1-minute magnetograms for 77 X-class and M-class flares to analyze the evolution and interaction of the magnetic features and to estimate the amount of canceled magnetic flux. We find that significantly more magnetic flux decreases than increases occurred during the flares, consistent with a model of collapsing loop structure for flares. Correlations between both total (unsigned) and net (signed) flux changes and the GOES peak X-ray flux are dominated by X-class flares at limb locations. The flux changes were accompanied in most cases by significant cancellation, most of which occurred during the flares. We find that the field strength and complexity near the polarity inversion line are approximately equally important in the flux cancellation processes that accompany the flares. We do not find a correlation between the flux cancellation events and the stepwise changes in the magnetic flux in the region.     

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.     

A Major Geoeffective CME from NOAA 12371: Initiation,CME–CME Interactions,and Interplanetary Consequences

In this article, we present a multi-wavelength and multi-instrument investigation of a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) from active region NOAA 12371 on 21 June 2015 that led to a major geomagnetic storm of minimum \(\mathrm{Dst} = -204\) nT. The observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory in the hot EUV channel of 94 Å confirm the CME to be associated with a coronal sigmoid that displayed an intense emission (\(T \sim6\) MK) from its core before the onset of the eruption. Multi-wavelength observations of the source active region suggest tether-cutting reconnection to be the primary triggering mechanism of the flux rope eruption. Interestingly, the flux rope eruption exhibited a two-phase evolution during which the “standard” large-scale flare reconnection process originated two composite M-class flares. The eruption of the flux rope is followed by the coronagraphic observation of a fast, halo CME with linear projected speed of 1366 km?s^?1. The dynamic radio spectrum in the decameter-hectometer frequency range reveals multiple continuum-like enhancements in type II radio emission which imply the interaction of the CME with other preceding slow speed CMEs in the corona within \(\approx10\)?–?\(90~\mbox{R} _{\odot}\). The scenario of CME–CME interaction in the corona and interplanetary medium is further confirmed by the height–time plots of the CMEs occurring during 19?–?21 June. In situ measurements of solar wind magnetic field and plasma parameters at 1 AU exhibit two distinct magnetic clouds, separated by a magnetic hole. Synthesis of near-Sun observations, interplanetary radio emissions, and in situ measurements at 1 AU reveal complex processes of CME–CME interactions right from the source active region to the corona and interplanetary medium that have played a crucial role towards the large enhancement of the geoeffectiveness of the halo CME on 21 June 2015.     

Filament Kinking and Its Implications for Eruption and Re-formation

Solar filaments exhibit a range of eruptive-like dynamic activity from the full, or partial, eruption of the filament mass and surrounding magnetic structure, as a CME, to a fully confined dynamic evolution or “failed” eruption, sometimes producing a flare but no CME. Additionally, observations of erupting filaments often show a clear helical structure, indicating the presence of a magnetic flux rope. Dynamic helical structures, in addition to being twisted, frequently show evidence of being kinked, with the axis of the flux rope exhibiting a large-scale writhe. Motivated by the fact that kinking motions are also detected in filaments that fail to erupt, we investigate the possible relationship between the kinking of a filament and its success or failure to erupt. We present an analysis of kinking in filaments and its implications for other filament phenomena such as the nature of the eruption, eruptive acceleration, and post-eruptive re-formation. We elucidate the relationship between kinking and the various filament phenomena via a simple physical picture of the forces involved in kinking together with specific definitions of the types of filament eruption. The present study offers results directly applicable to observations, allowing a thorough exploration of the implications of the observational relationship between kinking and filament phenomena and provides new insight for modelers of CME initiation.     

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.     

Physical Characteristics of Umbral Dots Derived from a High-Resolution Observations

Solar Physics - We study the features of the magnetic field variations within the 2011 June 7 eruptive event that includes a large filament eruption, a flare, and a CME formation. The magnetic...     

Quadrupolar Dimmings During a Partial Halo Coronal Mass Ejection Event

We present detailed observations of the formations of four distinct coronal dimmings during a flare of 17 September 2002, which was followed by an eruption of a huge coronal loop system, and then an over-and-out partial halo coronal mass ejection (CME), with the same direction as the loop system eruption but laterally far offset from the flare site. Among the four dimmings, two compact ones were symmetrically located in the opposite polarity regions immediately adjacent to the highly sheared magnetic polarity inversion line in the flare region, and hence were probably composed of bipolar double dimmings due to a flux-rope eruption and represented its evacuated footpoints. However, another nearby compact dimming and a remote diffuse one were formed in the opposite polarity footpoint regions of the eruptive loop system, and thus probably consisted of a pair of dimmings magnetically linked by the erupting loop system and also indicated its evacuated footpoints. The loop system might have played a role in guiding the erupting flare field and producing the over-and-out CME, but its eruption might simply have been pushed out by the erupting flare field, because there was no reconnection signature between them. From comparison with a derived potential-field source-surface (PFSS) magnetic configuration, our observations consistently suggest that the dimmings were formed in pairs and originated from the eruptions of the two different magnetic systems. We thus define them as “quadrupolar dimmings.”     

The Asymmetrical Eruption of a Quiescent Filament and Associated Halo CME

We will present detailed observations of the asymmetrical eruption of a large quiescent filament on 24 November 2002, which was followed by a two-ribbon flare, three coronal dimmings, endpoint brightenings, and a very fast halo-type coronal mass ejection (CME). Before the eruption, the filament lay along the main neutral line (MNL) underneath a single-arcade helmet streamer with a simple bipolar configuration. However, photospheric magnetic fields on both sides of the filament showed an asymmetrical distribution, and the filament and MNL were not located just at the center of the streamer base but were closer to the eastern leg of the streamer arcade. Therefore, instead of erupting along the streamer’s symmetrical axis, the filament showed a nonradial and asymmetrical eruption. It lifted from the eastern flank of the streamer arcade to impact the western leg directly, leading to an asymmetrical CME that expanded westward; eventually the streamer was disrupted significantly. Accordingly, the opposite-polarity coronal dimmings at both sides of the filament forming in the eruption also showed an asymmetrical area distribution. We thus assume that the streamer arcade could guide the filament at the early eruption phase but failed to restrain it later. Consistent with previous results, these observations suggest that the global background magnetic field can impose additional action on the initial eruption of the filament and CME, as well as the dimming configuration.     

The coronal mass ejection associated with the loop eruption and coronal dimmings on 2009 December 13

By using the multi-wavelength observations from the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO), the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) and the HINODE, we study a coronal mass ejection (CME) and associated coronal dimming occurred on 2009 December 13, as a consequence of the expansion and eruption of EUV loops. The activities were probably triggered by the new flux emergence and the convergence motions, which were evident in the magnetograms from Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on the SOHO. The emergence led to the destabilization and eruption of the preexistent flux rope, which was highly-sheared over the polarity inversion line. Driven by the ejection of the flux rope, the overlying loops initially slowly rose and then erupted. As a result, two coronal dimming regions formed at the footprints of the loops and a B1.9 flare, about half an hour later, occurred in the eruptive region near one foot of the eruptive loops. The CME had a very close temporal and spatial relationship to the expanding loops, and it is very likely that the CME directly developed from the eruptive loops. The CME mass calculated from the EUV dimming was of the same order of the typical CME mass, suggesting that the dimming region supplied major of the mass for the CME. The kinematic evolution of the CME was basically consistent with the three-phases scenario: the initiation phase, impulsive acceleration phase, and propagation phase. The onset of the CME could be well explained by the emerging flux trigger mechanism.     

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     

灾变理论在太阳物理和天体物理其他研究领域中的应用

叙述和介绍了太阳爆发的磁通量绳灾变理论和模型的发展过程,强调了建立这样的模型所需要的观测基础。讨论了由模型所预言的爆发磁结构的几个重要特征以及观测结果对这种预言的证实。在此模型的基础上,讨论了一个典型的爆发过程中所出现的不同现象及它们之间的相互关系。最后,介绍了作者的一项最新尝试:将太阳爆发的灾变理论和模型应用到对黑洞吸积盘间歇性喷流的理论研究当中,以及研究所取得的初步结果。     

Lasco and eit Observations of the Bastille day 2000 Solar Storm

The period of 10–14 July 2000 saw a large number of energetic solar events ending with a very energetic flare that was associated with a large solar energetic particle event and a fast halo coronal mass ejection (CME) that produced the largest geomagnetic disturbance since 1989. This paper tries to summarize the complex coronal activity observed during this period, in order to establish a background for a number of papers in this topical issue. The GOES X-ray data are presented. Data animations of observations from EIT and LASCO C2 and C3 are presented on the accompanying CD-ROM. The observations around the time of the three X-class flares are considered. EIT observations of the Bastille Day flare show coronal brightening followed by dimming. LASCO had good data coverage for all three events. For one of the flares, no coronal response was seen. The other two flares are associated with halo CMEs. The timing suggests that the start of the flares and CMEs are simultaneous to approximately 30 min. Analysis of the LASCO and EIT images following the Bastille Day flare show the arrival of energetic particles at SOHO at approximately 10:41 UT on 14 July. Individual features of these CMEs have been tracked and the height–time plots used to estimate the dynamics of the CMEs. The initial speed and deceleration of the halo CMEs estimated from the fitting of height–time plots are compared with the in-situ observations at L1. The three flares are identified as the solar sources of three shocks observed at 1 AU. Finally, it is stressed that global heliospheric effects during periods of exceptional activity should consider a cumulative scenario rather than events in isolation.     

Observations of CME-related phenomena in a wide spectral range

We study pre-eruptive, eruptive, and post-eruptive phenomena related to a CME that occurred on November 23, 2000 by means of joint analyses of data from various spectral ranges. Almost all known CME-associated phenomena were observed during this event, i.e., a filament eruption, solar flare, dimmings, and a post-eruptive arcade formation. Following a chain of events observed in various spectral ranges, we find that the event occurred in an activity complex consisting of active regions 9231 and 9238, and that it was triggered by a magnetic flux emergence, which caused a flare in AR 9231. In turn, the flare triggered activation and eruption of the filament followed by the CME and the flare in AR 9238 in which the post-eruptive arcade was observed. We discuss some characteristics of the flare and CME and also estimate the magnetic field strength in the coronal arcade to be about 200 G from spatially resolved polarization measurements in microwaves with radio telescopes. In this particular case, the only significant emission mechanism is optically thin free-free emission, and the possible contribution of nonthermal emissions cannot change our estimate of the magnetic field strength in the corona. However, generally one should make sure that the nonthermal contribution cannot be important in similar cases; otherwise, the magnetic field can be well overestimated. Here, we specifically address the identification technique of the radio emission mechanism.     

Extremely energetic 4B/X17.2 flare and associated phenomena

We observed 4B/X17.2 flare in Hα from super-active region NOAA 10486 at ARIES, Nainital. This is one of the largest flares of current solar cycle 23, which occurred near the Sun’s center and produced extremely energetic emission almost at all wavelengths from γ-ray to radio-waves. The flare is associated with a bright/fast full-halo earth directed CME, strong type II, type III and type IV radio bursts, an intense proton event and GLE. This flare is well observed by SOHO, RHESSI and TRACE. Our Hα observations show the stretching/de-twisting and eruption of helically twisted S shaped (sigmoid) filament in the south-west direction of the active region with bright shock front followed by rapid increase in intensity and area of the gigantic flare. The flare shows almost similar evolution in Hα, EUV and UV. We measure the speed of Hα ribbon separation and the mean value is ∼ 70 km s^-1. This is used together with photospheric magnetic field to infer a magnetic reconnection rate at three HXR sources at the flare maximum. In this paper, we also discuss the energetics of active region filament, flare and associated CME.     

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.