Stability of prominences exposing helical-like patterns

The internal structure of prominences appearing as twisted tubes was studied. The sample embraced 15 stable and 13 eruptive prominences, exposing patterns which possibly reflect a helical configuration. The equivalent pitch angles () of twisted fine structure features were measured. In some cases the evolution of the internal structure was followed and 49 independent measurements of the parameter were performed in total. The results are presented in the plane relating the parameter and the normalized prominence height. The eruptive prominences occupy the region characterized by > 50° and h > 0.8d, where h and d are the prominence height and the footpoint half-separation, respectively. All prominences characterized by h < 0.6d or by < 35° were stable. Such a result is in good agreement with an order of magnitude treatment of the forces acting in a curved magnetic tube, anchored at both ends in the photosphere.