Segmentation of Loops from Coronal EUV Images |
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Authors: | B Inhester L Feng T Wiegelmann |
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Institution: | (1) Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung, Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany;(2) Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, China |
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Abstract: | We present a procedure to extract bright loop features from solar EUV images. In terms of image intensities, these features
are elongated ridge-like intensity maxima. To discriminate the maxima, we need information about the spatial derivatives of
the image intensity. Commonly, the derivative estimates are strongly affected by image noise. We therefore use a regularized
estimation of the derivative, which is then used to interpolate a discrete vector field of ridge points; these “ridgels” are
positioned on the ridge center and have the intrinsic orientation of the local ridge direction. A scheme is proposed to connect
ridgels to smooth, spline-represented curves that fit the observed loops. Finally, a half-automated user interface allows
one to merge or split curves or eliminate or select loop fits obtained from this procedure. In this paper we apply our tool
to one of the first EUV images observed by the SECCHI instrument onboard the recently launched STEREO spacecraft. We compare
the extracted loops with projected field lines computed from near-simultaneous magnetograms measured by the SOHO/MDI Doppler
imager. The field lines were calculated by using a linear force-free field model. This comparison allows one to verify faint
and spurious loop connections produced by our segmentation tool and it also helps to prove the quality of the magnetic-field
model where well-identified loop structures comply with field-line projections. We also discuss further potential applications
of our tool such as loop oscillations and stereoscopy. |
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Keywords: | EUV images Coronal magnetic fields Image processing |
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