No Arabic abstract
Multi-wavelength observations of prominence eruptions provide an opportunity to uncover the physical mechanism of the triggering and the evolution process of the eruption. In this paper, we investigated an erupting prominence on October 14, 2012, recorded in H{alpha}, EUV, and X-ray wavelengths. The process of the eruption gives evidences on the existence of a helical magnetic structure and showing the twist being converting to writhe. The estimated twist is ~6{pi} (3 turns), exceeding the threshold of the kink instability. The rising plasma then reached a high speed, estimated at 228 km s-1, followed by a sudden rapid acceleration at 2715 m s-2, and synchronous with a solar are. Co-spatial cusp shaped structures were observed in both AIA 131{AA} and 94{AA} images, signifying the location of the magnetic reconnection. The erupted flux rope finally undergone a deceleration with a maximum value of 391 m s-2, which is even larger than the free-fall acceleration on the Sun (273 m s-2) , suggesting that the eruption finally failed, possibly due to an inward magnetic tension force.
To investigate the factors that control the success and/or failure of solar eruptions, we study the magnetic field and 3-Dimensional (3D) configuration of 16 filament eruptions during 2010 July - 2013 February. All these events, i.e., erupted but failed to be ejected to become a coronal mass ejection (CME), are failed eruptions with the filament maximum height exceeding $100 Mm$. The magnetic field of filament source regions is approximated by a potential field extrapolation method. The filament 3D configuration is reconstructed from three vantage points by the observations of STEREO Ahead/Behind and SDO spacecraft. We calculate the decay index at the apex of these failed filaments and find that in 7 cases, their apex decay indexes exceed the theoretical threshold ($n_{crit} = 1.5$) of the torus instability. We further determine the orientation change or rotation angle of each filament top during the eruption. Finally, the distribution of these events in the parameter space of rotation angle versus decay index is established. Four distinct regimes in the parameter space are empirically identified. We find that, all the torus-unstable cases (decay index $n > 1.5$), have a large rotation angles ranging from $50^circ - 130^circ$. The possible mechanisms leading to the rotation and failed eruption are discussed. These results imply that, besides the torus instability, the rotation motion during the eruption may also play a significant role in solar eruptions.
Context. Prominence eruptions provide key observations to understand the launch of coronal mass ejections as their cold plasma traces a part of the unstable magnetic configuration. Aims. We select a well observed case to derive observational constraints for eruption models. Methods. We analyze the prominence eruption and loop expansion and contraction observed on 02 March 2015 associated with a GOES M3.7 class flare (SOL2015-03-02T15:27) using the data from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). We study the prominence eruption and the evolution of loops using the time-distance techniques. Results. The source region is a decaying bipolar active region where magnetic flux cancellation is present for several days before the eruption. AIA observations locate the erupting prominence within a flux rope viewed along its local axis direction. We identify and quantify the motion of loops in contraction and expansion located on the side of the erupting flux rope. Finally, RHESSI hard X-ray observations identify the loop top and two foot-point sources. Conclusions. Both AIA and RHESSI observations support the standard model of eruptive flares. The contraction occurs 19 minutes after the start of the prominence eruption indicating that this contraction is not associated with the eruption driver. Rather, this prominence eruption is compatible with an unstable flux rope where the contraction and expansion of the lateral loop is the consequence of a side vortex developing after the flux rope is launched.
Observations of the early rise and propagation phases of solar eruptive prominences can provide clues about the forces acting on them through the behavior of their acceleration with height. We have analyzed such an event, observed on 13 April 2010 by SWAP on PROBA2 and EUVI on STEREO. A feature at the top of the erupting prominence was identified and tracked in images from the three spacecraft. The triangulation technique was used to derive the true direction of propagation of this feature. The reconstructed points were fitted with two mathematical models: i) a power-law polynomial function and ii) a cubic smoothing spline, in order to derive the accelerations. The first model is characterized by five degrees of freedom while the second one is characterized by ten degrees of freedom. The results show that the acceleration increases smoothly and it is continuously increasing with height. We conclude that the prominence is not accelerated immediately by local reconnection but rather is swept away as part of a large-scale relaxation of the coronal magnetic field.
In this paper, we analyzed a failed and a successful eruption that initiated from the same polarity inversion line within NOAA AR 11387 on December 25, 2011. They both started from a reconnection between sheared arcades, having distinct pre-eruption conditions and eruption details: before the failed one, the magnetic fields of the core region had a weaker non-potentiality; the external fields had a similar critical height for torus instability, a similar local torus-stable region, but a larger magnetic flux ratio (of low corona and near-surface region) as compared to the successful one. During the failed eruption, a smaller Lorentz force impulse was exerted on the outward ejecta; the ejecta had a much slower rising speed. Factors that might lead to the initiation of the failed eruption are identified: 1) a weaker non-potentiality of the core region, and a smaller Lorentz force impulse gave the ejecta a small momentum; 2) the large flux ratio, and the local torus-stable region in the corona provided strong confinements that made the erupting structure regain an equilibrium state.
Aims. We investigate the configuration of a complex flux rope above a {delta} sunspot region in NOAA AR 11515, and its eruptive expansion during a confined M5.3-class flare. Methods. We study the formation of the {delta} sunspot using continuum intensity images and photospheric vector magnetograms provided by SDO/HMI. We use EUV and UV images provided by SDO/AIA, and hard X-ray emission recorded by RHESSI to investigate the eruptive details. The coronal magnetic field is extrapolated with a non-linear force free field (NLFFF) method, based on which the flux rope is identified by calculating the twist number Tw and squashing factor Q. We search the null point via a modified Powell hybrid method. Results. The collision between two emerging spot groups form the {delta} sunspot. A bald patch (BP) forms at the collision location, above which a complex flux rope is identified. The flux rope has multiple layers, with one compact end and one bifurcated end, having Tw decreasing from the core to the boundary. A null point is located above the flux rope. The eruptive process consists of precursor flaring at a v-shaped coronal structure, rise of the filament, and flaring below the filament, corresponding well with the NLFFF topological structures, including the null point and the flux rope with BP and hyperbolic flux tube (HFT). Two sets of post-flare loops and three flare ribbons support the bifurcation configuration of the flux rope. Conclusions. The precursor reconnection, which occurs at the null point, weakens the overlying confinement to allow the flux rope to rise, fitting the breakout model. The main phase reconnection, which may occur at the BP or HFT, facilitates the flux rope rising. The results suggest that the {delta} spot configuration presents an environment prone to the formation of complex magnetic configurations which will work together to produce activities.