Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes
It is well established that solar eruptions are powered by free magnetic energy stored in the current-carrying magnetic field in the corona. It has also been generally accepted that magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) are a critical component of many coronal mass ejections. What remains controversial is whet...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aca6e1 |
| _version_ | 1827831500074123264 |
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| author | Wensi Wang Jiong Qiu Rui Liu Chunming Zhu Kai E. Yang Qiang Hu Yuming Wang |
| author_facet | Wensi Wang Jiong Qiu Rui Liu Chunming Zhu Kai E. Yang Qiang Hu Yuming Wang |
| author_sort | Wensi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | It is well established that solar eruptions are powered by free magnetic energy stored in the current-carrying magnetic field in the corona. It has also been generally accepted that magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) are a critical component of many coronal mass ejections. What remains controversial is whether MFRs are present well before the eruption. Our aim is to identify progenitors of MFRs, and investigate pre-eruptive magnetic properties associated with these progenitors. Here we analyze 28 MFRs erupting within 45° from the disk center from 2010 to 2015. All MFRs’ feet are well identified by conjugate coronal dimmings. We then calculate the magnetic properties at the feet of the MFRs, prior to their eruptions, using Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager vector magnetograms. Our results show that only 8 erupting MFRs are associated with significant nonneutralized electric currents, 4 of which also exhibit pre-eruptive dimmings at the footprints. Twist and current distributions are asymmetric at the two feet of these MFRs. The presence of pre-eruption dimmings associated with nonneutralized currents suggests the preexisting MFRs. Furthermore, the evolution of conjugate dimmings and electric currents within the footprints can provide clues about the internal structure of MFRs and their formation mechanism. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:45:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f333c886d0eb4a729400c2605876e423 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T04:45:32Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-f333c886d0eb4a729400c2605876e4232023-09-03T09:29:26ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572023-01-0194328010.3847/1538-4357/aca6e1Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux RopesWensi Wang0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9865-5245Jiong Qiu1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2797-744XRui Liu2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4618-4979Chunming Zhu3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3218-5487Kai E. Yang4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7663-7652Qiang Hu5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7570-2301Yuming Wang6https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8887-3919CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cnDepartment of Physic, Montana State University , Bozeman, MT 59717, USACAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cn; CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China; Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory, University of Science and Technology of China , Mengcheng 233500, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Physic, Montana State University , Bozeman, MT 59717, USAInstitute for Astronomy, University of Hawaii at Manoa , Pukalani 96768, USADepartment of Space Science and CSPAR, University of Alabama in Huntsville , Huntsville, AL 35805, USACAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei, 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cn; CAS Center for Excellence in Comparative Planetology, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaIt is well established that solar eruptions are powered by free magnetic energy stored in the current-carrying magnetic field in the corona. It has also been generally accepted that magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) are a critical component of many coronal mass ejections. What remains controversial is whether MFRs are present well before the eruption. Our aim is to identify progenitors of MFRs, and investigate pre-eruptive magnetic properties associated with these progenitors. Here we analyze 28 MFRs erupting within 45° from the disk center from 2010 to 2015. All MFRs’ feet are well identified by conjugate coronal dimmings. We then calculate the magnetic properties at the feet of the MFRs, prior to their eruptions, using Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager vector magnetograms. Our results show that only 8 erupting MFRs are associated with significant nonneutralized electric currents, 4 of which also exhibit pre-eruptive dimmings at the footprints. Twist and current distributions are asymmetric at the two feet of these MFRs. The presence of pre-eruption dimmings associated with nonneutralized currents suggests the preexisting MFRs. Furthermore, the evolution of conjugate dimmings and electric currents within the footprints can provide clues about the internal structure of MFRs and their formation mechanism.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aca6e1Solar flaresSolar coronal mass ejectionsSolar photosphereSolar magnetic fields |
| spellingShingle | Wensi Wang Jiong Qiu Rui Liu Chunming Zhu Kai E. Yang Qiang Hu Yuming Wang Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes The Astrophysical Journal Solar flares Solar coronal mass ejections Solar photosphere Solar magnetic fields |
| title | Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes |
| title_full | Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes |
| title_fullStr | Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes |
| title_short | Investigating Pre-eruptive Magnetic Properties at the Footprints of Erupting Magnetic Flux Ropes |
| title_sort | investigating pre eruptive magnetic properties at the footprints of erupting magnetic flux ropes |
| topic | Solar flares Solar coronal mass ejections Solar photosphere Solar magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/aca6e1 |
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