Brigitte Schmieder

Statistics, Morphology, and Energetics of Ellerman Bombs

We investigate the statistical properties of Ellerman bombs in the dynamic emerging flux region NOAA Active Region 8844, underneath an expanding arch filament system. High-resolution chromospheric Hα filtergrams (spatial resolution 08), as well as photospheric vector magnetograms (spatial resolution 05) and Dopplergrams, have been acquired by the balloon-borne Flare Genesis Experiment. Hα observations reveal the first seeing-free data set on Ellerman bombs and one of the largest samples of these events. We find that Ellerman bombs occur and recur in preferential locations in the low chromosphere, either above or in the absence of photospheric neutral magnetic lines. Ellerman bombs are associated with photospheric downflows, and their loci follow the transverse mass flows on the photosphere. They are small-scale events, with typical size 18 × 11 , but this size depends on the instrumental resolution. A large number of Ellerman bombs are probably undetected, owing to limited spatial resolution. Ellerman bombs occur in clusters that exhibit fractal properties. The fractal dimension, with an average value ~1.4, does not change significantly in the course of time. Typical parameters of Ellerman bombs are interrelated and obey power-law distribution functions, as in the case of flaring and subflaring activity. We find that Ellerman bombs may occur on separatrix, or quasi-separatrix, layers, in the low chromosphere. A plausible triggering mechanism of Ellerman bombs is stochastic magnetic reconnection caused by the turbulent evolution of the low-lying magnetic fields and the continuous reshaping of separatrix layers. The total energies of Ellerman bombs are estimated in the range (1027, 1028) ergs, the temperature enhancement in the radiating volume is ~2 × 103 K, and the timescale of radiative cooling is short, of the order of a few seconds. The distribution function of the energies of Ellerman bombs exhibits a power-law shape with an index ~-2.1. This suggests that Ellerman bombs may contribute significantly to the heating of the low chromosphere in emerging flux regions.

ON THE NATURE OF PROMINENCE EMISSION OBSERVED BY SDO/AIA

The prominence-corona transition region (PCTR) plays a key role in the thermal and pressure equilibrium of solar prominences. Our knowledge of this interface is limited and several major issues remain open, including the thermal structure and, in particular, the maximum temperature of the detectable plasma. The high signal-to-noise ratio of images obtained by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory clearly shows that prominences are often seen in emission in the 171 and 131 bands. We investigate the temperature sensitivity of these AIA bands for prominence observations, in order to infer the temperature content in an effort to explain the emission. Using the CHIANTI atomic database and previously determined prominence differential emission measure distributions, we build synthetic spectra to establish the main emission-line contributors in the AIA bands. We find that the Fe IX line always dominates the 171 band, even in the absence of plasma at >106 K temperatures, while the 131 band is dominated by Fe VIII. We conclude that the PCTR has sufficient plasma emitting at >4 × 105 K to be detected by AIA.

FLARE ENERGY BUILD-UP IN A DECAYING ACTIVE REGION NEAR A CORONAL HOLE

A B1.7 two-ribbon flare occurred in a highly non-potential decaying active region near a coronal hole at 10: 00 UT on 2008 May 17. This flare is large in the sense that it involves the entire region, and it is associated with both a filament eruption and a coronal mass ejection. We present multi-wavelength observations from EUV (TRACE, STEREO/EUVI), X-rays (Hinode/XRT), and Ha (THEMIS, BBSO) prior to, during and after the flare. Prior to the flare, the region contained two filaments. The long J-shaped sheared loops corresponding to the southern filament were evolved from two short loop systems, which happened around 22: 00 UT after a filament eruption on May 16. Formation of highly sheared loops in the southeastern part of the region was observed by STEREO 8 hr before the flare. We also perform nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) modeling for the region at two times prior to the flare, using the flux rope insertion method. The models include the non-force-free effect of magnetic buoyancy in the photosphere. The best-fit NLFFF models show good fit to observations both in the corona (X-ray and EUV loops) and chromosphere (Ha filament). We find that the horizontal fields in the photosphere are relatively insensitive to the present of flux ropes in the corona. The axial flux of the flux rope in the NLFFF model on May 17 is twice that on May 16, and the model on May 17 is only marginally stable. We also find that the quasi-circular flare ribbons are associated with the separatrix between open and closed fields. This observation and NLFFF modeling suggest that this flare may be triggered by the reconnection at the null point on the separatrix surface.

TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF THE MAGNETIC TOPOLOGY OF THE NOAA ACTIVE REGION 11158

We studied the temporal evolution of the magnetic topology of the active region (AR) 11158 based on the reconstructed three-dimensional magnetic fields in the corona. The non-linear force-free field extrapolation method was applied to the 12 minute cadence data obtained with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory during 5 days. By calculating the squashing degree factor Q in the volume, the derived quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) show that this AR has an overall topology, resulting from a magnetic quadrupole, including a hyperbolic flux tube (HFT) configuration that is relatively stable at the timescale of the flare (similar to 1-2 hr). A strong QSL, which corresponds to some highly sheared arcades that might be related to the formation of a flux rope, is prominent just before the M6.6 and X2.2 flares, respectively. These facts indicate the close relationship between the strong QSL and the high flare productivity of AR 11158. In addition, with a close inspection of the topology, we found a small-scale HFT that has an inverse tear-drop structure above the aforementioned QSL before the X2.2 flare. It indicates the existence of magnetic flux rope at this place. Even though a global configuration (HFT) is recognized in this AR, it turns out that the large-scale HFT only plays a secondary role during the eruption. In conclusion, we dismiss a trigger based on the breakout model and highlight the central role of the flux rope in the related eruption.

SLIPPING MAGNETIC RECONNECTION, CHROMOSPHERIC EVAPORATION, IMPLOSION, AND PRECURSORS IN THE 2014 SEPTEMBER 10 X1.6-CLASS SOLAR FLARE

We investigate the occurrence of slipping magnetic reconnection, chromospheric evaporation, and coronal loop dynamics in the 2014 September 10 X-class flare. The slipping reconnection is found to be present throughout the flare from its early phase. Flare loops are seen to slip in opposite directions towards both ends of the ribbons. Velocities of 20--40 km,s

Can a halo CME from the limb be geoeffective

^{-1}

Wave propagation in the photosphere

are found within time windows where the slipping is well resolved. The warm coronal loops exhibit expanding and contracting motions that are interpreted as displacements due to the growing flux rope that subsequently erupts. This flux rope existed and erupted before the onset of apparent coronal implosion. This indicates that the energy release proceeds by slipping reconnection and not via coronal implosion. The slipping reconnection leads to changes in the geometry of the observed structures at the textit{IRIS} slit position, from flare loop top to the footpoints in the ribbons. This results in variations of the observed velocities of chromospheric evaporation in the early flare phase. Finally, it is found that the precursor signatures including localized EUV brightenings as well as non-thermal X-ray emission are signatures of the flare itself, progressing from the early phase towards the impulsive phase, with the tether-cutting being provided by the slipping reconnection. The dynamics of both the flare and outlying coronal loops is found to be consistent with the predictions of the standard solar flare model in 3D.

Hooked flare ribbons and flux-rope related QSL footprints

[1]xa0The probability for a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) to be geoeffective is assumed to be higher the closer the CME launch site is located to the solar central meridian. However, events far from the central meridian may produce severe geomagnetic storms, like the case in April 2000. In this work, we study the possible geoeffectiveness of full halo CMEs with the source region situated at solar limb. For this task, we select all limb full halo (LFH) CMEs that occurred during solar cycle 23, and we search for signatures of geoeffectiveness between 1 and 5 days after the first appearance of each CME in the LASCO C2 field of view. When signatures of geomagnetic activity are observed in the selected time window, interplanetary data are carefully analyzed in order to look for the cause of the geomagnetic disturbance. Finally, a possible association between geoeffective interplanetary signatures and every LFH CME in solar cycle 23 is checked in order to decide on the CMEs geoeffectiveness. After a detailed analysis of solar, interplanetary, and geomagnetic data, we conclude that of the 25 investigated events, there are only four geoeffective LFH CMEs, all coming from the west limb. The geoeffectiveness of these events seems to be moderate, turning to intense in two of them as a result of cumulative effects from previous mass ejections. We conclude that ejections from solar locations close to the west limb should be considered in space weather, at least as sources of moderate disturbances.

A Relationship Between Transition Region Brightenings, Abundances, and Magnetic Topology

AbstractUsing a 32 minutes sequence of observation, brightness and velocity fluctuations in the wings of the Mgi line at 5172.7 Å and Fe ii line at 5197.578 Å are analysed. The analysis of phase shifts and amplitude ratios leads to the following conclusions:n (1)In the frequency range from (400s)−1 to (130s)−1, we find the existence of three modes of waves: internal gravity, evanescent and propagating acoustic waves which appear with increasing frequency. A satisfactory agreement for velocity between observations and theory in the range of horizontal wavelengths s>5000km with a theoretically local relaxation time β−1∼80s-40s is obtained.The calculation of intensity fluctuations shows that the Mgi line is sensitive to temperature and density fluctuations while the Fe ii line is only sensitive to temperature perturbation. For the best fit with the same value of β−1 to both lines (i.e., Fe ii and Mg i) it is found necessary that the density effect should be taken into account for the Mg i intensity fluctuations. The relaxation time deduced from observed intensity fluctuations seems to decrease with the period of oscillation. This suggests the presence of a dissipation process.(2)For higher frequencies oscillations, the phase shift and the amplitude ratios are too small to be interpreted by propagating acoustic waves.

EUV lines observed with EIS/Hinode in a solar prominence

We studied the magnetic topology of active region 12158 on 2014 September 10 and compared it with the observations before and early in the flare which begins at 17:21 UT (SOL2014-09-10T17:45:00). Our results show that the sigmoidal structure and flare ribbons of this active region observed by SDO/AIA can be well reproduced from a Grad-Rubin non linear force free field extrapolation method. Various inverse-S and -J shaped magnetic field lines, that surround a coronal flux rope, coincide with the sigmoid as observed in different extreme ultraviolet wavelengths, including its multi-threaded curved ends. Also, the observed distribution of surface currents in the magnetic polarity where it was not prescribed is well reproduced. This validates our numerical implementation and set-up of the Grad-Rubin method. The modeled double inverse-J shaped Quasi-Separatrix Layer (QSL) footprints match the observed flare ribbons during the rising phase of the flare, including their hooked parts. The spiral-like shape of the latter may be related to a complex pre-eruptive flux rope with more than one turn of twist, as obtained in the model. These ribbon-associated flux-rope QSL-footprints are consistent with the new standard flare model in 3D, with the presence of a hyperbolic flux tube located below an inverse tear drop shaped coronal QSL. This is a new step forward forecasting the locations of reconnection and ribbons in solar flares, and the geometrical properties of eruptive flux ropes.