Stanislav Gunar

3D WHOLE-PROMINENCE FINE STRUCTURE MODELING

We present the first 3D whole-prominence fine structure model. The model combines a 3D magnetic field configuration of an entire prominence obtained from non-linear force-free field simulations, with a detailed description of the prominence plasma. The plasma is located in magnetic dips in hydrostatic equilibrium and is distributed along multiple fine structures within the 3D magnetic model. Through the use of a novel radiative transfer visualization technique for the Hα line such plasma loaded magnetic field model produces synthetic images of the modeled prominence comparable with high-resolution observations. This allows us for the first time to use a single technique to consistently study, in both emission on the limb and absorption against the solar disk, the fine structures of prominences/filaments produced by a magnetic field model.

Non-linear force-free magnetic dip models of quiescent prominence fine structures

Aims. We use 3D non-linear force-free magnetic field modeling of prominence/filament magnetic fields to develop the first 2D models of individual prominence fine structures based on the 3D configuration of the magnetic field of the whole prominence. Methods. We use an iterative technique to fill the magnetic dips produced by the 3D modeling with realistic prominence plasma in hydrostatic equilibrium and with a temperature structure that contains the prominence-corona transition region. With this welldefined plasma structure the radiative transfer can be treated in detail in 2D and the resulting synthetic emission can be compared with prominence/filament observations. Results. Newly developed non-linear force-free magnetic dip models are able to produce synthetic hydrogen Lyman spectra in a qualitative agreement with a range of quiescent prominence observations. Moreover, the plasma structure of these models agrees with the gravity induced prominence fine structure models which have already been shown to produce synthetic spectra in good qualitative agreement with several observed prominences. Conclusions. We describe in detail the iterative technique which can be used to produce realistic plasma models of prominence fine structures located in prominence magnetic field configurations containing dips, obtained using any kind of magnetic field modeling.

Fast approximate radiative transfer method for visualizing the fine structure of prominences in the hydrogen Hα line

Aims. We present a novel approximate radiative transfer method developed to visualize 3D whole-prominence models with multiple fine structures using the hydrogen Hα spectral line. Methods. This method employs a fast line-of-sight synthesis of the Hα line profiles through the whole 3D prominence volume and realistically reflects the basic properties of the Hα line formation in the cool and low-density prominence medium. The method can be applied both to prominences seen above the limb and filaments seen against the disk. Results. We provide recipes for the use of this method for visualizing the prominence or filament models that have multiple fine structures. We also perform tests of the method that demonstrate its accuracy under prominence conditions. Conclusions. We demonstrate that this fast approximate radiative transfer method provides realistic synthetic Hα intensities useful for a reliable visualization of prominences and filaments. Such synthetic high-resolution images of modeled prominences/filaments can be used for a direct comparison with high-resolution observations.

3D whole-prominence fine structure modeling. II. Prominence evolution

We use the new three-dimensional (3D) whole-prominence fine structure model to study the evolution of prominences and their fine structures in response to changes in the underlying photospheric magnetic flux distribution. The applied model combines a detailed 3D prominence magnetic field configuration with a realistic description of the prominence plasma distributed along multiple fine structures. In addition, we utilize an approximate Hα visualization technique to study the evolution of the visible cool prominence plasma both in emission (prominence) and absorption (filament). We show that the initial magnetic field configuration of the modeled prominence is significantly disturbed by the changing position of a single polarity of a magnetic bipole as the bipole is advected toward the main body of the filament. This leads to the creation of a barb, which becomes the dominant feature visible in the synthetic Hα images of both the prominence and filament views. The evolution of the bipole also creates conditions that lead to the disappearance and reappearance of large portions of the main body. We also show that an arch-like region containing a dark void (a bubble) can be naturally produced in the synthetic prominence Hα images. While not visible in terms of the magnetic field lines, it is due to a lack of Hα emission from low-pressure, low-density plasma located in shallow magnetic dips lying along the lines of sight intersecting the dark void. In addition, a quasi-vertical small-scale feature consisting of short and deep dips, piled one above the other, is produced.

Non-LTE modelling of prominence fine structures using hydrogen Lyman-line profiles

Aims. We perform a detailed statistical analysis of the spectral Lyman-line observations of the quiescent prominence observed on May 18, 2005. Methods. We used a profile-to-profile comparison of the synthetic Lyman spectra obtained by 2D single-thread prominence finestructure model as a starting point for a full statistical analysis of the observed Lyman spectra. We employed 2D multi-thread finestructure models with random positions and line-of-sight velocities of each thread to obtain a statistically significant set of synthetic Lyman-line profiles. We used for the first time multi-thread models composed of non-identical threads and viewed at line-of-sight angles different from perpendicular to the magnetic field. Results. We investigated the plasma properties of the prominence observed with the SoHO/SUMER spectrograph on May 18, 2005 by comparing the histograms of three statistical parameters characterizing the properties of the synthetic and observed line profiles. In this way, the integrated intensity, Lyman decrement ratio, and the ratio of intensity at the central reversal to the average intensity of peaks provided insight into the column mass and the central temperature of the prominence fine structures.

Puzzling nature of the fine structure of quiescent prominences and filaments

Even after more than 160 years of observations and modelling of solar prominences their true nature contains many open questions. In this work we argue that current 2D prominence fine structure models can help us to understand the puzzling connection between quasi-vertical fine structures often seen in quiescent prominences observed on the solar limb and horizontally aligned dark fibrils representing the fine structures of prominences observed in absorption against the solar disk (filaments).

Properties of the prominence magnetic field and plasma distributions as obtained from 3D whole-prominence fine structure modeling

Aims. We analyze distributions of the magnetic field strength and prominence plasma (temperature, pressure, plasma β, and mass) using the 3D whole-prominence fine structure model. Methods. The model combines a 3D magnetic field configuration of an entire prominence, obtained from non-linear force-free field simulations, with a detailed semi-empirically derived description of the prominence plasma. The plasma is located in magnetic dips in hydrostatic equilibrium and is distributed along multiple fine structures within the 3D magnetic model. Results. We show that in the modeled prominence, the variations of the magnetic field strength and its orientation are insignificant on scales comparable to the smallest dimensions of the observed prominence fine structures. We also show the ability of the 3D whole-prominence fine structure model to reveal the distribution of the prominence plasma with respect to its temperature within the prominence volume. This provides new insights into the composition of the prominence-corona transition region. We further demonstrate that the values of the plasma β are small throughout the majority of the modeled prominences when realistic photospheric magnetic flux distributions and prominence plasma parameters are assumed. While this is generally true, we also find that in the region with the deepest magnetic dips, the plasma β may increase towards unity. Finally, we show that the mass of the modeled prominence plasma is in good agreement with the mass of observed non-eruptive prominences.

QUIESCENT PROMINENCES IN THE ERA OF ALMA: SIMULATED OBSERVATIONS USING THE 3D WHOLE-PROMINENCE FINE STRUCTURE MODEL

We use the detailed 3D whole-prominence fine structure model to produce the first simulated high-resolution ALMA observations of a modeled quiescent solar prominence. The maps of synthetic brightness temperature and optical thickness shown in the present paper are produced using a visualization method for synthesis of the submillimeter/millimeter radio continua. We have obtained the simulated observations of both the prominence at the limb and the filament on the disk at wavelengths covering a broad range that encompasses the full potential of ALMA. We demonstrate here extent to which the small-scale and large-scale prominence and filament structures will be visible in the ALMA observations spanning both the optically thin and thick regimes. We analyze the relationship between the brightness and kinetic temperature of the prominence plasma. We also illustrate the opportunities ALMA will provide for studying the thermal structure of the prominence plasma from the cores of the cool prominence fine structure to the prominence–corona transition region. In addition, we show that detailed 3D modeling of entire prominences with their numerous fine structures will be important for the correct interpretation of future ALMA observations of prominences.

Statistical analysis of UV spectra of a quiescent prominence observed by IRIS

The paper analyzes the structure and dynamics of a quiescent prominence that occurred on October 22, 2013. We aim to determine the physical characteristics of the observed prominence using MgII k and h, CII (1334 and 1336 A), and SiIV (1394 A) lines observed by IRIS. We employed the 1D non-LTE modeling of MgII lines assuming static isothermal-isobaric slabs. We selected a large grid of models with realistic input parameters and computed synthetic MgII lines. The method of Scargle periodograms was used to detect possible prominence oscillations. We analyzed 2160 points of the observed prominence in five different sections along the slit averaged over ten pixels due to low signal to noise ratio in the CII and SiIV lines. We computed the integrated intensity for all studied lines, while the central intensity and reversal ratio was determined only for both MgII and CII 1334 lines. We plotted several correlations: time evolution of the integrated intensities and central intensities, scatter plots between all combinations of line integrated intensities, and reversal ratio as a function of integrated intensity. We also compared MgII observations with the models. Results show that more than two-thirds of MgII profiles and about one-half of CII 1334 profiles are reversed. Profiles of SiIV are generally unreversed. The MgII and CII lines are optically thick, while the SiIV line is optically thin. The studied prominence shows no global oscillations in the MgII and CII lines. Therefore, the observed time variations are caused by random motions of fine structures with velocities up to 10 km/s. The observed average ratio of MgII k to MgII h line intensities can be used to determine the prominences characteristic temperature. Certain disagreements between observed and synthetic line intensities of MgII lines point to the necessity of using more complex 2D multi-thread modeling in the future.