7 March 20075 th SECCHI Consortium Meeting Observing prominence dynamics with STEREO David...

7 March 20077 March 2007 55thth SECCHI Consortium Meeting SECCHI Consortium Meeting

Observing prominence Observing prominence dynamics with STEREO dynamics with STEREO

David Alexander , Rui Liu, and Holly Gilbert Rice University

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~solar/


20072007Student opportunities

Support is available for a small number of international students

Contact: David Alexander [email protected]

July 29 - August 3, in Whistler, BC, Canada.www.shinegroup.org for latest information

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.shinegroup.org/


The ‘Failed’ Eruption: 25 May The ‘Failed’ Eruption: 25 May 20022002

A series of TRACE EUV (Fe XII/XXIV 195A) images shows the morphological A series of TRACE EUV (Fe XII/XXIV 195A) images shows the morphological evolution of the filament. Note the apparent kinking of the filament, the stagnation evolution of the filament. Note the apparent kinking of the filament, the stagnation of the eruption, and the draining of material. No CME detected, but an M2 flare of the eruption, and the draining of material. No CME detected, but an M2 flare

18:00:21 18:03:06 18:04:32 18:05:32

18:06:32 18:07:32 18:08:32 18:22:14

Alexander, Liu & Gilbert, 2006


12-25 keV RHESSI hard X-ray contours. The 12-25 keV RHESSI hard X-ray contours. The yellowyellow arrows indicate the arrows indicate the coronal sources and the coronal sources and the red arrowred arrow points to the projected crossing point points to the projected crossing point of the two filament legs. Note that of the two filament legs. Note that Source 2Source 2 lies close to this crossing lies close to this crossing point, where one might expect the two legs to interact via reconnection.point, where one might expect the two legs to interact via reconnection.

Source 2Source 1

Presence of Current SheetsPresence of Current Sheets


SimulationsSimulations

The figure shows current density iso-surfaces during the evolution of the kink instability. The helically deformed flux rope (red), the helical current sheet (purple), and the vertical current sheet (yellow) are visible. Details are described in Torok & Kliem (2004).

purple

red

yellow


Mass Flows: 25 May 2002Mass Flows: 25 May 2002

• Velocity information provided by MLSO/CHIP instrument in HeI 1038nm

• Max. velocity = 100 km/s

• Initial expansion followed by mass draining and twisting motions

• Velocity information important for determining whether structure is kinked or not.


Partial Eruption: 31 Oct Partial Eruption: 31 Oct 20052005

Liu, Alexander & Gilbert, 2007a

•Kinking structure associated with partial eruption of prominence cavity

•Kinking inferred from dynamic motions in intensity and velocity signatures

•Reconnection between filament channel and polar crown arcade mediated eruption


Velocity: 31 Oct 2005Velocity: 31 Oct 2005

For this orientation, velocity information is crucial to determine configuration.


Cavity Eruption: 31 Oct Cavity Eruption: 31 Oct 20052005

Partial eruptions can involve all, some, or

none of the prominence mass.


Kinking and Partial Kinking and Partial EruptionsEruptions

Gilbert et al. (2001) – kinking not considered

Gibson and Fan (2006) – kinking crucial


Kinking and Partial Kinking and Partial EruptionsEruptions

Both simulations and observations

indicate that the degree of kinking is not only important for driving eruption but also determines

the nature of the eruption.


STEREO/SECCHISTEREO/SECCHI• The stereoscopic viewpoints of EUVI, COR-

1, and COR-2 are crucial for this study.

• Filaments/Prominences are relatively easy to visualize in 3D

• We will be able to

a. Determine whether the filament is kinked or notb. Follow the evolution of the kinked structure into the

coronac. Provide ‘true’ 3D velocityd. Help disentangle the Doppler signals from

MLSO/CHIP


STEREO/SECCHISTEREO/SECCHI


25 May 2001 see Rui 25 May 2001 see Rui directorydirectory

Potential for EUVI/COR-1/COR-2Potential for EUVI/COR-1/COR-2

Liu, Alexander & Gilbert, 2007b


Velocity information Velocity information provides additional provides additional dynamical contextdynamical context


Other issuesOther issues• Importance of kink instability vs. kinked configuration

Possibly different initiation mechanisms (dynamic vs. triggered)

• Role of reconnection – where and when?

Current sheet formation, flare production, implications for hard X-ray production in filament-driven flaring.

• Role played by mass in filament eruptions

Possibly different initiation mechanisms (dynamic vs. triggered)

• Effect of composition (H/He) on eruptive process (Gilbert & Kilper, 2007)

Absorption observed by EUVI can play a role.

7 March 20075 th SECCHI Consortium Meeting Observing prominence dynamics with STEREO David...

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