Log in

Filament activation and magnetic reconnection

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A curved filament in a decaying active region (AR 8329) was observed on 9 September 1998 with a combination of several instruments. The main data base is a 4-hour long time series of 1 min cadence using the Lockheed tunable filter mounted in the Swedish Vacuum Solar Tower in La Palma (SVST). Filtergrams obtained at several wavelength positions in Hα images are used to derive Doppler images. Interleaved images in the magnetic sensitive Fe i 6302.5 Å line yield corresponding magnetograms. Supplementing observations are collected from TRACE and the French Multi-Channel Double Pass spectrograph (MSDP) mounted in the German VTT in Tenerife. The filament, which consists of several discrete fragments with nearly horizontal fine structures, undergoes activity and counter-streaming bulk flow, but without erupting. The magnetic field inversion line of this active region is complex and strongly influenced by intrusion of a positive polarity area in a following negative polarity of the region. The positive polarity area contains a small sunspot surrounded by moving magnetic features (MMFs). The MMFs interact directly with the parasitic polarities in the filament channel, and thereby gives rise to merging and canceling magnetic flux. When the interaction occurs at the location of the feet (`barbs') of the filament notable activations are observed (ejection of `blobs'). The ejections of `blobs' are preceded by twist of filament threads and the `blobs' move along downward bending field lines towards the photosphere close to the sound speed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Antiochos, S. K., MacNeice, P. J., and Spicer, D. S.: 2000, Astrophys. J. 536, 494.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aulanier, G. and Démoulin, P.: 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 329, 1125.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aulanier, G., Démoulin, P., Mein, N., van Driel-Gesztelyi, L., Mein P., and DeForest, 1998, Astron. Astrophys. 335, 309.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Aulanier, G., Démoulin, P., Mein, N., van Driel-Gesztelyi, L., Mein P., and Schmieder, B.: 1999, Astron. Astrophys. 342, 867.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Berger, T. E., De Pontieu, B., Fletcher, L., Schrijver, C. J., Tarbell, T. D., and Title, A. M.: 1999, Solar Phys. 190, 409.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Deng, Y. Y., Schmieder, B., Engvold, O., DeLuca, E., and Golub L.: 2000, Solar Phys. 195, 347.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Engvold, O.: 1993, in V. Rusin, P. Heinzel, and J.-C. Vial (eds.), Solar Coronal Structures, Proceedings from the 144th IAU Colloquium in Tatranská Lomnica, Slovakia, 20–24 September 1993. p. 297.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engvold, O., Jakobsson, H., Tandberg-Hanssen, E., Gurman J. B., and Moses, D.: 2001, Solar Phys. 202, 293.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Engvold, O.: 2001, in J. L. Ballester and B. Roberts (eds.), INTAS Workshop on MHD Waves in Astrophysical Plasmas, Universitat de les Illes Baleares, Palma de Mallorca, 9–11 May 2001. p. 123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Handy, B. N. et al. (47 co-authors): 1999, Solar Phys. 187, 229.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, K. and Harvey, J.: 1973, Solar Phys. 28, 61.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Heinzel, P. and Anzer, U.: 1999, Solar Phys. 184, 103.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Y. and Engvold, O.: 2002, Solar Phys., submitted

  • Martens, P. C. H. and Zwaan, C.: 2001, Astrophys. J. 558, 872.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. F., 1989, in V. Ruždjak and E. Tandberg-Hanssen (eds.), 'Dynamics of Quiescent Prominences', Proc. IAU Colloq. 117, 1.

  • Martin, S. F., Bilimoria R., and Tracadas P. W.: 1994, in R. J. Rutten and C. Schrijver (eds.), Solar Surface Magnetism, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Holland, p. 303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. F.: 1998, in D. Rust and B. Schmieder (eds.), Proc. IAU Colloq. 167, 419.

  • Poland, A. R. and Mariska, J. T.: 1986, Solar Phys. 104, 303.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Scharmer, G. B., Brown, D. S., Petterson, L., and Rehn, J.: 1985, Appl. Optics 24, 2558.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B.: 1989, in E. R. Priest (ed.), Dynamics and Structure of Quiescent Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, p. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Malherbe, J. M., Mein, P., and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1984, Astron. Astrophys. 136, 81.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Raadu, M., and Wiik, J. E.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 252, 353.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Démoulin, P., Aulanier, G., and Golub, L.: 1996, Astrophys. J. 467, 881.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Delannée, C., Deng, Y. Y., Vial, J. C., and Madjarska, M.: 2000, Astron. Astrophys. 358, 728.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Deng, Y. Y., Dumitrache, C., Mein, N., Malherbe, J. M., and Staiger, J.: 2002, Solar Phys., submitted.

  • Title, A., Topka, K., Tarbell, T. et al.: 1992, Astrophys. J. 393, 782.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1994, The Nature of Solar Prominences, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. T. and Schmieder, B.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 243, 501.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, Y. M.: 2001, Astrophys. J. 560, 456.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Yi, Z. and Engvold, O.: 1991, Solar Phys. 134, 275.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Zirker, J. B., Engvold, O., and Martin, S. F.: 1998, Nature 396, 440.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Electronic supplementary material

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Deng, Y., Lin, Y., Schmieder, B. et al. Filament activation and magnetic reconnection. Sol Phys 209, 153–170 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020924406991

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020924406991

Keywords

Navigation