scholarly journals Magnetic flux emergence and associated dynamic phenomena in the Sun

Author(s):  
Vasilis Archontis

We present a review of the process of magnetic flux emergence in the Sun. We focus on observations and numerical experiments that explore the dynamical rise of magnetic fields from the solar interior to the corona. We describe the response of the highly stratified solar atmosphere on flux emergence and, consequently, we present a comprehensive picture of the coupling between solar dynamic events and flux emergence. We discuss potential applications of this process in other astrophysical environments.

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (S259) ◽  
pp. 201-210
Author(s):  
Fernando Moreno-Insertis

AbstractMagnetized plasma is emerging continually from the solar interior into the atmosphere. Magnetic flux emergence events and their consequences in the solar atmosphere are being observed with high space, time and spectral resolution by a large number of space missions in operation at present (e.g. SOHO, Hinode, Stereo, Rhessi). The collision of an emerging and a preexisting magnetic flux system in the solar atmosphere leads to the formation of current sheets and to field line reconnection. Reconnection under solar coronal conditions is an energetic event; for the field strengths, densities and speeds involved in the collision of emerging flux systems, the reconnection outflows lead to launching of high-speed (hundreds of km/s), high-temperature (107 K) plasma jets. Such jets are being observed with the X-Ray and EUV detectors of ongoing satellite missions. On the other hand, the spectacular increase in computational power in recent years permits to carry out three-dimensional numerical experiments of the time evolution of flux emerging systems and the launching of jets with a remarkable degree of detail.In this review, observation and modeling of the solar X-Ray jets are discussed. A two-decade long computational effort to model the magnetic flux emergence events by different teams has led to numerical experiments which explain, even quantitatively, many of the observed features of the X-ray jets. The review points out that, although alternative mechanisms must be considered, flux emergence is a prime candidate to explain the launching of the solar jets.


Author(s):  
V. Archontis ◽  
P. Syntelis

A plethora of solar dynamic events, such as the formation of active regions, the emission of jets and the occurrence of eruptions is often associated with the emergence of magnetic flux from the interior of the Sun to the surface and above. Here, we present a short review on the onset, driving and/or triggering of such events by magnetic flux emergence. We briefly describe some key observational examples, theoretical aspects and numerical simulations, towards revealing the mechanisms that govern solar dynamics and activity related to flux emergence. We show that the combination of important physical processes like shearing and reconnection of magnetic fieldlines in emerging flux regions or at their vicinity can power some of the most dynamic phenomena in the Sun on various temporal and spatial scales. Based on previous and recent observational and numerical studies, we highlight that, in most cases, none of these processes alone can drive and also trigger explosive phenomena releasing considerable amount of energy towards the outer solar atmosphere and space, such as flares, jets and large-scale eruptions (e.g. coronal mass ejections). In addition, one has to take into account the physical properties of the emerging field (e.g. strength, amount of flux, relative orientation to neighbouring and pre-existing magnetic fields, etc.) in order to better understand the exact role of magnetic flux emergence on the onset of solar dynamic events. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Solar eruptions and their space weather impact’.


2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (S273) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Eric Priest

AbstractIn the Sun there has been much progress towards answering fundamental problems with profound implications for the behaviour of cosmic magnetic fields in other stars. A review is given here of such problems, including identifying some of the outstanding questions that remain. In the solar interior, the main dynamo operates at the base of the convection zone, but its details have not been identified. In the solar surface, recent observations have revealed many new and surprising properties of magnetic fields, but understanding the key processes of flux emergence, fragmentation, merging and cancellation is rudimentary. Sunspots have until very recently been an enigma. In the atmosphere, there are many new ideas for coronal heating and solar wind acceleration, but the mechanisms have not yet been pinned down. Also, the detailed mechanisms for solar flares and coronal mass ejections remain controversial. In future, new generations of space and ground-based measurements and computational modelling should enable a definitive physical understanding of these puzzles.


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 263-264
Author(s):  
K. Sundara Raman ◽  
K. B. Ramesh ◽  
R. Selvendran ◽  
P. S. M. Aleem ◽  
K. M. Hiremath

Extended AbstractWe have examined the morphological properties of a sigmoid associated with an SXR (soft X-ray) flare. The sigmoid is cospatial with the EUV (extreme ultra violet) images and in the optical part lies along an S-shaped Hαfilament. The photoheliogram shows flux emergence within an existingδtype sunspot which has caused the rotation of the umbrae giving rise to the sigmoidal brightening.It is now widely accepted that flares derive their energy from the magnetic fields of the active regions and coronal levels are considered to be the flare sites. But still a satisfactory understanding of the flare processes has not been achieved because of the difficulties encountered to predict and estimate the probability of flare eruptions. The convection flows and vortices below the photosphere transport and concentrate magnetic field, which subsequently appear as active regions in the photosphere (Rust & Kumar 1994 and the references therein). Successive emergence of magnetic flux, twist the field, creating flare productive magnetic shear and has been studied by many authors (Sundara Ramanet al.1998 and the references therein). Hence, it is considered that the flare is powered by the energy stored in the twisted magnetic flux tubes (Kurokawa 1996 and the references therein). Rust & Kumar (1996) named the S-shaped bright coronal loops that appear in soft X-rays as ‘Sigmoids’ and concluded that this S-shaped distortion is due to the twist developed in the magnetic field lines. These transient sigmoidal features tell a great deal about unstable coronal magnetic fields, as these regions are more likely to be eruptive (Canfieldet al.1999). As the magnetic fields of the active regions are deep rooted in the Sun, the twist developed in the subphotospheric flux tube penetrates the photosphere and extends in to the corona. Thus, it is essentially favourable for the subphotospheric twist to unwind the twist and transmit it through the photosphere to the corona. Therefore, it becomes essential to make complete observational descriptions of a flare from the magnetic field changes that are taking place in different atmospheric levels of the Sun, to pin down the energy storage and conversion process that trigger the flare phenomena.


2000 ◽  
Vol 179 ◽  
pp. 177-183
Author(s):  
D. M. Rust

AbstractSolar filaments are discussed in terms of two contrasting paradigms. The standard paradigm is that filaments are formed by condensation of coronal plasma into magnetic fields that are twisted or dimpled as a consequence of motions of the fields’ sources in the photosphere. According to a new paradigm, filaments form in rising, twisted flux ropes and are a necessary intermediate stage in the transfer to interplanetary space of dynamo-generated magnetic flux. It is argued that the accumulation of magnetic helicity in filaments and their coronal surroundings leads to filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections. These ejections relieve the Sun of the flux generated by the dynamo and make way for the flux of the next cycle.


2019 ◽  
Vol 623 ◽  
pp. A176 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. P. Chitta ◽  
A. R. C. Sukarmadji ◽  
L. Rouppe van der Voort ◽  
H. Peter

Context. Densely packed coronal loops are rooted in photospheric plages in the vicinity of active regions on the Sun. The photospheric magnetic features underlying these plage areas are patches of mostly unidirectional magnetic field extending several arcsec on the solar surface. Aims. We aim to explore the transient nature of the magnetic field, its mixed-polarity characteristics, and the associated energetics in the active region plage using high spatial resolution observations and numerical simulations. Methods. We used photospheric Fe I 6173 Å spectropolarimetric observations of a decaying active region obtained from the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope (SST). These data were inverted to retrieve the photospheric magnetic field underlying the plage as identified in the extreme-ultraviolet emission maps obtained from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). To obtain better insight into the evolution of extended unidirectional magnetic field patches on the Sun, we performed 3D radiation magnetohydrodynamic simulations of magnetoconvection using the MURaM code. Results. The observations show transient magnetic flux emergence and cancellation events within the extended predominantly unipolar patch on timescales of a few 100 s and on spatial scales comparable to granules. These transient events occur at the footpoints of active region plage loops. In one case the coronal response at the footpoints of these loops is clearly associated with the underlying transient. The numerical simulations also reveal similar magnetic flux emergence and cancellation events that extend to even smaller spatial and temporal scales. Individual simulated transient events transfer an energy flux in excess of 1 MW m−2 through the photosphere. Conclusions. We suggest that the magnetic transients could play an important role in the energetics of active region plage. Both in observations and simulations, the opposite-polarity magnetic field brought up by transient flux emergence cancels with the surrounding plage field. Magnetic reconnection associated with such transient events likely conduits magnetic energy to power the overlying chromosphere and coronal loops.


2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (S305) ◽  
pp. 86-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikhail L. Demidov ◽  
Renat M. Veretsky ◽  
Alexander V. Kiselev

AbstractOn the agenda of modern astrophysics is the exploration of not only disk-integrated stellar magnetic fields but surface mapping of them. However, it is hardly possible to expect that spatial resolution better than some dozens or hundreds pixels over stellar disk will be achieved for this goal in the foreseeable future. Among other reasons this fact makes very important observations of the average and large-scale magnetic fields of the Sun, which can be naturally used for testing polarimetric measurements on other stars, especially on solar-type stars. In this study we explore different aspects of observations of solar magnetic fields (SMF) with low spatial resolution, including Sun-as-a-star observations, which are characterized by extremely low magnetic flux densities. Comparison of disk-integrated and spatially resolved Stokes observations of the Sun allow us to demonstrate how Stokes V profiles depend on the distribution of large-scale magnetic fields in the disk center. It is shown that center-to-limb variations of magnetic strength ratios (MSR) and area asymetries, most likely could be interpreted as the manifestation of kG magnetic flux tubes. We have made cross-calibration of the full-disk magnetograms obtained by space-borned SDO/HMI and by the ground-based STOP telescope, and pretty good agreement is found. Finally, the absence of significant systematic time variations of MSRs with solar cycle is demonstrated.


2004 ◽  
Vol 618 (2) ◽  
pp. L153-L156 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Galsgaard ◽  
F. Moreno-Insertis ◽  
V. Archontis ◽  
A. Hood

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