solar eruption onset: where does the action begin?
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Solar Eruption Onset: Where Does the Action Begin?. Alphonse C. Sterling UAT/NASA/MSFC/NSSTC/ISAS. Eruptions on the Sun involve the sudden release of large amounts of energy. Where does the main energy release occur, and where are the key regions that are involved? Two possibilities: - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
A. Sterling, Feb 03 1
Solar Eruption Onset: Where Does the Action Begin?
Alphonse C. Sterling
UAT/NASA/MSFC/NSSTC/ISAS
A. Sterling, Feb 03 2
Introduction• Eruptions on the Sun involve the sudden release of large
amounts of energy. • Where does the main energy release occur, and where are
the key regions that are involved? Two possibilities:– Core region only, e.g., Moore & LaBonte, Moore et al. (“tether
cutting); Chen; etc.– Far from the core also: Uchida (“quadruple model”); Antiochos
et al. (“Breakout model”).
• Objective: Compare Yohkoh and SOHO observations with predictions from Tether Cutting and Breakout models.
A. Sterling, Feb 03 3
Two Theories:• Tether cutting. Moore & Labonte (1980); Sturrock (1989);
Moore et al. (1997; 2001). Fundamentally bipolar. Energy release via reconnection deep inside the “core
field.”
• Breakout model. Antiochos (1998); Antiochos et al. (1999).
Fundamentally multi-polar, with bipole core fields and restraining overlying fields.
Earliest energy release via slow reconnection at interface.
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(Moore et al. 2001)
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Antiochoset al. (1999)
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Data: A Slow, Large-Filament Eruption
• Large-scale, quiet region eruption.
• Slow evolution (weak fields); can observe eruption in “slow motion.”
• Test theories using timing studies.
• Sterling, Moore, & Thompson (2001).
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A. Sterling, Feb 03 9Sterling, Moore, Thompson (2001)
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Sterling, Moore, Thompson (2001)
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What about Breakout? Look for earlyfar-away activity with dimming images.
No evidence for tether cutting prior to filament launch (at least, very low EM in EUV).
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Summary for This Event
• Quadruple, or quadrupole, structure
• Tether Cutting seems to not work.
• Might be consistent with Breakout.
A. Sterling, Feb 03 18
General Summary (Solar-B)
• In at least some cases, the action begins far away from core.
• Some observations with pointing offset from flare center could be important for understanding eruption onset.