DRIVING CURRENTS FOR FLUX ROPE CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS

Journal Article · Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 EDT 2009 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/1219; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)· OSTI ID:21279435

Subramanian, Prasad ^[1]; Vourlidas, Angelos ^[2]

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1. Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Sai Trinity Building, Pashan, Pune 411021 (India)
2. Code 7663, Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, DC 20375 (United States)

We present a method for measuring electrical currents enclosed by flux rope structures that are ejected within solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Such currents are responsible for providing the Lorentz self-force that propels CMEs. Our estimates for the driving current are based on measurements of the propelling force obtained using data from the LASCO coronagraphs aboard the SOHO satellite. We find that upper limits on the currents enclosed by CMEs are typically around 10{sup 10} A. We estimate that the magnetic flux enclosed by the CMEs in the LASCO field of view is a few times 10{sup 21} Mx.

• OSTI ID: 21279435
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 693, Issue 2; Other Information: DOI: 10.1088/0004-637X/693/2/1219; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
MASS
PLASMA
SATELLITES
SUN