SOLAR PROMINENCES EMBEDDED IN FLUX ROPES: MORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND DYNAMICS FROM 3D MHD SIMULATIONS

Journal Article · Fri Apr 01 04:00:00 EDT 2016 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3847/0004-637X/820/2/125· OSTI ID:22518529

Terradas, J.; Soler, R.; Oliver, R.; Ballester, J. L. ^[1]; Luna, M. ^[2]

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1. Departament de Física, Universitat de les Illes Balears, E-07122 Palma de Mallorca (Spain)
2. Instituto de Astrofsíca de Canarias, E-38205 La Laguna, Tenerife (Spain)

The temporal evolution of a solar prominence inserted in a three-dimensional magnetic flux rope is investigated numerically. Using the model of Titov and Démoulin under the regime of weak twist, the cold and dense prominence counteracts gravity by modifying the initially force-free magnetic configuration. In some cases a quasi-stationary situation is achieved after the relaxation phase, characterized by the excitation of standing vertical oscillations. These oscillations show a strong attenuation with time produced by the mechanism of continuum damping due to the inhomogeneous transition between the prominence and solar corona. The characteristic period of the vertical oscillations does not depend strongly on the twist of the flux rope. Nonlinearity is responsible for triggering the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability associated with the vertical oscillations and that eventually produces horizontal structures. Contrary to other configurations in which the longitudinal axis of the prominence is permeated by a perpendicular magnetic field, like in unsheared arcades, the orientation of the prominence along the flux rope axis prevents the development of Rayleigh–Taylor instabilities and therefore the appearance of vertical structuring along this axis.

• OSTI ID: 22518529
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 820; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
CONFIGURATION
DAMPING
EXCITATION
GRAVITATION
HELMHOLTZ INSTABILITY
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FLUX
MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMICS
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
OSCILLATIONS
PLASMA
RELAXATION
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR PROMINENCES
SUN