Evolution of a coronal streamer prior to mass ejection

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · J. Geophys. Res.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/JA092iA12p13641· OSTI ID:5598636

Wolfson, R; Conover, C; Illing, R M.E.

We have developed a model describing the quasistatic evolution of a coronal helmet streamer as it is inflated with excess mass. The model produces a sequence of magnetostatic equilibria for a magnetic field configuration that includes a current sheet in the equatorial plane as well as distributed volume currents. The equilibrium solutions are given as Legendre series, and the height at which the current sheet starts is adjusted iteratively to maintain constant flux in the closed-field region. We have fit our model to SMM coronagraph/polarimeter observations showing the slow growth of a coronal streamer prior to its disruption in association with an eruptive prominence and mass ejection on August 18, 1980. The results suggest that the early phase of this event is consistent with the quasi-static evolution of the corona in response to the slow addition of mass to the closed-field region of the streamer.

• Research Organization: High Altitude Observatory, National Center for Atmospheric, Boulder, Colorado
• OSTI ID: 5598636
• Journal Information: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Geophys. Res.; (United States) Vol. 92:A12; ISSN JGREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
DISTRIBUTION
EQUATIONS
EQUILIBRIUM
IMAGES
KINETIC EQUATIONS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MASS DISTRIBUTION
MHD EQUILIBRIUM
POLARIMETRY
POLAROGRAPHY
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR PROMINENCES
SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE