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Title: Reverse Current Model for Coronal Mass Ejection Cavity Formation

Journal Article · · The Astrophysical Journal. Letters (Online)

In this work, we present a new model for explaining the three-part structure of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The model proposes that the cavity in a CME forms because a rising electric current in the core prominence induces an oppositely directed electric current in the background plasma; this eddy current is required to satisfy the frozen-in magnetic flux condition in the background plasma. The magnetic force between the inner-core electric current and the oppositely directed induced eddy current propels the background plasma away from the core, creating a cavity and a density pileup at the cavity edge. The cavity radius saturates when an inward restoring force from magnetic and hydrodynamic pressure in the region outside the cavity edge balances the outward magnetic force. The model is supported by (i) laboratory experiments showing the development of a cavity as a result of the repulsion of an induced reverse current by a rising inner-core flux-rope current, (ii) 3D numerical magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations that reproduce the laboratory experiments in quantitative detail, and (iii) an analytic model that describes cavity formation as a result of the plasma containing the induced reverse current being repelled from the inner core. This analytic model offers broad applicability because the predicted cavity widths are relatively independent of both the current injection mechanism and the injection timescale.

Research Organization:
California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC); Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-04ER54755; SC0010471
OSTI ID:
1574936
Journal Information:
The Astrophysical Journal. Letters (Online), Journal Name: The Astrophysical Journal. Letters (Online) Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 862; ISSN 2041-8213
Publisher:
Institute of Physics (IOP)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (4)

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Magnetically Induced Current Piston for Generating Extreme-ultraviolet Fronts in the Solar Corona journal April 2019