Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011spd....42.2119l&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, SPD meeting #42, #21.19; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 43, 2011
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
Coronal condensation takes place when million degree coronal plasma undergoes radiative cooling instability. Direct observation of coronal condensation in prominences has been difficult in the past, but with the launch of the Hinode/SOT and SDO/AIA instruments, numerous observations of plasma condensing "out of nowhere" high up in quiescent prominences have been captured. We present here one such event seen with SDO/AIA. On 25-Nov-2010, a prominence above the southwest limb is swept away by a nearby eruption, and for next a few hours there is no visible 304 A material in the local corona. Then, a portion of the coronal loops at the same location progressively sags and forms a local dip, where the first sign of new, cool material appears, 7.5 hours after the eruption. This is a clear indication of coronal condensation, and the gradual sag of the loops is likely a result of increasing weight of the condensed material that has been accumulated at the dip. Similar condensation occurs nearby at a larger rate and leads to the formation of a moderate-size prominence. The estimated prominence mass increases linearly for about 7 hours at a rate of 2.6e10 grams/sec and reaches approximately 6e14 grams. Simultaneously, the prominence drains through vertical flows of approximately 32 km/s, bringing the mass back to the chromosphere. We estimate the mass drain rate to be 2.7e10 grams/sec, which, together with the estimated mass accumulation rate, implies a coronal condensation rate of approximately 5.3e10 grams/sec. This study can provide critical information about the coupling between condensation energetics and MHD, prominence mass cycles, and coronal mass ejections initiated by loss of anchoring prominence mass (e.g., Low 2001).
Berger Thierry
Casini Roberto
Chye Low Boon
Liu Wei
No associations
LandOfFree
SDO/AIA Observations of Coronal Condensation Leading to Prominence Formation does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with SDO/AIA Observations of Coronal Condensation Leading to Prominence Formation, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and SDO/AIA Observations of Coronal Condensation Leading to Prominence Formation will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1205225