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Sterling, Alphonse C.

Publications and source records attributed to Sterling, Alphonse C..

At least 73 records · Page 4
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NASA NTRS2014

SDO and STEREO Observations of Prominence Dynamics During a Series of Eight Homologous Flares

Homologous flares are eruptive events that occur repetitively in the same active region, with similar structure and morphology. A series of at least eight homologous flares occurred in active region NOAA 11237 over 16 - 17 June 2011. A filament is rooted in the active region with an overlying coronal cavity. The active region appears on the southeast solar limb as seen from SDO/AIA, and on the disk as viewed from STEREO-B/EUVI; the dual perspective allows us to study in detail behavior of prominence/filament material entrained in the magnetic field of the repeatedly-erupting system. Each of the eruptions was mainly confined, with active-region prominence material being ejected from the core of the erupting region onto outer-lobe loops of the active region. The eruption series repeatedly disrupted material of a quiet-Sun extension of the prominence, and that material became suspended at progressively higher heights above the surface. Two final eruptions from the core region destabilized the field holding that material, instigating a coronal mass ejection (CME).

homologous flares↗
NASA NTRS2014

Miniature Filament Eruptions and their Reconnections in X-Ray Jets: Evidence for a New Paradigm

We investigate the onset of approximately10 random X-ray jets observed by Hinode/XRT. Each jet was near the limb in a polar coronal hole, and showed a ``bright point'' in an edge of the base of the jet, as is typical for previously-observed X-ray jets. We examined SDO/AIA EUV images of each of the jets over multiple AIA channels, including 304 Ang, which detects chromospheric emissions, and 171, 193, and 211 Ang, which detect cooler-coronal emissions. We find the jets to result from eruptions of miniature (size less than approximately 10 arcsec) filaments from the bases of the jets. Much of the erupting-filament material forms a chromospheric-temperature jet. In the cool-coronal channels, often the filament appears in absorption and the jet in emission. The jet bright point forms at the location from which the miniature filament is ejected, analogous to the formation of a standard solar flare in the wake of the eruption of a typical larger-scale chromospheric filament. Thus these X-ray jets and their bright points are made by miniature filament eruptions. They are evidently produced the same way as an on-disk coronal jet we observed in Adams et al. (2014); that on-disk jet had no obvious emerging magnetic field in its base. We conclude that, for many jets, the standard idea of X-ray jets forming from reconnection between emerging flux and preexisting coronal field is incorrect. ACS and RLM were supported by funding from NASA/LWS, Hinode, and ISSI.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2014

Magnetic Untwisting in Solar Jets that Go into the Outer Corona in Polar Coronal Holes

We present results from 14 exceptionally high‐reaching large solar jets observed in the polar coronal holes. EUV movies from SDO/AIA show that each jet is similar to many other similar‐size and smaller jets that erupt in coronal holes, but each is exceptional in that it goes higher than most other jets, so high that it is observed in the outer corona beyond 2.2 R(sub Sun) in images from the SOHO/LASCO/C2 coronagraph. For these high‐reaching jets, we find: (1) the front of the jet transits the corona below 2.2 R(sub Sun) at a speed typically several times the sound speed; (2) each jet displays an exceptionally large amount of spin as it erupts; (3) in the outer corona, most jets display oscillatory swaying having an amplitude of a few degrees and a period of order 1 hour. We conclude that these jets are magnetically driven, propose that the driver is a magnetic‐untwisting wave that is grossly a large‐amplitude (i.e., nonlinear) torsional Alfven wave that is put into the reconnected open magnetic field in the jet by interchange reconnection as the jet erupts, and estimate from the measured spinning and swaying that the magnetic‐untwisting wave loses most of its energy in the inner corona below 2.2 R(sub Sun). From these results for these big jets, we reason that the torsional magnetic waves observed in Type‐II spicules should dissipate in the corona in the same way and could thereby power much of the coronal heating in coronal holes.

Moore, Ronald L.↗
NASA NTRS2014

New Aspects of a Lid-Removal Mechanism in the Onset of a SEP-Producing Eruption Sequence

We examine a sequence of two ejective eruptions from a single active region on 2012 January 23, using magnetograms and EUV images from SDO/HMI and SDO/AIA, and EUV images from STEREO. Cheng et al. (2013) showed that the first eruption's ("Eruption 1'') flux rope was apparent only in "hotter'' AIA channels, and that it removed overlying field that allowed the second eruption (``Eruption 2'') to begin via ideal MHD instability; here we say Eruption 2 began via a ``lid removal'' mechanism. We show that during Eruption-1's onset, its flux rope underwent ``tether weakening'' (TW) reconnection with the field of an adjacent active region. Standard flare loops from Eruption 1 developed over Eruption-2's flux rope and enclosed filament, but these overarching new loops were unable to confine that flux rope/filament. Eruption-1's flare loops, from both TW reconnection and standard-flare-model internal reconnection, were much cooler than Eruption-2's flare loops (GOES thermal temperatures of approx. 9 MK compared to approx. 14 MK). This eruption sequence produced a strong solar energetic particle (SEP) event (10 MeV protons, >10(exp 3) pfu for 43 hrs), apparently starting when Eruption-2's CME blasted through Eruption-1's CME at 5-10 R_s. This occurred because the two CMEs originated in close proximity and in close time sequence: Eruption-1's fast rise started soon after the TW reconnection; the lid removal by Eruption-1's ejection triggered the slow onset of Eruption 2; and Eruption-2's CME, which started approx. 1 hr later, was three times faster than Eruption-1's CME.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2013

An SDO/AIA-Observed Filament Eruption Triggered by a Lid-Removal Onset Mechanism

An eruption of a solar filament often presages the onset of a more general solar eruption, often leading to a solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME). Among the mechanisms suggested for triggering eruptions are flux cancellation, flux emergence, tether‐cutting reconnection, and breakout reconnection. Here we present an example of a filament eruption due to a different trigger mechanism, which we call ``lid removal,'' whereby a magnetic structure overlying the filament is removed by a preceding adjacent eruption, rendering MHD unstable the magnetic system containing the filament and resulting in the subsequent eruption of the filament. This filament eruption occurred on 23 Jan 2013, and was well‐seen in SDO/AIA 193 Ang images. Prior to its eruption the filament was at an approximately constant height above the solar surface for approx. 4 hours, before smoothly lifting off. Evidence for the overlying "lid'' field was difficult to discern in 193 Ang images, but was apparent in hotter coronal images, such as SDO/AIA 335. Removal of the lid field was due to an eruption of that field visible in the hotter‐corona images. In this way, the lid‐removal filament‐eruption mechanism is similar to recent observations of connected or cascading eruptions originating from magnetically‐linked locations.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2013

An SDO/AIA-Observed Filament Eruption Triggered by a Lid-Removal Onset Mechanism

An eruption of a solar filament often presages the onset of a more general solar eruption, often leading to a solar flare and coronal mass ejection (CME). Among the mechanisms suggested for triggering eruptions are flux cancellation, flux emergence, tether-cutting reconnection, and breakout reconnection. Here we present an example of a filament eruption due to a different trigger mechanism, which we call "lid removal,'' whereby a magnetic structure overlying the filament is removed by a preceding adjacent eruption, rendering MHD unstable the magnetic system containing the filament and resulting in the subsequent eruption of the filament. This filament eruption occurred on 23 Jan 2013, and was well-seen in SDO/AIA 193 Ang images. Prior to its eruption the filament was at an approximately constant height above the solar surface for approx 4 hours, before smoothly lifting off. Evidence for the overlying "lid'' field was difficult to discern in 193 Ang images, but was apparent in hotter coronal images, such as SDO/AIA 335. Removal of the lid field was due to an eruption of that field visible in the hotter‐corona images. In this way, the lid‐removal filament‐eruption mechanism is similar to recent observations of connected or cascading eruptions originating from magnetically‐linked locations.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2013

Observations from Hinode and SDO of a Twisting and Writhing Start to a Solar-filament-eruption Cascade

Active region eruption of 1 June 2011. Ejective eruption. GOES class C4.1 flare. SDO/AIA, various filters (94, 131, 171, 193, 211, 304, 335 Ang.) High time cadence (24 s) and high spatial resolution (0 .6 pixels). SDO/HMI line-of-sight magnetograms. Hinode observed the onset, and the later decay phase. There are two filament eruptions (filament 1 and filament 2). Filament 1 has slow rise with steps, as in several previous cases. GOES "episodes" play role of "microflares" in other events; that is, filament jumps <=> intensity peaks. Episode 1 brightening: Accompanied by filament 1 s initial motions. (Rest of talk.) Filament 1 becomes unstable, and.. Episode 2 brightening: Flare ribbons following filament 1 s fast liftoff. This destabilizes neighboring filament 2, and... Episode 3 brightening: Flare ribbons of whole system following filament 2 s eruption.Something leads to reconnection; not totally clear what. Reconnection -> twisted flux rope in approx.20 min; episode 1 microflare (flare ribbons; TC) and filament jump. Twist -> writhe, via kink instability; filament-trajectory plateau, approx. 20 min. Writhe -> jump and eruption of filament 1, via instability; episode 2 microflare (flare ribbons; TC). (E.g., Williams et al.) First eruption -> second filament eruption (episode 3 flare ribbons; TC). (E.g., Sterling, Moore; Liu et al.; Torok et al.; Schrijver & Title.). Estimate amount of free energy in newly-twisted field (cf. Moore 1988): where we have taken L and r = 50, 3 arcsec. Energy of the total system is likely 1030 ergs or more. So "no" is answer to question. Additional energy comes from remainder of sheared large loop, shear (free energy) of second filament, etc. (Normally assumed situation.) Some history of twist-induced instability in filament eruptions: e.g., Sakurai, Torok & Kliem, Fan & Gibson, Gilbert et al., van Driel-Gesztelyi et al. Criterion : Kink instability for line-tied tube (Hood & Priest): 2.5pi; for Titov & Demoulin loop (Torok et al): approx.3.5pi We observe here: approx.1.5 turns (3.0pi) over ~50. => consistent with kink instability acting. (Cf. Srivastava et al. (2010): Small flare seen in TRACE and Hinode: approx.6.0pi)

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2013

The Limit of Magnetic-Shear Energy in Solar Active Regions

It has been found previously, by measuring from active ]region magnetograms a proxy of the free energy in the active region fs magnetic field, (1) that there is a sharp upper limit to the free energy the field can hold that increases with the amount of magnetic field in the active region, the active region fs magnetic flux content, and (2) that most active regions are near this limit when their field explodes in a CME/flare eruption. That is, explosive active regions are concentrated in a main ]sequence path bordering the free ]energy ]limit line in (flux content, free ]energy proxy) phase space. Here we present evidence that specifies the underlying magnetic condition that gives rise to the free ]energy limit and the accompanying main sequence of explosive active regions. Using a suitable free energy proxy measured from vector magnetograms of 44 active regions, we find evidence that (1) in active regions at and near their free ]energy limit, the ratio of magnetic ]shear free energy to the non ]free magnetic energy the potential field would have is of order 1 in the core field, the field rooted along the neutral line, and (2) this ratio is progressively less in active regions progressively farther below their free ]energy limit. Evidently, most active regions in which this core ]field energy ratio is much less than 1 cannot be triggered to explode; as this ratio approaches 1, most active regions become capable of exploding; and when this ratio is 1, most active regions are compelled to explode.

Moore, Ronald L.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Filament Eruption Onset

We have been investigating filament eruptions in recent years. Use filament eruptions as markers of the coronal field evolution. Data from SoHO, Yohkoh, TRACE, Hinode, and other sources. We and others have observed: (1)Filaments often show slow rise, followed by fast rise, (2) Brightenings, preflares, microflares during slow rise (3) Magnetic evolution in hours prior to eruption onset. We investigated What do Hinode and SDO show for filament eruptions?

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Filaments from L5

We've been investigating filament eruptions in recent years. Why do eruptions occur? Basic mechanism is magnetic, and can often include coronal mass ejections (CMEs), flares, and filament eruptions. Use filament eruptions as markers of the more-general eruption. From our studies, we can identify directions for future work to help predict when eruptions might occur.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Fibrillar Chromospheric Spicule-Like Counterparts to an EUV and Soft X-Ray Blowout Coronal Jet

We observe an erupting jet feature in a solar polar coronal hole, using data from Hinode/SOT, EIS, and XRT, with supplemental data from STEREO/EUVI. From EUV and soft X-ray (SXR) images we identify the erupting feature as a blowout coronal jet: in SXRs it is a jet with bright base, and in EUV it appears as an eruption of relatively cool (approximately 50,000 K) material of horizontal size scale approximately 30" originating from the base of the SXR jet. In SOT Ca II H images the most pronounced analog is a pair of thin (approximately 1") ejections, at the locations of either of the two legs of the erupting EUV jet. These Ca II features eventually rise beyond 45", leaving the SOT field of view, and have an appearance similar to standard spicules except that they are much taller. They have velocities similar to that of "type II" spicules, approximately 100 kilometers per second, and they appear to have spicule-like substructures splitting off from them with horizontal velocity approximately 50 kilometers per second, similar to the velocities of splitting spicules measured by Sterling et al. (2010). Motions of splitting features and of other substructures suggest that the macroscopic EUV jet is spinning or unwinding as it is ejected. This and earlier work suggests that a sub-population of Ca II type II spicules are the Ca II manifestation of portions of larger-scale erupting magnetic jets. A different sub-population of type II spicules could be blowout jets occurring on a much smaller horizontal size scale than the event we observe here.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Triggering of Solar Magnetic Eruptions on Various Size Scales

Solar eruptions occur on many different scales. (Schrijver 2010: bipole eruptions more frequent as size decreases.) Trigger might be any of several different candidates, working independently or in tandem. How about larger scales than (solar) CMEs? (Stellar eruptions.) How about smaller scales than X-ray jets? (Spicules? Moore 1989)

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Solar Polar Spicules Observed with Hinode

We examine solar polar region spicules using high-cadence Ca II data from the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on the Hinode spacecraft. We sharpened the images by convolving them with the inverse-point-spread function of the SOT Ca II filter, and we are able to see some of the spicules originating on the disk just inside the limb. Bright points are frequently at the root of the disk spicules. These "Ca II brightenings" scuttle around at approx.few x 10 km/s, live for approx.100 sec, and may be what are variously known as "H_{2V} grains," "K_{2V} grains," or "K_{2V} bright points." When viewed extending over the limb, some of the spicules appear to expand horizontally or split into two or more components, with the horizontal expansion or splitting velocities reaching approx.50 km/s. This work was funded by NASA's Science Mission Directorate through the Living With a Star Targeted Research and Technology Program, the Supporting Research and Program, the Heliospheric Guest Investigator Program, and the Hinode project.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Blowout Jets: Hinode X-Ray Jets that Don't Fit the Standard Model

Nearly half of all H-alpha macrospicules in polar coronal holes appear to be miniature filament eruptions. This suggests that there is a large class of X-ray jets in which the jet-base magnetic arcade undergoes a blowout eruption as in a CME, instead of remaining static as in most solar X-ray jets, the standard jets that fit the model advocated by Shibata. Along with a cartoon depicting the standard model, we present a cartoon depicting the signatures expected of blowout jets in coronal X-ray images. From Hinode/XRT movies and STEREO/EUVI snapshots in polar coronal holes, we present examples of (1) X-ray jets that fit the standard model, and (2) X-ray jets that do not fit the standard model but do have features appropriate for blowout jets. These features are (1) a flare arcade inside the jet-base arcade in addition to the small flare arcade (bright point) outside that standard jets have, (2) a filament of cool (T is approximately 80,000K) plasma that erupts from the core of the jetbase arcade, and (3) an extra jet strand that should not be made by the reconnection for standard jets but could be made by reconnection between the ambient unipolar open field and the opposite-polarity leg of the filament-carrying flux-rope core field of the erupting jet-base arcade. We therefore infer that these non-standard jets are blowout jets, jets made by miniature versions of the sheared-core-arcade eruptions that make CMEs

Moore, Ronald L.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Blowout Jets: Evidence from Hinode/XRT for X-Ray Jets Made by Blowout Eruption of the Emerging Bipole

Yamauchi et al (2004, ApJ, 605, 511) found that there are two structurally and dynamically distinct types of H macrospicules in polar coronal holes: single-column jet macrospicules and erupting-loop macrospicules. The structure and motion of the single-column jet macrospicules fit the standard Shibata reconnection picture for solar X-ray jets (Shibata et al 1992, PASJ, 44, L173). The form and motion of the erupting-loop macrospicules is reminiscent of the ejective eruption of the sheared-core-field flux rope in the filament-eruption birth of a bubble-type coronal mass ejection (CME). That roughly half of all polar H macrospicules were observed to be erupting-loop macrospicules suggests that there should be a corresponding large class of X-ray jets in which the emerging bipole at the base of the jet undergoes a blowout eruption as in a bubble-type CME, instead of staying closed as in the standard picture for X-ray jets. Along with a cartoon of the standard picture, we present a cartoon depicting the signatures to be expected of a blowout jet in high-resolution coronal X-ray movies such as from Hinode/XRT. From Hinode/XRT movies in polar coronal holes, we show: (1) examples of X-ray jets that fit the standard picture very well, and (2) other examples that do not fit the standard picture but do show signatures appropriate for blowout jets. These signatures are (1) a flare arcade inside the emerging bipole in addition to the flare arcade produced between the emerging bipole and the ambient high-reaching unipolar field by reconnection of these two fields as in the standard picture, and (2) in addition to the jet prong expected from the standard reconnection, a second jet prong or strand, one that could not be produced by the standard reconnection but could be produced by reconnection between the ambient unipolar field and one leg of an erupting core-field flux rope that has blown out the emerging bipole. We therefore infer that these "two pronged" jets are made by miniature versions of the sheared-core-bipole explosions that produce bubble-type CMEs. This work was funded by NASA s Science Mission Directorate through the Heliophysics Guest Investigators Program, the Hinode Project, and the Living With a Star Targeted Research and Technology Program.

Moore, Ronald L.↗
NASA NTRS2009

Solar Spicules Near and at the Limb, Observed from Hinode

Solar spicules appear as narrow jets emanating from the chromosphere and extending into the corona. They have been observed for over a hundred years, mainly in chromospheric spectral lines such as H-alpha. Because they are at the limit of visibility of ground-based instruments, their nature has long been a puzzle (Beckers 1968, 1972; Sterling 2000). In recent years however, vast progress has been made in understanding them both theoretically and observationally, as spicule studies have undergone a revolution because of the superior resolution and time cadence of ground-based and space-based instruments (e.g., De~Pontieu et al. 2004). Even more rapid progress is currently underway, due to the Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) instrument on the Hinode spacecraft (e.g., De Pontieu et al. 2007a, 2007b). Here we present observations of spicules from Hinode SOT, as seen near the limb with the Ca II filtergraph.

Sterling, Alphonse C.↗