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At least 325 records · Page 18

Energetic protons, alpha particles, and electrons in magnetic flux transfer events

Energetic proton, alpha particle, and electron data are presented for two magnetopause crossings, which show magnetic field signatures characteristic of flux transfer events (FTEs). Energetic proton and alpha particles are observed streaming along the magnetic field within the magnetosheath in all events showing magnetic signatures characteristic of the FTEs. Flux ratios as high as about 180 parallel and antiparallel to the magnetic field are observed, which means that ions of about 30 keV per charge are at times streaming almost scatter-free from the magnetopause into the magnetosheath. Energetic ion bursts with signatures equal to those observed in FTEs are reduced by more than an order of magnitude as compared to the trapped particle flux.

Scholer, M.↗

Eruption of a Multiple-Turn Helical Magnetic Flux Tube in a Large Flare: Evidence for External and Internal Reconnection that Fits the Breakout Model of Solar Magnetic Eruptions

We present observations and an interpretation of a unique multiple-turn spiral flux tube eruption from AR10030 on 2002 July 15. The TRACE CIV observations clearly show a flux tube that is helical and that is erupting from within a sheared magnetic field. These observations are interpreted in the context of the breakout model for magnetic field explosions. The initiation of the helix eruption starts 25 seconds after the peak of the flare s strongest impulsive spike of microwave gryosynchrotron radiation early in the flare s explosive phase, implying that the sheared core field is not the site of the initial reconnection. Within the quadrupolar configuration of the active region, the external and internal reconnection sites are identified in each of two consecutive eruptive flares that produce a double CME. The first external breakout reconnection apparently releases an underlying sheared core field and allows it to erupt, leading to internal reconnection in the wake of the erupting helix. This internal reconnection heats the two-ribbon flare and might or might not produce the helix. These events lead to the first CME and are followed by a second breakout that initiates a second and larger halo CME. The strong magnetic shear in the region is associated with rapid proper motion and evolution of the active region. The multiple-turn helix originates from above a sheared-field magnetic inversion line within a filament channel, and starts to erupt only after fast breakout reconnection has started. These observations are counter to the standard flare model and support the breakout model for eruptive flare initiation. However, the observations are compatible with internal reconnection in a sheared magnetic arcade in the formation and eruption of the helix.

Gary, G. Allen↗

Catastrophe versus instability for the eruption of a toroidal solar magnetic flux rope

The onset of a solar eruption is formulated here as either a magnetic catastrophe or as an instability. Both start with the same equation of force balance governing the underlying equilibria. Using a toroidal flux rope in an external bipolar or quadrupolar field as a model for the current-carrying flux, we demonstrate the occurrence of a fold catastrophe by loss of equilibrium for several representative evolutionary sequences in the stable domain of parameter space. We verify that this catastrophe and the torus instability occur at the same point; they are thus equivalent descriptions for the onset condition of solar eruptions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HOW COMMON ARE HOT MAGNETIC FLUX ROPES IN THE LOW SOLAR CORONA? A STATISTICAL STUDY OF EUV OBSERVATIONS

We use data at 131, 171, and 304 Å from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory to search for hot flux ropes in 141 M-class and X-class solar flares that occurred at solar longitudes equal to or larger than 50°. Half of the flares were associated with coronal mass ejections. The goal of our survey is to assess the frequency of hot flux ropes in large flares irrespective of their formation time relative to the onset of eruptions. The flux ropes were identified in 131 Å images using morphological criteria and their high temperatures were confirmed by their absence in the cooler 171 and 304 Å passbands. We found hot flux ropes in 45 of our events (32% of the flares); 11 of them were associated with confined flares while the remaining 34 were associated with eruptive flares. Therefore almost half (49%) of the eruptive events involved a hot flux rope configuration. The use of supplementary Hinode X-Ray Telescope data indicates that these percentages should be considered as lower limits of the actual rates of occurrence of hot flux ropes in large flares.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The appearance of magnetic flux on the surfaces of the early main-sequence F stars

Available chromospheric, transition region, and coronal observations of the early main-sequence F stars are examined in order to find that while these objects exhibit enhanced levels of magnetic field-related radiative emissions, significant inhomogeneities in surface activity are not present. This phenomenon is discussed within the context of the calculations published by Schmitt and Rosner (1983) for the production of flux ropes of various spatial scales at a given rotation rate at the bottom of a stellar convection zone. It is found that the spatial scales and area contrast of emergent magnetic flux in these stars that, as a class, are characterized by rapid rotation and thin convection zones are substantially reduced relative to that of the sun.

Giampapa, M. S.↗

Rate of erosion of dayside magnetic flux based on a quantitative study of the dependence of polar cusp latitude on the interplanetary magnetic field

In a consideration of only those periods when the delay time from the interplanetary observing position to the magnetosphere is less than 5 minutes, it is found that, irrespective of substorm activity: (1) The 45 minute average value of interplanetary B(z) predicts the latitudes of the poleward and equatorward boundaries of polar cusp electron precipitation with rms errors of 1.34 deg and 1.16 deg respectively; (2) Both boundaries more equatorward by about 5 deg as B(z) varies from 1 to -6 gammas, the cusp remaining about 40 deg wide; (3) The amount of flux added to the polar cap is about 9.2 percent of the total southward flux impingent on the magnetosphere in the previous 45 minutes; (4) As B(z) becomes more positive, the equatorward boundary moves only slightly more poleward (1/2 deg between B(z) = 2 gammas and B(z) = 6 gammas, while the poleward boundary moves significantly toward higher latitudes, resulting in a cusp approximately 7 deg wide for B(z) = 6 gammas.

Burch, J. L.↗

Microscale Processes Determining Macroscale Evolution of Magnetic Flux Tubes along Earth’s Magnetopause

An important process affecting solar wind-Earth’s magnetosphere coupling is non-steady dayside magnetic reconnection, observationally evidenced by a flux-transfer-event (FTE) that shows a bipolar variation of the magnetic field component normal to the magnetopause. FTEs often consist of two interlinked flux tubes, but, local kinetic processes between the flux tubes are not understood in the context of the FTE structuring, evolution, and impact. An FTE observed by MMS on 18 December 2017 consisted of two flux tubes of different topology. One includes field lines with ends connected to the northern and southern hemispheres while the other includes field lines with both ends connected to the magnetosheath. Reconnection occurring at the flux-tube interface indicates how interacting flux tubes evolve into a flux rope with helical magnetic topology that is either closed or open. This study demonstrates a new aspect of how micro-to meso-scale dynamics occurring within FTEs determines their macroscale characteristics and evolution.

Solar-terrestrial interactions↗

Quantized Chiral Magnetic Current from Reconnections of Magnetic Flux

We introduce a new mechanism for the chiral magnetic e ect that does not require an initial chirality imbalance. The chiral magnetic current is generated by reconnections of magnetic ux that change the magnetic helicity of the system. The resulting current is entirely determined by the change of magnetic helicity, and it is quantized.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Simulations of Emerging Magnetic Flux. II. The Formation of Unstable Coronal Flux Ropes and the Initiation of Coronal Mass Ejections

We present results from three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the emergence of a twisted convection zone flux tube into a pre-existing coronal dipole field. As in previous simulations, following the partial emergence of the sub-surface flux into the corona, a combination of vortical motions and internal magnetic reconnection forms a coronal flux rope. Then, in the simulations presented here, external reconnection between the emerging field and the pre-existing dipole coronal field allows further expansion of the coronal flux rope into the corona. After sufficient expansion, internal reconnection occurs beneath the coronal flux rope axis, and the flux rope erupts up to the top boundary of the simulation domain (approximately 36 Mm above the surface).We find that the presence of a pre-existing field, orientated in a direction to facilitate reconnection with the emerging field, is vital to the fast rise of the coronal flux rope. The simulations shown in this paper are able to self-consistently create many of the surface and coronal signatures used by coronal mass ejection (CME) models. These signatures include surface shearing and rotational motions, quadrupolar geometry above the surface, central sheared arcades reconnecting with oppositely orientated overlying dipole fields, the formation of coronal flux ropes underlying potential coronal field, and internal reconnection which resembles the classical flare reconnection scenario. This suggests that proposed mechanisms for the initiation of a CME, such as "magnetic breakout," are operating during the emergence of new active regions.

corona↗

Materials for efficient high-flux magnetic bearing actuators

Magnetic bearings have demonstrated the capability for achieving positioning accuracies at the nanometer level in precision motion control stages. This makes possible the positioning of a wafer in six degrees of freedom with the precision necessary for photolithography. To control the position of an object at the nanometer level, a model of the magnetic bearing actuator force-current-airgap relationship must be accurately obtained. Additionally, to reduce thermal effects the design of the actuator should be optimized to achieve maximum power efficiency and flux density. Optimization of the actuator is accomplished by proper pole face sizing and utilizing a magnetic core material which can be magnetized to the highest flux density with low magnetic loss properties. This paper describes the construction of a magnetic bearing calibration fixture designed for experimental measurement of the actuator force characteristics. The results of a material study that review the force properties of nickel-steel, silicon-steel, and cobalt-vanadium-iron, as they apply to magnetic bearing applications are also presented.

Williams, M. E.↗

Emergence of Magnetic Flux Generated in a Solar Convective Dynamo. I. The Formation of Sunspots and Active Regions, and The Origin of Their Asymmetries

We present a realistic numerical model of sunspot and active region formation based on the emergence of flux bundles generated in a solar convective dynamo. To this end, we use the magnetic and velocity fields in a horizontal layer near the top boundary of the solar convective dynamo simulation to drive realistic radiative-magnetohydrodynamic simulations of the uppermost layers of the convection zone. The main results are as follows. (1) The emerging flux bundles rise with the mean speed of convective upflows and fragment into small-scale magnetic elements that further rise to the photosphere, where bipolar sunspot pairs are formed through the coalescence of the small-scale magnetic elements. (2) Filamentary penumbral structures form when the sunspot is still growing through ongoing flux emergence. In contrast to the classical Evershed effect, the inflow seems to prevail over the outflow in a large part of the penumbra. (3) A well-formed sunspot is a mostly monolithic magnetic structure that is anchored in a persistent deep-seated downdraft lane. The flow field outside the spot shows a giant vortex ring that comprises an inflow below 15 Mm depth and an outflow above 15 Mm depth. (4) The sunspots successfully reproduce the fundamental properties of the observed solar active regions, including the more coherent leading spots with a stronger field strength, and the correct tilts of bipolar sunspot pairs. These asymmetries can be linked to the intrinsic asymmetries in the magnetic and flow fields adapted from the convective dynamo simulation.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetic flux ropes in the Venus ionosphere - Observations and models

Pioneer Venus Orbiter data are used as evidence of naturally occurring magnetic field filamentary structures which can be described by a flux rope model. The solar wind is interpreted as piling up a magnetic field on the Venus ionosphere, with the incident ram pressure being expressed as magnetic field pressure. Currents flowing at the ionopause shield out the field, allowing magnetic excursions to be observed with magnitudes of tens of nT over an interval of a few seconds. A quantitative assessment is made of the signature expected from a flux rope. It is noted that each excursion of the magnetic field detected by the Orbiter magnetometer was correlated with variations in the three components of the field. A coordinate system is devised which shows that the Venus data is indicative of the presence of flux ropes whose parameters are the coordinates of the system and would yield the excursions observed in the spacecraft crossings of the fields.

Elphic, R. C.↗

Dilation of force-free magnetic flux tubes

A general study is presented of the mapping functions which relate the magnetic-field profiles across a force-free rope in segments subjected to various external pressures. The results reveal that if the external pressure falls below a certain critical level (dependent on the flux-current relation which defines the tube), the magnetic profile consists of an invariant core sheathed in a layer permeated by an azimuthal magnetic field.

Frankenthal, S.↗

RECURRENT EXPLOSIVE ERUPTIONS AND THE ''SIGMOID-TO-ARCADE'' TRANSFORMATION IN THE SUN DRIVEN BY DYNAMICAL MAGNETIC FLUX EMERGENCE

We report on three-dimensional MHD simulations of recurrent mini coronal mass ejection (CME)-like eruptions in a small active region (AR), which is formed by the dynamical emergence of a twisted (not kink unstable) flux tube from the solar interior. The eruptions develop as a result of the repeated formation and expulsion of new flux ropes due to continuous emergence and reconnection of sheared field lines along the polarity inversion line of the AR. The acceleration of the eruptions is triggered by tether-cutting reconnection at the current sheet underneath the erupting field. We find that each explosive eruption is followed by reformation of a sigmoidal structure and a subsequent ''sigmoid-to-flare arcade'' transformation in the AR. These results might have implications for recurrent CMEs and eruptive sigmoids/flares observations and theoretical studies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

An analytical approach to scattering between two thin magnetic flux tubes in a stratified atmosphere

We expand on recent studies to analytically model the behavior of two thin flux tubes interacting through the near- and acoustic far-field. The multiple scattering that occurs between the pair alters the absorption and phase of the outgoing wave when compared to non-interacting tubes. We have included both the sausage and kink scatter produced by the pair. It is shown that the sausage mode's contribution to the scattered wave field is significant, and plays an equally important role in the multiple scattering regime. A disparity between recent numerical results and analytical studies, in particular the lack of symmetry between the two kink modes, is addressed. This symmetry break is found to be caused by an incorrect solution for the near-field modes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗