A possible mechanism governing the production and evolution of Ellerman bombs

Abstract

A hydrodynamic-magnetofluid hybrid analysis of lower chromospheric shear flows in the Sun may explain the occurrence and time development of Ellerman bombs. The analysis assumes that the erupting material forming the bomb is driven initially by the Kelvin-Helmholtz fluid instability applied to the interface between two atmospheric fluid layers, characterized by a steep density change across the boundary and driven by flow fields around sunspots. The ensuing instability eventually evolves into a magnetofluid phenomenon by virtue of the trapping and bending of the interfacial magnetic field, giving rise to a dense globule of material entering, and persisting in, the upper layers and due to Ohmic dissipation having a significantly enhanced temperature compared with ambient material.