Causal relationships between eruptive prominences and coronal mass ejections

B Filippov,S Koutchmy

doi:10.5194/angeo-26-3025-2008

Abstract

Abstract. A close association between eruptive prominences and CMEs, both slow and fast CMEs, was reported in many studies. Sometimes it was possible to follow the material motion starting from the prominence (filament) activation to the CME in the high corona. Remnants of the prominence were found in the bright core of the CME. However, detailed comparisons of the two phenomena reveal problems in explaining CMEs as a continuation of filament eruptions in the upper corona. For example, the heliolatitudes of the disappeared filaments and subsequent coronal ejections sometimes differ by tens of degrees. In order to clear up the problems appearing when considering this association EP-CME, we tentatively analyse the more general question of the dynamics of the generic magnetic flux rope. Prominences and filaments are the best tracers of the flux ropes in the corona long before the beginning of the eruption. A twisted flux rope is held by the tension of field lines of photospheric sources until parameters of the system reach critical values and a catastrophe happens. We suggest that the associated flux rope height above the photosphere is one of these parameters and that it is revealed by the measured height of the filament. 80 filaments were analysed and we found that eruptive prominences were near the so-called limit of stability a few days before their eruptions. We suggest that a comparison of actual heights of prominences with the calculated critical heights from magnetograms could be systematically used to predict filament eruptions and the corresponding CMEs.

Highlights

We suggest that the associsahtaepdefloufxarcolpoesehdeilgohotp with its legs There fixed on the Sun (Crifo et al, 1983; Sime et al, 1984). is a very close association between eruptive promiabove the photosphere is one of these paTrahmereeteirss anvdetrhyatciltoisse assonceinactieosnabnedtwCeMenEse.rupTthiveereparroemninoendcoeusbtasn,dthCaMt iEnse. jTechteiorensare no revealed by the measured height of the fidloaumbetsn,t.th8a0t fiinlaemjeecnttisons wwithithbrbigrihgthctocreosr,esth, ethmeamteraitaelrioafl eorfupetriuvpetipvreomprinoemnicneesnicsescoinstained were analysed and we found that eruptive prominences were contained in the cores (House et al, 1981)
We suggest that a comparisopnroofmaicnteunaclehweiagshtrsecoofrded iinn He II 330044 Ǻ linnee wwiitthh ththeeuultlrtarvavioioleltettetleelsecsocpoepeEIETITononSOHO, prominences with the calculated critical heights from magnetograms could be systematically useadndtothperenditchte firleammneanntts of SthOeHtOw,isatendd tphreonmitnheencreemwnearnetswoefll trheecotwgniissteedd were well recognised in the core of the coronal mass ejection (CME)
In a number of cases a detailed correlation of prominence eruptions and coronal mass ejections permits to trace the continuous transformation of one phenomenon into another, which makes it possible to speak about a common eruptive phenomenon

Summary

Introduction

60% of prominences that reached the height 1.1 R were associated with CMEs. This raises the question of whether or quent coronal ejections sometimes differ by tens of degrees. CME positions were sociated with eruptive prominences had bright cores, while taken from SOHO/LASCO observations.

Results

Conclusion