Magnetic Helicity Accumulation Research Articles

Global and local dynamics of X-flare-producing active regions during solar cycle 25 peak phase

Context. The configuration of the longitudinally elongated region that active regions (ARs) cluster around, known as a toroid belt, has been shown to be an indicator of intense activity. In particular, complex ARs at locations in the north and/or south toroids tend to appear “tipped-away” with respect to each other. On the other hand, magnetic helicity has been used as an indicator of flare activity in ARs. Aims. As solar cycle (SC) 25 approaches its peak, a number of significant (X-class) flares have been produced. Here, we investigate the circumstances surrounding two of the most flare-prolific ARs of solar cycle 25, namely, ARs 13590 and 13514. Two aspects of the evolution of these ARs are investigated in this work: the global-scale magnetic toroid configuration and small-scale magnetic field morphology and topology – before, during, and after the onset of major flares. Methods. We studied the global morphology of the solar magnetic fields near intense flares in terms of the spatial distribution of ARs on magnetic fields synoptic maps. On AR scales, we analyzed the magnetic helicity accumulation, as well as its current-carrying and potential components. Results. Our results are consistent with major flare-prolific ARs from solar cycles 23 and 24. In particular, we observe a consistent dominance of current-carrying magnetic helicity at the time of major flares. The evolution of global magnetic toroids, indicating the occurrence of flare-prolific ARs in the tipped-away portion of the toroid, together with the local dynamics of complex ARs, could offer a few weeks of lead time to prepare for upcoming space weather hazards.

Magnetic helicity and energy of emerging solar active regions and their erruptivity

Aims.We investigate the role of the accumulation of magnetic helicity and magnetic energy in the generation of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from emerging solar active regions (ARs).Methods.Using vector magnetic field data obtained by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we calculated the magnetic helicity and magnetic energy injection rates as well as the resulting accumulated budgets in 52 emerging ARs from the start time of magnetic flux emergence until they reached a heliographic longitude of 45° West (W45).Results.Seven of the ARs produced CMEs, but 45 did not. In a statistical sense, the eruptive ARs accumulate larger budgets of magnetic helicity and energy than the noneruptive ARs over intervals that start from the flux emergence start time and end (i) at the end of the flux emergence phase and (ii) when the AR produces its first CME or crosses W45, whichever occurs first. We found magnetic helicity and energy thresholds of 9 × 1041Mx2and 2 × 1032erg. When these thresholds were crossed, ARs are likely to erupt. In terms of accumulated magnetic helicity and energy budgets, the segregation of the eruptive from the noneruptive ARs is violated in one case when an AR erupts early in its emergence phase and in six cases in which noneruptive ARs exhibit large magnetic helicity and energy budgets. Decay index calculations may indicate that these ARs did not erupt because the overlying magnetic field provided a stronger or more extended confinement than in eruptive ARs.Conclusions.Our results indicate that emerging ARs tend to produce CMEs when they accumulate significant budgets of both magnetic helicity and energy. Any study of their eruptive potential should consider magnetic helicity together with magnetic energy.

Comparative case study of two methods to assess the eruptive potential of selected active regions

Solar eruptive events, like flares and coronal mass ejections, are characterized by the rapid release of energy that can give rise to emission of radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum and to an abrupt significant increase in the kinetic energy of particles. These energetic phenomena can have important effects on the space weather conditions and therefore it is necessary to understand their origin, in particular, what is the eruptive potential of an active region (AR). In these case studies, we compare two distinct methods that were used in previous works to investigate the variations of some characteristic physical parameters during the pre-flare states of flaring ARs. These methods consider: i) the magnetic flux evolution and magnetic helicity accumulation, and ii) the fractal and multi-fractal properties of flux concentrations in ARs. Our comparative analysisis based on time series of photospheric data obtained bythe Solar Dynamics Observatory between March 2011 and June 2013. We selected two distinct samples of ARs: one is distinguished by the occurrence of more energetic M- and X-class flare events, that may have a rapid effect on not just the near-Earth space, but also on the terrestrial environment; the second is characterized by no-flares or having just a few C- and B-class flares. We foundthat the two tested methods complement each other in their ability to assess the eruptive potentials of ARs and could be employed to identify ARs prone to flaring activity. Based on the presented case study, we suggest that using a combination of different methods may aid to identify more reliably the eruptive potentials of ARs and help to better understand the pre-flare states.

Two Classes of Eruptive Events During Solar Minimum

During solar minimum, the Sun is relatively inactive with few sunspots observed on the solar surface. Consequently, we observe a smaller number of highly energetic events such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are often associated with active regions on the photosphere. Nonetheless, our magnetofrictional simulations during the minimum period suggest that the solar corona is still dynamically evolving in response to the large-scale shearing velocities on the solar surface. The non-potential evolution of the corona leads to the accumulation of magnetic free energy and helicity, which is periodically shed in eruptive events. We find that these events fall into two distinct classes: One set of events are caused by eruption and ejection of low-lying coronal flux ropes, and they could explain the origin of occasional CMEs during solar minimum. The other set of events are not driven by destabilisation of low-lying structures but rather by eruption of overlying sheared arcades. These could be associated with streamer blowouts or stealth CMEs. The two classes differ significantly in the amount of magnetic flux and helicity shed through the outer coronal boundary. We additionally explore how other measurables such as current, open magnetic flux, free energy, coronal holes, and the horizontal component of the magnetic field on the outer model boundary vary during the two classes of event. This study emphasises the importance and necessity of understanding the dynamics of the coronal magnetic field during solar minimum.

UNWINDING MOTION OF A TWISTED ACTIVE REGION FILAMENT

To better understand the structures of active-region filaments and the eruption process, we study an active-region filament eruption in active region NOAA 11082 in detail on June 22, 2010. Before the filament eruption, the opposite unidirectional material flows appeared in succession along the spine of the filament. The rising of the filament triggered two B-class flares at the upper part of the filament. As the bright material was injected into the filament from the sites of the flares, the filament exhibited a rapid uplift accompanying the counterclockwise rotation of the filament body. From the expansion of the filament, we can see that the filament is consisted of twisted magnetic field lines. The total twist of the filament is at least 5$\pi$ obtained by using time slice method. According to the morphology change during the filament eruption, it is found that the active-region filament was a twisted flux rope and its unwinding motion was like a solar tornado. We also find that there was a continuous magnetic helicity injection before and during the filament eruption. It is confirmed that magnetic helicity can be transferred from the photosphere to the filament. Using the extrapolated potential fields, the average decay index of the background magnetic fields over the filament is 0.91. Consequently, these findings imply that the mechanism of solar filament eruption could be due to the kink instability and magnetic helicity accumulation.

Helicity transport from solar convection zone to interplanetary space

AbstractMagnetic helicity is a physical quantity that describes field topology. It is also a conserved quantity as Berger in 1984 demonstrated that the total magnetic helicity is still conserved in the corona even when there is a fast magnetic reconnection. It is generally believed that solar magnetic fields, together with their helicity, are created in the convection zone by various dynamo processes. These fields and helicity are transported into the corona through solar photosphere and finally released into the interplanetary space via various processes such as coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar winds. Here I will give a brief review on our recent works, first on helicity observations on the photosphere and how to understand these observations via dynamo models. Mostly, I will talk about what are the possible consequences of magnetic helicity accumulation in the corona, namely, the formation of magnetic flux ropes, CMEs taking place as an unavoidable product of coronal evolution, and flux emergences as a trigger of CMEs. Finally, I will address on in what a form magnetic field in the interplanetary space would accommodate a large amount of magnetic helicity that solar dynamo processes have been continuously producing.

MAGNETIC HELICITY OF SELF-SIMILAR AXISYMMETRIC FORCE-FREE FIELDS

In this paper we continue our theoretical studies on addressing what are the possible consequences of magnetic helicity accumulation in the solar corona. Our previous studies suggest that coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are natural products of coronal evolution as a consequence of magnetic helicity accumulation and the triggering of CMEs by surface processes such as flux emergence also have their origin in magnetic helicity accumulation. Here we use the same mathematical approach to study the magnetic helicity of axisymmetric power-law force-free fields, but focus on a family whose surface flux distributions are defined by self-similar force-free fields. The semi-analytical solutions of the axisymmetric self-similar force-free fields enable us to discuss the properties of force-free fields possessing a huge amount of accumulated magnetic helicity. Our study suggests that there may be an absolute upper bound on the total magnetic helicity of all bipolar axisymmetric force-free fields. And with the increase of accumulated magnetic helicity, the force-free field approaches being fully opened up, with Parker-spiral-like structures present around a current-sheet layer as evidence of magnetic helicity in the interplanetary space. It is also found that among the axisymmetric force-free fields having the same boundary flux distribution, the one that is self-similar is the one possessing the maximum amount of total magnetic helicity. This possibly gives a physical reason why self-similar fields are often found in astrophysical bodies, where magnetic helicity accumulation is presumably also taking place.

Flare occurrence and the spatial distribution of the magnetic helicity flux

Context. The accumulation of magnetic helicity via emergence of new magnetic flux and/or shearing photospheric motions is considered an important tool for understanding the processes that lead to eruptive phenomena. Aims. We highlight a specific aspect of the magnetic helicity accumulation, providing new observational evidence of the role played by the interaction of magnetic field systems that are characterized by opposite signs of the magnetic helicity flux in triggering solar eruptions. Methods. The amount of magnetic helicity injected into the corona through the photosphere in a sample of active regions (ARs) during their passage across the solar disk was measured by inferring the apparent motion of photospheric footpoints of magnetic field lines from a time series of MDI full-disk line-of-sight magnetograms. The temporal variation of the maps of magnetic helicity flux was analysed by measuring the fragmentation of the patches that are characterized by the flux of magnetic helicity. The temporal correlation between the number of these patches and the flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) occurrence has also been studied. Results. The fragmentation of the patches singled out in the maps of the magnetic helicity flux provides a useful indication of the evolution of the AR complexity. The more fragmented the maps of the magnetic helicity flux are, the higher is the flare and CME frequency. Moreover, most of the events occur for low values (~3 ÷ 17) of the difference of the number of patches with opposite signs of magnetic helicity flux. Conclusions. These results indicate that not only the accumulation of magnetic helicity in the corona, but also its positive and negative fragmentation and distribution should be taken into account to provide a more confident indication of AR complexity and flare/CME productivity. In particular, the interaction of magnetic systems characterized by opposite sign of magnetic helicity flux may be responsible for many observed eruptions.

SIMULATIONS OF TURBULENT DYNAMOS DRIVEN BY THE MAGNETIC HELICITY FLUX

We present results of numerical simulations of driven magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in a periodic box with an imposed large-scale sinusoidal shear. We produce strong large-scale magnetic fields through dynamo action. This dynamo action is highly dependent on the spectral properties of the forcing function. In particular, we can produce either dynamo or antidynamo action by choosing particular forcing functions for the small-scale turbulence. Our results show that the large-scale electromotive force is well correlated with the local accumulation of eddy-scale magnetic helicity. Conversely, the electromotive force is very weakly correlated with the large-scale magnetic field strength or its product with kinetic helicity. We argue that in these simulations large-scale dynamo action is driven by an inverse cascade of magnetic helicity, ultimately caused by the tendency of anisotropic turbulence to create a magnetic helicity flux.

Magnetic helicity balance during a filament eruption that occurred in active region NOAA 9682

Context. Photospheric shear plasma flows in active regions may be responsible for the magnetic helicity injection in the solar corona not only during the energy storage process before a solar eruption, but also during and after the release of the free magnetic energy caused by the eruption. Indeed, after a filament eruption or expansion the magnetic torque imbalance can induce shear flows that can be responsible for yet another injection of magnetic helicity into the corona.Aims. We investigated the magnetic helicity balance in an active region where a confined solar eruption occurred. This was done to verify a possible relationship between the filament expansion and the helicity transport at its footpoints. We aimed to verify if this variation in the helicity transport rate could be interpreted as a consequence of the magnetic torque imbalance caused by the tube expansion, as proposed by Chae et al. (2003, J. Kor. Astron. Soc., 36, 33). Methods. We used 171ATRACE data to measure some geometrical parameters of the new magnetic system produced by a filament eruption that occurred on 2001 November 1 in active region NOAA 9682. We used MDI full disk line-of-sight magnetogram data to measure the accumulation of magnetic helicity in the corona before and after the event. Results. From the measured expansion factor in the magnetic arcade, visible at 171 Aduring the eruption, we estimated that the resulting torque imbalance at the photosphere ought to lead to the injection of negative helicity following the eruption. We compared this with measurements of the helicity injection using photospheric velocity and magnetogram data.Conclusions. In contradiction to the expectations from the Chae et al. model, the helicity injection after the eruption was positive. We offer the alternative interpretation that the helicity injection resulted from torque of the opposite sign, generated as the filament lost its negative helicity through magnetic reconnection with its surroundings.

A solar eruption triggered by the interaction between two magnetic flux systems with opposite magnetic helicity

Context. In recent years it has been stressed that the accumulation of magnetic helicity via emergence of new magnetic flux and/or shearing photospheric motions, can play an important role in the destabilization processes leading to eruptive phenomena occurring in the solar atmosphere. Aims. In this paper we want to highlight a specific aspect of the process of magnetic helicity accumulation, providing new observational evidences of the role played by the interaction of magnetic fields characterized by opposite magnetic helicity signs in triggering solar eruption. Methods. We used 171 u TRACE data to describe a filament eruption occurred on Nov 1st, 2001 in active region NOAA 9682 and MDI full disk line-of-sight magnetograms to measure the accumulation of magnetic helicity in corona before the event. We used the Local Correlation Tracking (LCT) and the Differential Affine Velocity Estimator (DAVE) techniques to determine the horizontal velocities and the methods proposed by Chae (2001) and Pariat et al. (2005) for the estimation of the magnetic helicity flux. Results. The chirality signatures of the filament involved in the eruption were ambiguous and the overlying arcade visible during the main phase of the event was characterized by a mixing of helicity signs. However, the measures of the magnetic helicity flux allowed us to deduce that the magnetic helicity was positive in the whole active region where the event took place, while it was negative near the magnetic inversion line where the filament footpoints were located. Conclusions. These results suggest that the filament eruption may be caused by magnetic reconnection between two magnetic field systems characterized by opposite signs of magnetic helicity. We also found that only the DAVE method allowed us to obtain the crucial information on the horizontal velocity field near the magnetic inversion line.

Trend of photospheric magnetic helicity flux in active regions generating halo coronal mass ejections

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Magnetic helicity evolution inside a hexagonal convective cell

AbstractMagnetic helicity has received considerable attention in the area of fluid dynamics. Recently, this quantity is attracting the interest of solar physicists and much research has been carried out related to magnetic helicity generation and transport through different solar layers, starting from the interior and the convection zone, towards the photosphere, the corona and finally into the heliosphere. Taking into account the global importance of supergranular cells in convection theories, we study the motion of magnetic features into such a geometrical element simplified as hexagonal cell and we analyse the results in terms of the accumulated magnetic helicity. We compute the emergence of a bipole inside the hexagonal cell and its motion from the centre of the cell towards its sides and its vertices, where the magnetic elements are considered to be sinking down. Multiple bipoles are also considered and phenomena such as cancellation, coalescence and fragmentation are also investigated. We find that the most important process for the accumulation of magnetic helicity is the shear motion between the polarities. The magnetic helicity accumulation changes its trend when one polarity reaches the side of the hexagon, and later the vertex. It has zero value when there is no shear motion inside the hexagonal cell, and it is constant when there is no shear between the two polarities during their motion along the cell sides.

Magnetic helicity accumulation and tilt angle evolution of newly emerging active regions

Context. It has been known for years that there is a general dominance of negative (positive) helicity of active regions (ARs) in the northern (southern) solar hemisphere. For a better understanding of the role of helicity in the evolution of active regions, it is necessary to know more about the accumulation of helicity during the emergence of active regions. In particular, different conclusions were drawn in the past about the relationship between the accumulated helicity and the writhe of active regions. Aims. We investigate the accumulation of helicity in newly emerging simple bipolar solar active regions. We also investigate the relation between the accumulated helicity and writhe. Methods. We obtain helicity accumulation by applying Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) and local correlation tracking (LCT) to MDI data. We deduce the writhe of the active regions according to the evolution of the tilt angle between the connecting line of the weighting centers of opposite polarities in the ARs. Results. It is found that the accumulated helicity is proportional to the exponent of magnetic flux $(|H| \propto \Phi^{1.85})$ in the 58 selected newly emerged simple ARs. 74% of ARs have a negative (positive) helicity when the above defined tilt angle rotates clockwise (counter-clockwise). This means that the accumulated helicity and writhe have the same sign for most of the investigated ARs according to the tilt angle evolution of ARs. We also found that 56% (57.6%) of these ARs in the northern (southern) photosphere provide negative (positive) helicity to the corona in the course of the emergence of magnetic flux.

The Dependence of the Helicity Bound of Force‐Free Magnetic Fields on Boundary Conditions

This paper follows up on a previous study showing that in an open atmosphere such as the solar corona the total magnetic helicity of a force-free field must be bounded and the accumulation of magnetic helicity in excess of its upper bound would initiate a non-equilibrium situation resulting in an expulsion such as a coronal mass ejection (CME). In the current paper, we investigate the dependence of the helicity bound on the boundary condition for several families of nonlinear force-free fields. Our calculation shows that the magnitude of the helicity upper bound of force-free fields is non-trivially dependent on the boundary condition. Fields with a multipolar boundary condition can have a helicity upper bound ten times smaller than those with a dipolar boundary condition when helicity values are normalized by the square of their respective surface poloidal fluxes. This suggests that a coronal magnetic field may erupt into a CME when the applicable helicity bound falls below the already accumulated helicity as the result of a slowly changing boundary condition. Our calculation also shows that a monotonic accumulation of magnetic helicity can lead to the formation of a magnetic flux rope applicable to kink instability. This suggests that CME initiations by exceeding helicity bound and by kink instability can both be the consequences of helicity accumulation in the corona. Our study gives insights into the observed associations of CMEs with the magnetic features at their solar surface origins.

Magnetic Field Confinement in the Corona: The Role of Magnetic Helicity Accumulation

A loss of magnetic field confinement is believed to be the cause of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), a major form of solar activity in the corona. The mechanisms for magnetic energy storage are crucial in understanding how a field may possess enough free energy to overcome the Aly limit and open up. Previously, we have pointed out that the accumulation of magnetic helicity in the corona plays a significant role in storing magnetic energy. In this paper, we investigate another hydromagnetic consequence of magnetic-helicity accumulation. We propose a conjecture that there is an upper bound on the total magnetic helicity that a force-free field can contain. This is directly related to the hydromagnetic property that force-free fields in unbounded space have to be self-confining. Although a mathematical proof of this conjecture for any field configuration is formidable, its plausibility can be demonstrated with the properties of several families of power-law, axisymmetric force-free fields. We put forth mathematical evidence, as well as numerical, indicating that an upper bound on the magnetic helicity may exist for such fields. Thus, the accumulation of magnetic helicity in excess of this upper bound would initiate a nonequilibrium situation, resulting in a CME expulsion as a natural product of coronal evolution.

Helicity Pattern of CME Source Active Regions

Coronal mass ejections are thought to originate from the over accumulation of magnetic helicity (Rust & Kumar, 1994). While recent studies revealed the incompetence of CME associated active regions in creating enough helicity for CMEs (Nindos, Zhang, & Zhang, 2003 and references therein), we have tried to seek, on the other hand, if particular helicity patterns are retained by CME-associated active regions.

MAGNETIC HELICITY CHANGES OF SOLAR ACTIVE REGIONS BY PHOTOSPHERIC HORIZONTAL MOTIONS

In this paper, we review recent studies on the magnetic helicity changes of solar active regions by photospheric horizontal motions. Recently, Chae(200l) developed a methodology to determine the magnetic helicity change rate via photospheric horizontal motions. We have applied this methodology to four cases: (1) NOAA AR 8100 which has a series of homologous X-ray flares, (2) three active regions which have four eruptive major X-ray flares, (3) NOAA AR 9236 which has three eruptive X-class flares, and (4) NOAA AR 8668 in which a large filament was under formation. As a result, we have found several interesting results. First, the rate of magnetic helicity injection strongly depends on an active region and its evolution. Its mean rate ranges from 4 to <TEX>$17 {\times} 10^{40}\;Mx^2\;h^{-1}$</TEX>. Especially when the homologous flares occurred and when the filament was formed, significant rates of magnetic helicity were continuously deposited in the corona via photospheric shear flows. Second, there is a strong positive correlation between the magnetic helicity accumulated during the flaring time interval of the homologous flares in AR 8100 and the GOES X-ray flux integrated over the flaring time. This indicates that the occurrence of a series of homologous flares is physically related to the accumulation of magnetic helicity in the corona by photospheric shearing motions. Third, impulsive helicity variations took place near the flaring times of some strong flares. These impulsive variations whose time scales are less than one hour are attributed to localized velocity kernels around the polarity inversion line. Fourth, considering the filament eruption associated with an X1.8 flare started about 10 minutes before the impulsive variation of the helicity change rate, we suggest that the impulsive helicity variation is not a cause of the eruptive solar flare but its result. Finally, we discuss the physical implications on these results and our future plans.

Solar filaments as tracers of subsurface processes

Solar filaments are discussed in terms of two contrasting paradigms. The standard paradigm is that filaments are formed by condensation of coronal plasma into magnetic fields that are twisted or dimpled as a consequence of motions of the fields&#x2019; sources in the photosphere. According to a new paradigm, filaments form in rising, twisted flux ropes and are a necessary intermediate stage in the transfer to interplanetary space of dynamo-generated magnetic flux. It is argued that the accumulation of magnetic helicity in filaments and their coronal surroundings leads to filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections. These ejections relieve the Sun of the flux generated by the dynamo and make way for the flux of the next cycle.

Solar Filaments as Tracers of Subsurface Processes

AbstractSolar filaments are discussed in terms of two contrasting paradigms. The standard paradigm is that filaments are formed by condensation of coronal plasma into magnetic fields that are twisted or dimpled as a consequence of motions of the fields’ sources in the photosphere. According to a new paradigm, filaments form in rising, twisted flux ropes and are a necessary intermediate stage in the transfer to interplanetary space of dynamo-generated magnetic flux. It is argued that the accumulation of magnetic helicity in filaments and their coronal surroundings leads to filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections. These ejections relieve the Sun of the flux generated by the dynamo and make way for the flux of the next cycle.