Emerging Flux Region Research Articles

The Nature of the Elongated Granulations and Stretched Dark Lanes in a Newly Emerging Flux Region

In this study, we explore the elongated granulations and stretched dark lanes within the emerging anti-Hale active region NOAA AR 12720. Utilizing high-resolution observations from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope, we discern a prevalence of elongated granules and stretched dark lanes associated with the emergence of new magnetic flux positioned between two primary opposing magnetic polarities. These elongated granulations and stretched dark lanes exhibit an alignment of strong transverse fields and a significant inclination angle. The endpoints of these features separate from each other, with their midpoints predominantly characterized by blueshifted signals in the photosphere. This suggests a close association between elongated granules and stretched dark lanes with the newly emerging flux. Additionally, we find that the stretched dark lanes display a more pronounced correlation with strong blueshifts and photospheric transverse magnetic fields compared to the elongated granulations. The transverse magnetic field within these stretched dark lanes reaches magnitudes of approximately 300–400 G, and the inclination angle demonstrates an “arch-like” pattern along the trajectory of the stretched dark lane. Based on these observed characteristics, we infer the presence of an emerging flux tube with an “arch-like” shape situated along the stretched dark lane. Consequently, we conclude that the stretched dark lanes likely represent manifestations of the emerging flux tube, while the elongated granulations may correspond to the gaps between the emerging flux tubes.

3He and Fe Spectral Properties in 3He-rich Solar Energetic Particle Events

We have surveyed 3He-rich events on the Solar Orbiter mission from 2020 April to 2024 April, selecting isolated injections whose rollover 3He spectral shape is presumed to represent the initial acceleration state, unprocessed by subsequent activity such as coronal mass ejections or jets. A main goal has been to find relationships between the spectra of 3He and heavy ions C–Fe, in order to explore a common acceleration mechanism in spite of the fact that these events show 3He enrichments of up to ∼104, while the heavy-ion enrichment is rarely larger than ∼10. Selecting 34 3He injections, we find that heavy ions are always present, and arrive at the same time as the 3He signaling a common origin. Concentrating on Fe since it is a minor ion but with higher abundance than many others, we find its spectral shape and intensity is similar to 3He. In ∼two-thirds of the cases, if the 3He spectrum is shifted to lower energy by a factor 3.0 ± 1.3, it nearly coincides with the Fe spectrum, illustrating their close connection. Several plasma wave turbulence models have calculated spectra that also show the ion rollovers around 1 MeV nucleon−1. The unique mass-to-charge ratio of 3He allows it to interact more efficiently with the turbulence, thereby gaining several times more energy per nucleon than the other heavy ions. In the spectral rollover region this can lead to the observed enormous enhancements of 3He. The acceleration appears to be associated with magnetic reconnection in emerging flux regions on the Sun.

Solar Atmospheric Heating Due to Small-scale Events in an Emerging Flux Region

We investigate the thermal, kinematic, and magnetic structure of small-scale heating events in an emerging flux region (EFR). We use high-resolution multiline observations (including Ca ii 8542 Å, Ca ii K, and the Fe i 6301 Å line pair) of an EFR located close to the disk center from the CRISP and CHROMIS instruments at the Swedish 1 m Solar Telescope. We perform non-LTE inversions of multiple spectral lines to infer the temperature, velocity, and magnetic field structure of the heating events. Additionally, we use the data-driven Coronal Global Evolutionary Model to simulate the evolution of the 3D magnetic field configuration above the events and understand their dynamics. Furthermore, we analyze the differential emission measure to gain insights into the heating of the coronal plasma in the EFR. Our analysis reveals the presence of numerous small-scale heating events in the EFR, primarily located at polarity inversion lines of bipolar structures. These events not only heat the lower atmosphere but also significantly heat the corona. The data-driven simulations, along with the observed enhancement of currents and Poynting flux, suggest that magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere is likely responsible for the observed heating at these sites.

Photospheric signatures of retraction and reconnection in realistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations

Context. Magnetic flux emergence and cancelling in the quiet Sun is a frequently observed phenomenon. The two possible physical flux-removal mechanisms involved in this cancelling process are retraction and reconnection. Aims. We seek to find distinct observational signatures characterising retraction and reconnection. Methods. We carried out three-dimensional non-grey radiative magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations of convection near the solar surface and the solar photosphere using the STAGGER code, and employing different initial conditions: (1) mixed-polarity simulations with alternating horizontal stripes of opposite vertical magnetic field and separated by a zero field stripe, and (2) flux emergence simulations with continuous injection of magnetic flux from the lower boundary. These initial conditions are meant to represent two different situations in the solar photosphere, namely magnetic flux cancelling in the absence or presence of magnetic flux emergence, respectively. Results. We analyse the observational signatures of magnetic flux-removal processes for flux emergence as well as for mixed-polarity MHD simulations. In the flux emergence simulation, we are able to identify ubiquitous reconnection events anywhere from the solar surface to the upper photosphere. For a few of those reconnection events, we can identify supersonic upflow velocities in the upper photosphere as well as strong temperature enhancements. We also see strong electric currents very close to the locations where reconnection takes place, as well as supersonic horizontal velocities leading to sideways plasma compression. In the mixed-polarity simulations, we only detect observational signatures of magnetic field retraction related to large downflow velocities that appear in between regions where opposing horizontal velocities converge. These horizontal velocities are often supersonic, leading to heating due to shock dissipation. We do not see clear signatures of magnetic reconnection in these mixed-polarity simulations. Conclusions. We suggest that, in the emerging flux regions of the quiet Sun, the main flux-removal process is reconnection, while in regions without flux emergence, retraction is the dominant flux-removal process.

The First Survey of Quiet Sun Features Observed in Hard X-Rays with NuSTAR

We present the first survey of quiet Sun features observed in hard X-rays (HXRs), using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR), a HXR focusing optics telescope. The recent solar minimum, combined with NuSTAR’s high sensitivity, has presented a unique opportunity to perform the first HXR imaging spectroscopy on a range of features in the quiet Sun. By studying the HXR emission of these features, we can detect or constrain the presence of high temperature (> 5 MK) or non-thermal sources, to help understand how they relate to larger, more energetic solar phenomena, and determine their contribution to heating the solar atmosphere. We report on several features observed in the 28 September 2018 NuSTAR full-disk quiet Sun mosaics, the first of the NuSTAR quiet Sun observing campaigns, which mostly include steady features of X-ray bright points and an emerging flux region, which later evolved into an active region, as well as a short-lived jet. We find that the features’ HXR spectra are well fitted with isothermal models with temperatures ranging between 2.0 – 3.2 MK. Combining the NuSTAR data with softer X-ray emission from Hinode/XRT and EUV from SDO/AIA, we recover the differential emission measures, confirming little significant emission above 4 MK. The NuSTAR HXR spectra allow us to constrain the possible non-thermal emission that would still be consistent with a null HXR detection. We found that for only one of the features (the jet) was there a potential non-thermal upper limit capable of powering the heating observed. However, even here, the non-thermal electron distribution had to be very steep (effectively mono-energetic) with a low energy cut-off between 3 – 4 keV.

A Novel Inversion Method to Determine the Coronal Magnetic Field Including the Impact of Bound–Free Absorption

The magnetic field governs the corona; hence, it is a crucial parameter to measure. Unfortunately, existing techniques for estimating its strength are limited by strong assumptions and limitations. These techniques include photospheric or chromospheric field extrapolation using potential or nonlinear force-free methods, estimates based on coronal seismology, or direct observations via, e.g., the Cryo-NIRSP instrument on DKIST, which will measure the coronal magnetic field but only off the limb. Alternately, in this work, we investigate a recently developed approach based on the magnetic-field-induced transition (MIT) of Fe x 257.261Å In order to examine this approach, we have synthesized several Fe x lines from two 3D magnetohydrodynamic simulations, one modeling an emerging flux region and the second an established mature active region. In addition, we take bound–free absorption from neutral hydrogen and helium and singly ionized helium into account. The absorption from cool plasma that occurs at coronal heights has a significant impact on determining the magnetic field. We investigate in detail the challenges of using these Fe x lines to measure the field, considering their density and temperature dependence. We present a novel approach to deriving the magnetic field from the MIT using inversions of the differential emission measure as a function of the temperature, density, and magnetic field. This approach successfully estimates the magnetic field strength (up to 18% relative error) in regions that do not suffer from significant absorption and that have relatively strong coronal magnetic fields (>250 G). This method allows regions where absorption is significant to be masked.

Heating of the solar chromosphere through current dissipation

Context.The solar chromosphere is heated to temperatures higher than predicted by radiative equilibrium. This excess heating is greater in active regions where the magnetic field is stronger.Aims.We aim to investigate the magnetic topology associated with an area of enhanced millimeter (mm) brightness temperatures in a solar active region mapped by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) using spectropolarimetric co-observations with the 1-m Swedish Solar Telescope (SST).Methods.We used Milne–Eddington inversions, nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) inversions, and a magnetohydrostatic extrapolation to obtain constraints on the three-dimensional (3D) stratification of temperature, magnetic field, and radiative energy losses. We compared the observations to a snapshot of a magnetohydrodynamics simulation and investigate the formation of the thermal continuum at 3 mm using contribution functions.Results.We find enhanced heating rates in the upper chromosphere of up to ∼5 kW m−2, where small-scale emerging loops interact with the overlying magnetic canopy leading to current sheets as shown by the magnetic field extrapolation. Our estimates are about a factor of two higher than canonical values, but they are limited by the ALMA spatial resolution (∼1.2″). Band 3 brightness temperatures reach about ∼104K in the region, and the transverse magnetic field strength inferred from the non-LTE inversions is on the order of ∼500 G in the chromosphere.Conclusions.We are able to quantitatively reproduce many of the observed features including the integrated radiative losses in our numerical simulation. We conclude that the heating is caused by dissipation in current sheets. However, the simulation shows a complex stratification in the flux emergence region where distinct layers may contribute significantly to the emission in the mm continuum.

SolO/EUI Observations of Ubiquitous Fine-scale Bright Dots in an Emerging Flux Region: Comparison with a Bifrost MHD Simulation

We report on the presence of numerous tiny bright dots in and around an emerging flux region (an X-ray/coronal bright point) observed with SolO’s EUI/HRIEUV in 174 Å. These dots are roundish and have a diameter of 675 ± 300 km, a lifetime of 50 ± 35 s, and an intensity enhancement of 30% ± 10% above their immediate surroundings. About half of the dots remain isolated during their evolution and move randomly and slowly (<10 km s−1). The other half show extensions, appearing as a small loop or surge/jet, with intensity propagations below 30 km s−1. Many of the bigger and brighter HRIEUV dots are discernible in the SDO/AIA 171 Å channel, have significant emissivity in the temperature range of 1–2 MK, and are often located at polarity inversion lines observed in SDO/HMI LOS magnetograms. Although not as pervasive as in observations, a Bifrost MHD simulation of an emerging flux region does show dots in synthetic Fe ix/x images. These dots in the simulation show distinct Doppler signatures—blueshifts and redshifts coexist, or a redshift of the order of 10 km s−1 is followed by a blueshift of similar or higher magnitude. The synthetic images of O v/vi and Si iv lines, which represent transition region radiation, also show the dots that are observed in Fe ix/x images, often expanded in size, or extended as a loop, and always with stronger Doppler velocities (up to 100 km s−1) than that in Fe ix/x lines. Our observation and simulation results, together with the field geometry of dots in the simulation, suggest that most dots in emerging flux regions form in the lower solar atmosphere (at ≈ 1 Mm) by magnetic reconnection between emerging and preexisting/emerged magnetic field. Some dots might be manifestations of magnetoacoustic shocks through the line formation region of Fe ix/x emission.

The Ellerman bomb and ultraviolet burst triggered successively by an emerging magnetic flux rope

Ellerman bombs (EBs) and ultraviolet (UV) bursts are common brightening phenomena, which are usually generated in the low solar atmosphere of emerging flux regions. In this paper, we have investigated the emergence of an initial un-twisted magnetic flux rope based on three-dimensional (3D) magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulations. The EB-like and UV burst-like activities successively appear in the U-shaped part of the undulating magnetic fields triggered by the Parker instability. The EB-like activity starts to appear earlier and lasts for about 80 seconds. Six minutes later, a much hotter UV burst-like event starts to appear and lasts for about 60 seconds. Along the direction vertical to the solar surface, both the EB and UV burst start in the low chromosphere, but the UV burst extends to a higher altitude in the up chromosphere. The regions with apparent temperature increase in the EB and UV burst are both located inside the small twisted flux ropes generated in magnetic reconnection processes, which are consistent with the previous 2D simulations that most hot regions are usually located inside the magnetic islands. However, the twisted flux rope corresponding to the EB is only strongly heated after it floats up to an altitude much higher than the reconnection site during that period. Our analyses show that the EB is heated by the shocks driven by the strong horizontal flows at two sides of the U-shaped magnetic fields. The twisted flux rope corresponding to the UV burst is heated by the driven magnetic reconnection process.

What Causes Faint Solar Coronal Jets from Emerging Flux Regions in Coronal Holes?

Abstract Using EUV images and line-of-sight magnetograms from Solar Dynamics Observatory, we examine eight emerging bipolar magnetic regions (BMRs) in central-disk coronal holes for whether the emerging magnetic arch made any noticeable coronal jets directly, via reconnection with ambient open field as modeled by Yokoyama &amp; Shibata. During emergence, each BMR produced no obvious EUV coronal jet of normal brightness, but each produced one or more faint EUV coronal jets that are discernible in AIA 193 Å images. The spires of these jets are much fainter and usually narrower than for typical EUV jets that have been observed to be produced by minifilament eruptions in quiet regions and coronal holes. For each of 26 faint jets from the eight emerging BMRs, we examine whether the faint spire was evidently made a la Yokoyama &amp; Shibata. We find that (1) 16 of these faint spires evidently originate from sites of converging opposite-polarity magnetic flux and show base brightenings like those in minifilament-eruption-driven coronal jets, (2) the 10 other faint spires maybe were made by a burst of the external-magnetic-arcade-building reconnection of the emerging magnetic arch with the ambient open field, with reconnection directly driven by the arch's emergence, but (3) none were unambiguously made by such emergence-driven reconnection. Thus, for these eight emerging BMRs, the observations indicate that emergence-driven external reconnection of the emerging magnetic arch with ambient open field at most produces a jet spire that is much fainter than in previously reported, much more obvious coronal jets driven by minifilament eruptions.

A magnetic reconnection model for hot explosions in the cool atmosphere of the Sun

Context. Ultraviolet (UV) bursts and Ellerman bombs (EBs) are transient brightenings observed in the low solar atmospheres of emerging flux regions. Magnetic reconnection is believed to be the main mechanism leading to formation of the two activities, which are usually formed far apart from each other. However, observations also led to the discovery of co-spatial and co-temporal EBs and UV bursts, and their formation mechanisms are still not clear. The multi-thermal components in these events, which span a large temperature range, challenge our understanding of magnetic reconnection and heating mechanisms in the partially ionized lower solar atmosphere. Aims. We studied magnetic reconnection between the emerging magnetic flux and back ground magnetic fields in the partially ionized and highly stratificated low solar atmosphere. We aim to explain the multi-thermal characteristics of UV bursts, and to find out whether EBs and UV bursts can be generated in the same reconnection process and how they are related with each other. We also aim to unearth the important small-scale physics in these events. Methods. We used the single-fluid magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code NIRVANA to perform simulations. The background magnetic fields and emerging fields at the solar surface are reasonably strong. The initial plasma parameters are based on the C7 atmosphere model. We simulated cases with different resolutions, and included the effects of ambipolar diffusion, radiative cooling, and heat conduction. We analyzed the current density, plasma density, temperature, and velocity distributions in the main current sheet region, and synthesized the Si IV emission spectrum. Results. After the current sheet with dense photosphere plasma emerges and reaches 0.5 Mm above the solar surface, plasmoid instability appears. The plasmoids collide and coalesce with each other, which causes the plasmas with different densities and temperatures to be mixed up in the turbulent reconnection region. Therefore, the hot plasmas corresponding to the UV emissions and colder plasmas corresponding to the emissions from other wavelengths can move together and occur at about the same height. In the meantime, the hot turbulent structures concentrate above 0.4 Mm, whereas the cool plasmas extend to much lower heights to the bottom of the current sheet. These phenomena are consistent with published observations in which UV bursts have a tendency to be located at greater heights close to corresponding EBs and all the EBs have partial overlap with corresponding UV bursts in space. The synthesized Si IV line profiles are similar to that observed in UV bursts; the enhanced wing of the line profiles can extend to about 100 km s−1. The differences are significant among the numerical results with different resolutions, indicating that the realistic magnetic diffusivity is crucial to revealing the fine structures and realistic plasmas heating in these reconnection events. Our results also show that the reconnection heating contributed by ambipolar diffusion in the low chromosphere around the temperature minimum region is not efficient.

Homologous Flaring Activity over a Sunspot Light Bridge in an Emerging Active Region

Abstract Sunspot light bridges are known to exhibit a variety of dynamic and persistent phenomena such as surges, small-scale jets, etc., in the chromosphere and transition region. While it has generally been proposed that magnetic reconnection is responsible for this small-scale dynamism, persistent flaring activity lasting several hours from the same spatial location on a sunspot light bridge has rarely been reported. We combine observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Helioseismic Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory to investigate homologous flaring activity over a small sunspot light bridge in an emerging flux region. The homologous flares all produced broad, collimated jets including a B6.4 class flare. The jets rise at a speed of about 200 km s−1, reach projected heights of about 98 Mm, and emerge from the same spatial location for nearly 14 hrs, after which they cease completely. A nonlinear force-free extrapolation of the photospheric magnetic field shows a low-lying flux rope connecting the light bridge to a remote opposite-polarity network. The persistent flares occur as a result of the rapid horizontal motion of the leading sunspot that causes the relatively vertical magnetic fields in the adjacent umbra to reconnect with the low-lying flux rope in the light bridge. Our results indicate that the flaring ceases once the flux rope has lost sufficient twist through repeated reconnections.

High-resolution Observations of Small-scale Flux Emergence by GST

Abstract Recent observations demonstrated that emerging flux regions, which constitute the early stage of solar active regions, consist of emergence of numerous small-scale magnetic elements. They in turn interact, merge, and form mature sunspots. However, observations of fine magnetic structures on photosphere with subarcsecond resolution are very rare due to limitations of observing facilities. In this work, taking advantage of the high resolution of the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope, we jointly analyze vector magnetic fields, continuum images, and Hα observations of NOAA AR 12665 on 2017 July 13, with the goal of understanding the signatures of small-scale flux emergence, as well as their atmospheric responses as they emerge through multiple heights in the photosphere and chromosphere. Under such a high resolution of 0.″1–0.″2, our results confirm two kinds of small-scale flux emergence: magnetic flux sheet emergence associated with the newly forming granules, and the traditional magnetic flux loop emergence. With direct imaging in the broadband TiO, we observe that both types of flux emergence are associated with darkening of granular boundaries, while only flux sheets elongate granules along the direction of emerging magnetic fields and expand laterally. With a life span of 10 ∼ 15 minutes, the total emerged vertical flux is on the order of 1018 Mx for both types of emergence. The magnitudes of the vertical and horizontal fields are comparable in the flux sheets, while the former is stronger in flux loops. Hα observations reveal transient brightenings in the wings in the events of magnetic loop emergence, which are most probably the signatures of Ellerman bombs.

High-resolution spectroscopy of a surge in an emerging flux region

Aims. The regular pattern of quiet-Sun magnetic fields was disturbed by newly emerging magnetic flux, which led a day later to two homologous surges after renewed flux emergence, affecting all atmospheric layers. Hence, simultaneous observations in different atmospheric heights are needed to understand the interaction of rising flux tubes with the surrounding plasma, in particular by exploiting the important diagnostic capabilities provided by the strong chromospheric Hα line regarding morphology and energetic processes in active regions. Methods. A newly emerged active region NOAA 12722 was observed with the Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT) at Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, Spain, on 11 September 2018. High spectral resolution observations using the echelle spectrograph in the chromospheric Hαλ6562.8 Å line were obtained in the early growth phase. Noise-stripped Hα line profiles yield maps of line-core and bisector velocities, which were contrasted with velocities inferred from Cloud Model inversions. A high-resolution imaging system recorded simultaneously broad- and narrowband Hα context images. The Solar Dynamics Observatory provided additional continuum images, line-of-sight (LOS) magnetograms, and UV and extreme UV (EUV) images, which link the different solar atmospheric layers. Results. The active region started as a bipolar region with continuous flux emergence when a new flux system emerged in the leading part during the VTT observations, resulting in two homologous surges. While flux cancellation at the base of the surges provided the energy for ejecting the cool plasma, strong proper motions of the leading pores changed the magnetic field topology making the region susceptible to surging. Despite the surge activity in the leading part, an arch filament system in the trailing part of the old flux remained stable. Thus, stable and violently expelled mass-loaded ascending magnetic structures can coexist in close proximity. Investigating the height dependence of LOS velocities revealed the existence of neighboring strong up- and downflows. However, downflows occur with a time lag. The opacity of the ejected cool plasma decreases with distance from the base of the surge, while the speed of the ejecta increases. The location at which the surge becomes invisible in Hα corresponds to the interface where the surge brightens in He IIλ304 Å. Broad-shouldered and dual-lobed Hα profiles suggests accelerated or decelerated and highly structured LOS plasma flows. Significantly broadened Hα profiles imply significant heating at the base of the surges, which is also supported by bright kernels in UV and EUV images uncovered by swaying motions of dark fibrils at the base of the surges. Conclusions. The interaction of newly emerging flux with pre-existing flux concentrations of a young, diffuse active region provided suitable conditions for two homologous surges. High-resolution spectroscopy revealed broadened and dual-lobed Hα profiles tracing accelerated or decelerated flows of cool plasma along the multi-threaded structure of the surge.

On the Magnetic Nature of an Exploding Granule as Revealed by Sunrise/IMaX

Abstract We study the photospheric evolution of an exploding granule observed in the quiet Sun at high spatial (∼0.″3) and temporal (31.5 s) resolution by the imaging magnetograph Sunrise/IMaX in 2009 June. These observations show that the exploding granule is cospatial to a magnetic flux emergence event occurring at mesogranular scale (up to ∼12 Mm2 area). Using a modified version of the SIR code for inverting the IMaX spectropolarimetric measurements, we obtain information about the magnetic configuration of this photospheric feature. In particular, we find evidence of highly inclined emerging fields in the structure, carrying a magnetic flux content up to ∼4 × 1018 Mx. The balance between gas and magnetic pressure in the region of flux emergence, compared with a very quiet region of the Sun, indicates that the additional pressure carried by the emerging flux increases the total pressure by about 5% and appears to allow the granulation to be modified, as predicted by numerical simulations. The overall characteristics suggest that a multipolar structure emerges into the photosphere, resembling an almost horizontal flux sheet. This seems to be associated with exploding granules. Finally, we discuss the origin of such flux emergence events.

On the Ratios of Si IV Lines (λ1394/λ1403) in an Emerging Flux Region

Abstract The resonance lines of Si iv formed at λ1394 and 1403 Å are the most critical for the diagnostics of the solar transition region in the observations of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). Studying the intensity ratios of these lines (1394 Å/1403 Å), which under optically thin conditions is predicted to be two, helps us to diagnose the optical thickness of the plasma being observed. Here we study the evolution of the distribution of intensity ratios in 31 IRIS rasters recorded for four days during the emergence of an active region. We found that during the early phase of the development, the majority of the pixels show intensity ratios smaller than two. However, as the active region evolves, more and more pixels show the ratios closer to two. Besides, there are a substantial number of pixels with ratio values larger than 2. At the evolved stage of the active region, the pixels with ratios smaller than two were located on the periphery, whereas those with values larger than 2 were in the core. However, for quiet Sun regions, the obtained intensity ratios were close to two irrespective of the location on the disk. Our findings suggest that the Si iv lines observed in active regions are affected by the opacity during the early phase of the flux emergence. The results obtained here could have important implications for the modeling of the solar atmosphere, including the initial stage of the emergence of an active region as well as the quiet Sun.

Signatures of Untwisting Magnetic Field in a Small Emerging Bipole in the Solar Photosphere

Abstract We perform a study of fluid motions and its temporal evolution in and around a small bipolar emerging flux region using observations made by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. We employ local correlation tracking of the Doppler observations to follow horizontal fluid motions and line-of-sight magnetograms to follow the flux emergence. Changes in vertical vorticity and horizontal divergence are used to derive signatures of evolving twists in the magnetic field. Our analysis reveals that the two polarities of the magnetic flux swirl in opposite directions in the early stages of flux emergence indicating an unwinding of the pre-emergence twists in the magnetic field. We further find that during the emergence, there is an increase in swirly motions in the neighboring nonmagnetic regions. We estimate the magnetic and kinetic energies and find that magnetic energy is about a factor of 10 larger than the kinetic energy. During the evolution, when the magnetic energy decreases, an increase in the kinetic energy is observed indicating transfer of energy from the unwinding of the magnetic flux tube to the surrounding fluid motions. Our results thus demonstrate the presence of pre-emergence twists in an emerging magnetic field that is important in the context of the hemispheric helicity rule warranting a detailed statistical study in this context. Further, our observations point to a possible widespread generation of torsional waves in emerging flux regions due to the untwisting magnetic field with implications for upward energy transport to the corona.

Interplanetary consequences and geoeffectiveness of CME associated with major solar flare from NOAA AR 12673

In this reported work, we study a major X-class flare (X9.3) that arose from NOAA Active Region (AR) 12673 on 2017 September 6, from 11:53 UT to 12:10 UT in multi-wavelength views. This event also produced a fast coronal mass ejection (CME). NOAA AR 12673 emerged at S09W30 on 2017 September 6 and grew rapidly to a large AR. On 2017 September 9, the maximum area of this AR was 1060 millionth of the solar hemisphere. The group of sunspots disappeared over the west limb of the Sun (S09W83) on September 10. It was a fast emerging flux region. The group of sunspots showed magnetic configuration category alpha-beta-gamma. We identified their earliest signatures of eruption in AIA 94 Å images with initialization and successive rapid growth from low coronal heights of hot channeled structures. On the other hand, the CME associated with this flare event triggered the intense Dst at 1AU (−142nT). We have acquired observations and analyze the reported event from the Sun’s surface, corona (source AR), interplanetary space and in-situ measurement near Earth. In addition, here we analyze the complex processes of CME-CME interaction that have contributed a significant role to make the reported event so geoeffective.

Penumbral Brightening Events Observed in AR NOAA 12546

Penumbral transient brightening events have been attributed to magnetic reconnection episodes occurring in the low corona. We investigated the trigger mechanism of these events in active region NOAA 12546 by using multi-wavelength observations obtained with the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer (IBIS), by the \textit{Solar Dynamics Observatory} (SDO), the \textit{Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph} (IRIS), and the \textit{Hinode} satellites. We focused on the evolution of an area of the penumbra adjacent to two small-scale emerging flux regions (EFRs), which manifested three brightening events detected from the chromosphere to the corona. Two of these events correspond to B-class flares. The same region showed short-lived moving magnetic features (MMFs) that streamed out from the penumbra. In the photosphere, the EFRs led to small-scale penumbral changes associated with a counter-Evershed flow and to a reconfiguration of the magnetic fields in the moat. The brightening events had one of the footpoints embedded in the penumbra and seemed to result from the distinctive interplay between the pre-existing penumbral fields, MMFs, and the EFRs. The \textit{IRIS} spectra measured therein reveal enhanced temperature and asymmetries in spectral lines, suggestive of event triggering at different height in the atmosphere. Specifically, the blue asymmetry noted in \ion{C}{2} and \ion{Mg}{2} h\&k lines suggests the occurrence of chromospheric evaporation at the footpoint located in the penumbra as a consequence of magnetic reconnection process at higher atmospheric heigths.

Emergence of small-scale magnetic flux in the quiet Sun

Context. We study the evolution of a small-scale emerging flux region (EFR) in the quiet Sun, from its emergence in the photosphere to its appearance in the corona and its decay. Aims. We track processes and phenomena that take place across all atmospheric layers; we explore their interrelations and compare our findings with those from recent numerical modelling studies. Methods. We used imaging as well as spectral and spectropolarimetric observations from a suite of space-borne and ground-based instruments. Results. The EFR appears in the quiet Sun next to the chromospheric network and shows all morphological characteristics predicted by numerical simulations. The total magnetic flux of the region exhibits distinct evolutionary phases, namely an initial subtle increase, a fast increase with a Co-temporal fast expansion of the region area, a more gradual increase, and a slow decay. During the initial stages, fine-scale G-band and Ca II H bright points coalesce, forming clusters of positive- and negative-polarity in a largely bipolar configuration. During the fast expansion, flux tubes make their way to the chromosphere, pushing aside the ambient magnetic field and producing pressure-driven absorption fronts that are visible as blueshifted chromospheric features. The connectivity of the quiet-Sun network gradually changes and part of the existing network forms new connections with the newly emerged bipole. A few minutes after the bipole has reached its maximum magnetic flux, the bipole brightens in soft X-rays forming a coronal bright point. The coronal emission exhibits episodic brightenings on top of a long smooth increase. These coronal brightenings are also associated with surge-like chromospheric features visible in Hα, which can be attributed to reconnection with adjacent small-scale magnetic fields and the ambient quiet-Sun magnetic field. Conclusions. The emergence of magnetic flux even at the smallest scales can be the driver of a series of energetic phenomena visible at various atmospheric heights and temperature regimes. Multi-wavelength observations reveal a wealth of mechanisms which produce diverse observable effects during the different evolutionary stages of these small-scale structures.