Active Region Magnetic Fields Research Articles

The Relationship Between Solar Coronal X-Ray Brightness and Active Region Magnetic Fields: A Study Using High-Resolution Hinode Observations

By using high-resolution observations of nearly co-temporal and co-spatial Solar Optical Telescope spectropolarimeter and X-Ray Telescope coronal X-ray data onboard Hinode, we revisit the problematic relationship between global magnetic quantities and coronal X-ray brightness. Co-aligned vector magnetogram and X-ray data were used for this study. The total X-ray brightness over active regions is well correlated with integrated magnetic quantities such as the total unsigned magnetic flux, the total unsigned vertical current, and the area-integrated square of the vertical and horizontal magnetic fields. On accounting for the inter-dependence of the magnetic quantities, we inferred that the total magnetic flux is the primary determinant of the observed integrated X-ray brightness. Our observations indicate that a stronger coronal X-ray flux is not related to a higher non-potentiality of active-region magnetic fields. The data even suggest a slightly negative correlation between X-ray brightness and a proxy of active-region non-potentiality. Although there are small numerical differences in the established correlations, the main conclusions are qualitatively consistent over two different X-ray filters, the Al-poly and Ti-poly filters, which confirms the strength of our conclusions and validate and extend earlier studies that used low-resolution data. We discuss the implications of our results and the constraints they set on theories of solar coronal heating.

Can we explain atypical solar flares?

We used multi-wavelength high-resolution data from ARIES, THEMIS, and SDO instruments, to analyze a non-standard, C3.3 class flare produced within the active region NOAA 11589 on 2012 October 16. Magnetic flux emergence and cancellation were continuously detected within the active region, the latter leading to the formation of two filaments. Our aim is to identify the origins of the flare taking into account the complex dynamics of its close surroundings. We analyzed the magnetic topology of the active region using a linear force-free field extrapolation to derive its 3D magnetic configuration and the location of quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) which are preferential sites for flaring activity. Because the active region's magnetic field was nonlinear force-free, we completed a parametric study using different linear force-free field extrapolations to demonstrate the robustness of the derived QSLs. The topological analysis shows that the active region presented a complex magnetic configuration comprising several QSLs. The considered data set suggests that an emerging flux episode played a key role for triggering the flare. The emerging flux likely activated the complex system of QSLs leading to multiple coronal magnetic reconnections within the QSLs. This scenario accounts for the observed signatures: the two extended flare-ribbons developed at locations matched by the photospheric footprints of the QSLs, and were accompanied with flare loops that formed above the two filaments which played no important role in the flare dynamics. This is a typical example of a complex flare that can a-priori show standard flare signatures that are nevertheless impossible to interpret with any standard model of eruptive or confined flare. We find that a topological analysis however permitted to unveil the development of such complex sets of flare signatures.

Weak solar flares with a detectable flux of hard X rays: Specific features of microwave radiation in the corresponding active regions

The emission of very weak flares was registered at the Suzaku X-ray observatory in 2005–2009. The photon power spectrum in the 50–110 keV range for a number of these phenomena shows that some electrons accelerate to energies higher than 100 keV. The corresponding flares originate in active regions (ARs) with pronounced sunspots. As in the case of AR 10933 in January 2007 analyzed by us previously (Grigor’eva et al., 2013), the thoroughly studied weak flares in May 2007 are related to the emergence of a new magnetic field in the AR and to the currents that originate in this case. A comparison of the Suzaku data with the RATAN-600 microwave observations indicates that a new polarized source of microwave radiation develops in the AR (or the previously existing source intensifies) one-two days before a weak flare in the emerging flux regions. Arguments in favor of recent views that fields are force-free in the AR corona are put forward. The development of weak flares is related to the fact that the free energy of the currents that flow above the field neutral line at altitudes reaching several thousand kilometers is accumulated and subsequently released.

The magnetic field in the solar atmosphere

This publication provides an overview of magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere with the focus lying on the corona. The solar magnetic field couples the solar interior with the visible surface of the Sun and with its atmosphere. It is also responsible for all solar activity in its numerous manifestations. Thus, dynamic phenomena such as coronal mass ejections and flares are magnetically driven. In addition, the field also plays a crucial role in heating the solar chromosphere and corona as well as in accelerating the solar wind. Our main emphasis is the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere so that photospheric and chromospheric magnetic structures are mainly discussed where relevant for higher solar layers. Also, the discussion of the solar atmosphere and activity is limited to those topics of direct relevance to the magnetic field. After giving a brief overview about the solar magnetic field in general and its global structure, we discuss in more detail the magnetic field in active regions, the quiet Sun and coronal holes.

Hαspectroscopy and multiwavelength imaging of a solar flare caused by filament eruption

We study a sequence of eruptive events including filament eruption, a GOES C4.3 flare and a coronal mass ejection. We aim to identify the possible trigger(s) and precursor(s) of the filament destabilisation; investigate flare kernel characteristics; flare ribbons/kernels formation and evolution; study the interrelation of the filament-eruption/flare/coronal-mass-ejection phenomena as part of the integral active-region magnetic field configuration; determine H\alpha\ line profile evolution during the eruptive phenomena. Multi-instrument observations are analysed including H\alpha\ line profiles, speckle images at H\alpha-0.8 \AA\ and H\alpha+0.8 \AA\ from IBIS at DST/NSO, EUV images and magnetograms from the SDO, coronagraph images from STEREO and the X-ray flux observations from FERMI and GOES. We establish that the filament destabilisation and eruption are the main trigger for the flaring activity. A surge-like event with a circular ribbon in one of the filament footpoints is determined as the possible trigger of the filament destabilisation. Plasma draining in this footpoint is identified as the precursor for the filament eruption. A magnetic flux emergence prior to the filament destabilisation followed by a high rate of flux cancelation of 1.34$\times10^{16}$ Mx s$^{-1}$ is found during the flare activity. The flare X-ray lightcurves reveal three phases that are found to be associated with three different ribbons occurring consecutively. A kernel from each ribbon is selected and analysed. The kernel lightcurves and H alpha line profiles reveal that the emission increase in the line centre is stronger than that in the line wings. A delay of around 5-6 mins is found between the increase in the line centre and the occurrence of red asymmetry. Only red asymmetry is observed in the ribbons during the impulsive phases. Blue asymmetry is only associated with the dynamic filament.

Photospheric Magnetic Field: Relationship Between North–South Asymmetry and Flux Imbalance

Photospheric magnetic fields were studied using the Kitt Peak synoptic maps for 1976 – 2003. Only strong magnetic fields (B>100 G) of the equatorial region were taken into account. The north–south asymmetry of the magnetic fluxes was considered as well as the imbalance between positive and negative fluxes. The north–south asymmetry displays a regular alternation of the dominant hemisphere during the solar cycle: the northern hemisphere dominated in the ascending phase, the southern one in the descending phase during Solar Cycles 21 – 23. The sign of the imbalance did not change during the 11 years from one polar-field reversal to the next and always coincided with the sign of the Sun’s polar magnetic field in the northern hemisphere. The dominant sign of leading sunspots in one of the hemispheres determines the sign of the magnetic-flux imbalance. The sign of the north–south asymmetry of the magnetic fluxes and the sign of the imbalance of the positive and the negative fluxes are related to the quarter of the 22-year magnetic cycle where the magnetic configuration of the Sun remains constant (from the minimum where the sunspot sign changes according to Hale’s law to the magnetic-field reversal and from the reversal to the minimum). The sign of the north–south asymmetry for the time interval considered was determined by the phase of the 11-year cycle (before or after the reversal); the sign of the imbalance of the positive and the negative fluxes depends on both the phase of the 11-year cycle and on the parity of the solar cycle. The results obtained demonstrate the connection of the magnetic fields in active regions with the Sun’s polar magnetic field in the northern hemisphere.

Microwave radiation of solar active regions before X flares according to the RATAN-600 observations in 2011

The evolution of the microwave radiation from four active regions, where strong X-ray flares (X-class, GOES) occurred in 2011, has been studied. Daily multiwavelength RATAN-600 radio observations of the Sun in the 1.6–8.0 cm range have been used. It has been indicated that the radiosource above the photospheric magnetic field neutral line (above the region with the maximal convergence of the fields opposite in sign) becomes predominant in the structure of the active region microwave radiation one to two days before a powerful flare as in the eruptive events previously studied with RATAN-600. The appearance of such a radiosource possibly reflects the current sheet formation in the corona above the active region. The energy necessary for a flare is stored in the magnetic field of active region, which can be considered as a factor for predicting a powerful flare.

Relation between the active region magnetic field and solar flares

A weak active region (NOAA 11158) appeared on the solar disk near the eastern limb. This region increased rapidly and, having reached the magnetic flux higher than 1022 Mx, produced an X-class flare. Only weak field variations at individual points were observed during the flare. An analysis of data with a resolution of 45 s did not indicate any characteristic features in the photospheric field dynamics during the flare. When the flux became higher than 3 × 1022 Mx, active region NOAA 10720 produced six X-class flares. The field remained quiet during these flares. An increase in the magnetic flux above ∼1022 Mx is a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the appearance of powerful flares. Simple active regions do not produce flares. A flare originates only when the field distribution in an active region is complex and lines of polarity inversion have a complex shape. Singular lines of the magnetic field can exist only above such active regions. The current sheets, in the magnetic field of which the solar flare energy is accumulated, originate in the vicinity of these lines.

LOW-LATITUDE CORONAL HOLES, DECAYING ACTIVE REGIONS, AND GLOBAL CORONAL MAGNETIC STRUCTURE

We study the relationship between decaying active region magnetic fields, coronal holes and the global coronal magnetic structure using Global Oscillations Network Group (GONG) synoptic magnetograms, Solar Terrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) extreme ultra-violet (EUV) synoptic maps and coronal potential-field source-surface (PFSS) models. We analyze 14 decaying regions and associated coronal holes occurring between early 2007 and late 2010, four from cycle 23 and 10 from cycle 24. We investigate the relationship between asymmetries in active regions' positive and negative magnetic intensities, asymmetric magnetic decay rates, flux imbalances, global field structure and coronal hole formation. Whereas new emerging active regions caused changes in the large-scale coronal field, the coronal fields of the 14 decaying active regions only opened under the condition that the global coronal structure remained almost unchanged. This was because the dominant slowly-varying, low-order multipoles prevented opposing-polarity fields from opening and the remnant active-region flux preserved the regions' low-order multipole moments long after the regions had decayed. Thus the polarity of each coronal hole necessarily matched the polar field on the side of the streamer belt where the corresponding active region decayed. For magnetically isolated active regions initially located within the streamer belt, the more intense polarity generally survived to form the hole. For non-isolated regions, flux imbalance and topological asymmetry prompted the opposite to occur in some cases.

The Relative Umbral Area in Spot Groups as an Index of Cyclic Variation of Solar Activity

The Greenwich series of data was used to study the ratio [q] of the total umbra area to the total area of the sunspot group (for brevity “relative umbral area”) for the period 1874 – 1976. It was revealed that the annual mean value of q varied in time from 0.15 to 0.28 and reached its maximum in the early 1930s. The dependence of q on the sunspot group area [S] was considered to show that the smallest groups, of area less than 100 m.v.h. (millionths of the visible hemisphere), contributed most significantly to the temporal variation of q. In contrast to the earlier results, the dependence obtained proved to be rather complicated. The coefficients of the linear expansion q(S) are themselves dependent on the sunspot-group area and time [t]; i.e. the relation of q to both S and t is nonlinear. Only in sunspot groups with a large area does dependence disappear, and q becomes constant, equal to 0.18. This is the value given in textbooks. The relations obtained show that the relive umbral area and the relative number of small groups are important parameters of the secular variation of solar activity. In particular, they may account for variations in the mean magnetic field in active regions, the complexity of a group according to the magnetic classification, the flare activity of a sunspot group, and its geophysical impact. It is conjectured that the parameter q describes the time-varying relative contribution from the interior and subsurface dynamo mechanisms.

Filament eruption in association with rotational motion near the filament footpoints

The active region magnetic field surrounding the filament plays an important role in filament formation, their evolution and disruption. We investigated a filament eruption that occurred in southern hemisphere of the Sun on July 08, 2011 using AIA and HMI data. The filament was located in a region close to the active region NOAA 11247 with its West-most footpoint anchored in the negative polarity plage region and the East-most in the positive polarity plage region. During observations, the magnetic flux was emerging in the active region and also in the plage regions. The flux emergence was stopped in West-most footpoint of the plage region about an hour before the filament eruption. A converging motion was also observed for many hours in the Western footpoint of the filament. The filament had left-handed twist and the net injected magnetic helicity was positive in both footpoints. Both sign of magnetic helicity were observed in the Western footpoint of the filament where the eruption has initiated. Further, an anti-clockwise rotational motion was observed in both the footpoints just after the onset of filament eruption which lasted for 6min during the eruption process. The emerging flux, converging motion and injection of opposite magnetic helicity could be responsible for destabilizing of the Western footpoint of the filament leading to eruption. The torque imbalance between the expanded portion of the flux tube and the photosphere may have caused the rotation in the footpoint region which changed the trend in the injected magnetic helicity after the filament eruption.

The state of nonlinear force-free magnetic field extrapolation

Magnetic field extrapolation is the construction of a model solution for the coronal magnetic field in active regions from magnetic boundary data originating close to the Sun's surface. The nonlinear force-free model (in which the electric current density is parallel to the magnetic field) is often adopted to describe the coronal field. The solution of the nonlinear force-free equations is a challenging computational task, and the application of codes to available boundary data has revealed a number of significant problems with nonlinear force-free extrapolation. This paper summarises the present status of coronal field extrapolation, and describes some recent developments.

A confined flare above filaments

AbstractWe present the dynamics of two filaments and a C-class flare observed in NOAA 11589 on 2012 October 16. We used the multi-wavelength high-resolution data from SDO, as well as THEMIS and ARIES ground-based observations. The observations show that the filaments are progressively converging towards each other without merging. We find that the filaments have opposite chirality which may have prevented them from merging. On October 16, a C3.3 class flare occurred without the eruption of the filaments. According to the standard solar flare model, after the reconnection, post-flare loops form below the erupting filaments whether the eruption fails or not. However, the observations show the formation of post-flare loops above the filaments, which is not consistent with the standard flare model. We analyze the topology of the active region's magnetic field by computing the quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) using a linear force-free field extrapolation. We find a good agreement between the photospheric footprints of the QSLs and the flare ribbons. We discuss how slipping or slip-running reconnection at the QSLs may explain the observed dynamics.

Solar flare prediction using highly stressed longitudinal magnetic field parameters

Three new longitudinal magnetic field parameters are extracted from SOHO/MDI magnetograms to characterize properties of the stressed magnetic field in active regions, and their flare productivities are calculated for 1055 active regions. We find that the proposed parameters can be used to distinguish flaring samples from non-flaring samples. Using the long-term accumulated MDI data, we build the solar flare prediction model by using a data mining method. Furthermore, the decision boundary, which is used to divide flaring from non-flaring samples, is determined by the decision tree algorithm. Finally, the performance of the prediction model is evaluated by 10-fold cross validation technology. We conclude that an efficient solar flare prediction model can be built by the proposed longitudinal magnetic field parameters with the data mining method.

A Statistical Study on Force-Freeness of Solar Magnetic Fields in the Photosphere

AbstractIt is an indisputable fact that solar magnetic fields are force-free in the corona, where force-free fields mean that current and magnetic fields are parallel and there is no Lorentz force in the fields. While the force-free extent of photospheric magnetic fields remains open, in this paper, we give its statistical results. Vector magnetograms (namely, Bx, By, and Bz in heliocentric coordinates) employed are observed by the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope at Huairou Solar Observing Station. We study and calibrate 925 magnetograms calibrated by two sets of calibration coefficients, which indicate the relation between magnetic fields and the strength of the Stokes spectrum and can be calculated either theoretically or empirically. The statistical results show that the majority of active region magnetic fields are not consistent with the force-free model.

Causes of the divergence of magnetic tube photospheric bases in AR 10930

It is traditionally considered that the bases of emerging magnetic tubes, which are observed as magnetic elements (tube “sections”) moving away from one another at the photospheric level, diverge completely because tubes are loop-shaped below the photosphere. It is assumed that there may be more causes. The possible Ampere force contribution to the divergence of the photospheric bases of a coronal magnetic rope (the magnetic tube system) with a current has been considered based on the evolution of photospheric magnetic fields in active region 10930 during December 8–13, 2006.

Flares and non-potentiality of AR 11158

AbstractFive non-potential parameters are calculated to investigate the temporal and spatial variations of vector magnetic field in active region 11158. An area that had evident changes of the azimuth of the vector magnetic field was found. The sunspot rotation may lead to an increase of the non-potentiality. Rapid and prominent increases are found in the variations of unsigned helicity.

Magnetic field topology by MDI data: Active region

Themain purpose of this paper is to describe the evolution of the magnetic field of active regions of the Sun in the context of Minkowski functionals: the Euler characteristic and perimeter calculated on the excursion set for a specified level. Themethods of geometry of random fields was applied to the MDI SOHO magnetogram, containing flaring active regions. The results demonstrated that morphological functional tracked the dynamic scenarios of the magnetic fields preceded by flares or accompanying them.

THE LIMIT OF MAGNETIC-SHEAR ENERGY IN SOLAR ACTIVE REGIONS

It has been found previously, by measuring from active-region magnetograms a proxy of the free energy in the active region's magnetic field, (1) that there is a sharp upper limit to the free energy the field can hold that increases with the amount of magnetic field in the active region, the active region's magnetic flux content, and (2) that most active regions are near this limit when their field explodes in a coronal mass ejection/flare eruption. That is, explosive active regions are concentrated in a main-sequence path bordering the free-energy-limit line in (flux content, free-energy proxy) phase space. Here, we present evidence that specifies the underlying magnetic condition that gives rise to the free-energy limit and the accompanying main sequence of explosive active regions. Using a suitable free-energy proxy measured from vector magnetograms of 44 active regions, we find evidence that (1) in active regions at and near their free-energy limit, the ratio of magnetic-shear free energy to the non-free magnetic energy the potential field would have is of the order of one in the core field, the field rooted along the neutral line, and (2) this ratio is progressively less in active regions progressively farther below their free-energy limit. Evidently, most active regions in which this core-field energy ratio is much less than one cannot be triggered to explode; as this ratio approaches one, most active regions become capable of exploding; and when this ratio is one, most active regions are compelled to explode.

A Numerical Study of the Response of the Coronal Magnetic Field to Flux Emergence

Large-scale solar eruptions, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are regarded as the main drivers of space weather. The exact trigger mechanism of these violent events is still not completely clear; however, the solar magnetic field indisputably plays a crucial role in the onset of CMEs. The strength and morphology of the solar magnetic field are expected to have a decisive effect on CME properties, such as size and speed. This study aims to investigate the evolution of a magnetic configuration when driven by the emergence of new magnetic flux in order to get a better insight into the onset of CMEs and their magnetic structure. The three-dimensional, time-dependent equations for ideal magnetohydrodynamics are numerically solved on a spherical mesh. New flux emergence in a bipolar active region causes destabilisation of the initial stationary structure, finally resulting in an eruption. The initial magnetic topology is suitable for the ‘breakout’ CME scenario to work. Although no magnetic flux rope structure is present in the initial condition, highly twisted magnetic field lines are formed during the evolution of the system as a result of internal reconnection due to the interaction of the active region magnetic field with the ambient field. The magnetic energy built up in the system and the final speed of the CME depend on the strength of the overlying magnetic field, the flux emergence rate, and the total amount of emerged flux. The interaction with the global coronal field makes the eruption a large-scale event, involving distant parts of the solar surface.