Structure Of Coronal Magnetic Field Research Articles

First Insights into the Applicability and Importance of Different 3D Magnetic Field Extrapolation Approaches for Studying the Preeruptive Conditions of Solar Active Regions

The three-dimensional (3D) coronal magnetic field has not yet been directly observed. However, for a better understanding and prediction of magnetically driven solar eruptions, 3D models of solar active regions are required. This work aims to provide insight into the significance of different extrapolation models for analyzing the preeruptive conditions of active regions with morphological parameters in 3D. Here, we employed potential field (PF), linear force-free field (LFFF), and nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) models and a neural network-based method integrating observational data and NLFFF physics (NF2). The 3D coronal magnetic field structure of a “flaring” (AR11166) and “flare-quiet” (AR12645) active region, in terms of their flare productivity, is constructed via the four extrapolation methods. To analyze the evolution of the field, six prediction parameters were employed throughout, from the photosphere up to the base of the lower corona. First, we find that the evolution of the adopted morphological parameters exhibits similarity across the investigated time period when considering the four types of extrapolations. Second, all the parameters exhibited preeruptive conditions not only at the photosphere but also at higher altitudes in the case of active region (AR) 11166, while three out of the six proxies also exhibited preeruptive conditions in the case of AR12645. We conclude that: (i) the combined application of several different precursor parameters is important in the lower solar atmosphere to improve eruption predictions, and (ii) to gain a quick yet reliable insight into the preflare evolution of active regions in 3D, the PF and LFFF are acceptable; however, the NF2 method is likely the more suitable option.

Recurrent solar density transients in the slow wind observed with the Metis coronagraph

Aims We aim to investigate and characterize the morphology and dynamics of small-scale coronal plasma density inhomogeneities detected as brighter, denser features propagating outward through the solar corona in the visible-light images of the Metis coronagraph on board Solar Orbiter on February 22, 2021. Our main focus is on investigating their possible origin and contribution to the slow wind variability and dynamics and their dependence on coronal magnetic field configurations and structure. Methods. The method adopted is based on the computations of autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions applied to temporal and spatial series of total brightness as a function of the heliocentric distance and solar latitudes. Results. We find that the plasma density inhomogeneities studied here are small-scale structures with typical radial and transverse sizes, as projected on the plane of sky, on the order of 500 Mm and 40 Mm, respectively, and that they are up to 24 times brighter than the ambient solar wind. The brighter density structures exhibit longer lifetime and more stable shape and dimensions as they travel toward the outer edge of the field of view. The enhanced density structures are ejected with a most probable cadence of about 80 min at or below the inner edge of the Metis field of view (within 3.1 R⊙–5.7 R⊙ at the time of observations) in a wide latitudinal region corresponding to the site of a complex web of separatrix and quasi-separatrix layers, as resulting from the simulated magnetohydrodynamic configuration of the west limb of the solar corona. Some of the moving density enhancements clearly show morphological characteristics compatible with the switchback phenomenon, supporting the results indicating that the switchbacks occur at the coronal level. The enhanced density structures were ejected into the ambient slow wind with a mean velocity of about 240 ± 40 km s−1, which is significantly higher than that deduced for the ambient solar wind on the basis of previous Metis observations during the solar minimum of cycle 24. The absence of acceleration observed across the coronagraph field of view suggests that the ejected plasmoids are progressively reaching the expansion rate of the ambient wind. Conclusions. The results suggest that the quasi-periodic enhanced-density plasmoids might be the consequence of reconnection phenomena occurring in the complex web of the separatrix and quasi-separatrix layers present in the solar corona. Moreover, the structural characteristics of some of the detected plasmoids are in favor of the presence of switchbacks that originate during interchange reconnection processes occurring at or below 3 R⊙ in the S-web. The speed of the plasma ejected in the reconnection process is higher than that of the ambient slow solar wind and is likely to be related to the energy involved in the process generating the propagating structures.

Inferring Maps of the Sun’s Far-side Unsigned Magnetic Flux from Far-side Helioseismic Images Using Machine Learning Techniques

Accurate modeling of the Sun’s coronal magnetic field and solar wind structures requires inputs of the solar global magnetic field, including both the near and far sides, but the Sun’s far-side magnetic field cannot be directly observed. However, the Sun’s far-side active regions are routinely monitored by helioseismic imaging methods, which only require continuous near-side observations. It is therefore both feasible and useful to estimate the far-side magnetic-flux maps using the far-side helioseismic images despite their relatively low spatial resolution and large uncertainties. In this work, we train two machine-learning models to achieve this goal. The first machine-learning training pairs simultaneous Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager-observed magnetic-flux maps and SDO/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly-observed extreme ultraviolet (EUV) 304 Å images, and the resulting model can convert 304 Å images into magnetic-flux maps. This model is then applied to the STEREO-observed far-side 304 Å images, available for about 4.3 yr, for the far-side magnetic-flux maps. These EUV-converted magnetic-flux maps are then paired with simultaneous far-side helioseismic images for a second machine-learning training, and the resulting model can convert far-side helioseismic images into magnetic-flux maps. These helioseismically derived far-side magnetic-flux maps, despite their limitations in spatial resolution and accuracy, can be routinely available on a daily basis, providing useful magnetic information on the Sun’s far side using only the near-side observations.

Could Switchbacks Originate in the Lower Solar Atmosphere? I. Formation Mechanisms of Switchbacks

Abstract The recent rediscovery of magnetic field switchbacks or deflections embedded in the solar wind flow by the Parker Solar Probe mission lead to a huge interest in the modeling of the formation mechanisms and origin of these switchbacks. Several scenarios for their generation were put forth, ranging from lower solar atmospheric origins by reconnection, to being a manifestation of turbulence in the solar wind, and so on. Here we study some potential formation mechanisms of magnetic switchbacks in the lower solar atmosphere, using three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations. The model is that of an intense flux tube in an open magnetic field region, aiming to represent a magnetic bright point opening up to an open coronal magnetic field structure, e.g., a coronal hole. The model is driven with different plasma flows in the photosphere, such as a fast up-shooting jet, as well as shearing flows generated by vortex motions or torsional oscillations. In all scenarios considered, we witness the formation of magnetic switchbacks in regions corresponding to chromospheric heights. Therefore, photospheric plasma flows around the foot-points of intense flux tubes appear to be suitable drivers for the formation of magnetic switchbacks in the lower solar atmosphere. Nevertheless, these switchbacks do not appear to be able to enter the coronal heights of the simulation in the present model. In conclusion, based on the presented simulations, switchbacks measured in the solar wind are unlikely to originate from photospheric or chromospheric dynamics.

3D Solar Coronal Loop Reconstructions with Machine Learning

Abstract The magnetic field plays an essential role in the initiation and evolution of different solar phenomena in the corona. The structure and evolution of the 3D coronal magnetic field are still not very well known. A way to ascertain the 3D structure of the coronal magnetic field is by performing magnetic field extrapolations from the photosphere to the corona. In previous work, it was shown that by prescribing the 3D-reconstructed loops’ geometry, the magnetic field extrapolation produces a solution with a better agreement between the modeled field and the reconstructed loops. This also improves the quality of the field extrapolation. Stereoscopy, which uses at least two view directions, is the traditional method for performing 3D coronal loop reconstruction. When only one vantage point of the coronal loops is available, other 3D reconstruction methods must be applied. Within this work, we present a method for the 3D loop reconstruction based on machine learning. Our purpose for developing this method is to use as many observed coronal loops in space and time for the modeling of the coronal magnetic field. Our results show that we can build machine-learning models that can retrieve 3D loops based only on their projection information. Ultimately, the neural network model will be able to use only 2D information of the coronal loops, identified, traced, and extracted from the extreme-ultraviolet images, for the calculation of their 3D geometry.

Global helium abundance measurements in the solar corona

Solar abundances have been historically assumed to be representative of cosmic abundances. However, our knowledge of the solar abundance of helium, the second most abundant element, relies mainly on models1 and indirect measurements through helioseismic observations2, because actual measurements of helium in the solar atmosphere are very scarce. Helium cannot be directly measured in the photosphere because of its high first ionization potential, and measurements of its abundance in the inner corona have been sporadic3,4. In this Letter, we present simultaneous global images of the helium (out to a heliocentric distance of 3R⊙ (solar radii)) and hydrogen emission in the solar corona during the minimum of solar activity of cycle 23 and directly derive the helium abundance in the streamer region and surrounding corona (out to 2.2R⊙). The morphology of the He+ corona is markedly different from that of the H corona, owing to significant spatial variations in helium abundance. The observations show that the helium abundance is shaped according to and modulated by the structure of the large-scale coronal magnetic field and that helium is almost completely depleted in the equatorial regions during the quiet Sun. This measurement provides a trace back to the coronal source of the anomalously slow solar wind observed in the heliosphere at the Sun–Earth Lagrangian point L1 in 2009, during the exceptionally long-lasting minimum of solar activity cycle 23. Global images of helium and hydrogen emission are used to directly derive the helium abundance out to 2.2R⊙. The helium abundance is shaped by the large-scale coronal magnetic field. Helium is almost completely depleted near the equator in the quiet Sun.

Magnetic Structures at the Boundary of the Closed Corona: A Semi-automated Study of S-Web Morphology

Abstract Interchange reconnection is thought to play an important role in driving the dynamics of the slow solar wind. To understand the details of this process, it is important to catalog the various magnetic structures that are present at the boundary between open and closed magnetic flux. To this end we have developed a numerical method for partitioning the coronal volume into individual flux domains using volume segmentation along layers of high magnetic squashing degree (Q). Our publicly available implementation of this method is able to identify the different magnetic structures within a coronal magnetic field model that define the open-closed boundary and comprise the so-called Separatrix-Web (S-Web). With this we test previous predictions of how different configurations of high-Q arcs within the S-Web are related to coronal magnetic field structures. Here we present our findings from a survey of 11 different potential field source surface models, spanning from 2008 to 2017, which offer a representative sample of the coronal magnetic field across nearly a complete solar cycle. Two key findings of our analysis are that (i) “vertex” structures—where arcs of the S-Web meet away from the heliospheric current sheet—are associated with underlying magnetic dome structures, and (ii) that any given arc of the S-Web is almost equally as likely to be formed by a narrow corridor of open flux (corresponding to a hyperbolic flux tube) as by the separatrix surface of a magnetic null. Together, these findings highlight the importance of a variety of topological configurations for future studies of interchange reconnection and the acceleration of the solar wind.

Comparing extrapolations of the coronal magnetic field structure at 2.5R⊙with multi-viewpoint coronagraphic observations

The magnetic field shapes the structure of the solar corona, but we still know little about the interrelationships between the coronal magnetic field configurations and the resulting quasi-stationary structures observed in coronagraphic images (such as streamers, plumes, and coronal holes). One way to obtain information on the large-scale structure of the coronal magnetic field is to extrapolate it from photospheric data and compare the results with coronagraphic images. Our aim is to verify whether this comparison can be a fast method to systematically determine the reliability of the many methods that are available for modeling the coronal magnetic field. Coronal fields are usually extrapolated from photospheric measurements that are typically obtained in a region close to the central meridian on the solar disk and are then compared with coronagraphic images at the limbs, acquired at least seven days before or after to account for solar rotation. This implicitly assumes that no significant changes occurred in the corona during that period. In this work, we combine images from three coronagraphs (SOHO/LASCO-C2 and the two STEREO/SECCHI-COR1) that observe the Sun from different viewing angles to build Carrington maps that cover the entire corona to reduce the effect of temporal evolution to about five days. We then compare the position of the observed streamers in these Carrington maps with that of the neutral lines obtained from four different magnetic field extrapolations to evaluate the performances of the latter in the solar corona. Our results show that the location of coronal streamers can provide important indications to distinguish between different magnetic field extrapolations.

On the Relative Brightness of Coronal Holes at Low Frequencies

We present low-frequency (80 – 240 MHz) radio observations of coronal holes (CHs) made with the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA). CHs are expected to be dark structures relative to the background corona across the MWA bandwidth due to their low densities. However, we observe that multiple CHs near disk center transition from being dark structures at higher frequencies to bright structures at lower frequencies ( ${\lesssim} \, 145~\mbox{MHz}$ ). We compare our observations to synthetic images obtained using the software suite FORWARD, in combination with the magnetohydrodynamic algorithm outside a sphere (MAS) model of the global coronal magnetic field, density, and temperature structure. The synthetic images do not exhibit this transition, and we quantify the discrepancy as a function of frequency. We propose that the dark-to-bright transition results from refraction of radio waves into the low-density CH regions, and we develop a qualitative model based on this idea and the relative optical depths inside and outside a CH as a function of frequency. We show that opacity estimates based on the MAS model are qualitatively consistent with our interpretation, and we conclude that propagation and relative absorption effects are a viable explanation for the dark-to-bright transition of CHs from high to low frequencies.

Streamer-blowout Coronal Mass Ejections: Their Properties and Relation to the Coronal Magnetic Field Structure

Abstract We present a comprehensive analysis of a particular class of coronal mass ejection (CME) event called streamer-blowout CMEs (SBOs). The events are characterized by a gradual swelling of the overlying streamer, lasting hours to days, followed by a slow, wide CME, generally exhibiting a three-part structure, which leaves the streamer significantly depleted in its wake. We identify 909 SBO events in the LASCO/C2 observations between 1996 and 2015. The average blowout lasts for 40.5 hr, but the evacuation can take days for some events. The SBO CMEs are wider and more massive than the average CME. Their properties generally vary during and between solar cycles. Their minimum (maximum) monthly occurrence rate of one (six) events in cycle 23 has doubled in cycle 24—a probable manifestation of the weaker global fields in the current cycle. The locations of SBOs follow the tilt of the global dipole (but not from 2014 onward), do not correlate with sunspot numbers, and exhibit flux rope morphology at a much higher rate (61%) than regular CMEs (40%). We propose that these characteristics are consistent with SBOs arising from extended polarity inversion lines outside active regions (e.g., quiet Sun and polar crown filaments) through the release via reconnection of magnetic energy, likely accumulated via differential rotation.

Effects of Coronal Magnetic Field Structures on the Transport of Solar Energetic Particles

Abstract This Letter presents a model calculation of solar energetic particle (SEP) transport to test the sensitivity of the distribution of escaped SEPs in interplanetary space and dependence upon the details of the magnetic field structure in the corona. It is applied to a circumsolar event on 2011 November 3, in which SEPs are observed promptly after the solar event eruption by three spacecraft (the twin Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatories (STEREO-A and STEREO-B) and ACE) separated by more than 100° in longitude from each other. The corona magnetic field reconstructed from photosphseric field measurements using the PFSS method changes substantially before and after the solar eruption, especially around the active region. The locations of open field regions, separatrix surfaces including the heliospheric current sheet, and footpoints of magnetic field lines connected to the spacecraft location have shifted substantially. We inject 100 keV energetic electrons on the open field lines at 1.5 R s within the size of observed coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and follow their propagation in the corona and the interplanetary space. We find that with a perpendicular diffusion due to field line random walk equal to 10% of the supergranular diffusion rate, the overall distribution of escaped SEPs does not change much even though the region of open field lines from SEPs has changed. The result suggests that detailed small-scale coronal magnetic field structures and the exact magnetic field connection are not crucially important for observing SEPs in the interplanetary space.

The Large-scale Coronal Structure of the 2017 August 21 Great American Eclipse: An Assessment of Solar Surface Flux Transport Model Enabled Predictions and Observations

Abstract On 2017 August 21, a total solar eclipse swept across the contiguous United States, providing excellent opportunities for diagnostics of the Sun’s corona. The Sun’s coronal structure is notoriously difficult to observe except during solar eclipses; thus, theoretical models must be relied upon for inferring the underlying magnetic structure of the Sun’s outer atmosphere. These models are necessary for understanding the role of magnetic fields in the heating of the corona to a million degrees and the generation of severe space weather. Here we present a methodology for predicting the structure of the coronal field based on model forward runs of a solar surface flux transport model, whose predicted surface field is utilized to extrapolate future coronal magnetic field structures. This prescription was applied to the 2017 August 21 solar eclipse. A post-eclipse analysis shows good agreement between model simulated and observed coronal structures and their locations on the limb. We demonstrate that slow changes in the Sun’s surface magnetic field distribution driven by long-term flux emergence and its evolution governs large-scale coronal structures with a (plausibly cycle-phase dependent) dynamical memory timescale on the order of a few solar rotations, opening up the possibility for large-scale, global corona predictions at least a month in advance.

Precipitation and Release of Solar Energetic Particles from the Solar Coronal Magnetic Field

Abstract Most solar energetic particles (SEPs) are produced in the corona. They propagate through complex coronal magnetic fields subject to scattering and diffusion across the averaged field lines by turbulence. We examine the behaviors of particle transport using a stochastic 3D focused transport simulation in a potential field source surface model of coronal magnetic field. The model is applied to an SEP event on 2010 February 7. We study three scenarios of particle injection at (i) the compact solar flare site, (ii) the coronal mass ejection (CME) shock, and (iii) the EUV wave near the surface. The majority of particles injected on open field lines are able to escape the corona. We found that none of our models can explain the observations of wide longitudinal SEP spread without perpendicular diffusion. If the perpendicular diffusion is about 10% of what is derived from the random walk of field lines at the rate of supergranular diffusion, particles injected at the compact solar flare site can spread to a wide range of longitude and latitude, very similar to the behavior of particles injected at a large CME shock. Stronger pitch-angle scattering results in a little more lateral spread by holding the particles in the corona for longer periods of time. Some injected particles eventually end up precipitating onto the solar surface. Even with a very small perpendicular diffusion, the pattern of the particle precipitation can be quite complicated depending on the detailed small-scale coronal magnetic field structures, which could be seen with future sensitive gamma-ray telescopes.

Magnetic Helicity Estimations in Models and Observations of the Solar Magnetic Field. III. Twist Number Method

Abstract We study the writhe, twist, and magnetic helicity of different magnetic flux ropes, based on models of the solar coronal magnetic field structure. These include an analytical force-free Titov–Démoulin equilibrium solution, non-force-free magnetohydrodynamic simulations, and nonlinear force-free magnetic field models. The geometrical boundary of the magnetic flux rope is determined by the quasi-separatrix layer and the bottom surface, and the axis curve of the flux rope is determined by its overall orientation. The twist is computed by the Berger–Prior formula, which is suitable for arbitrary geometry and both force-free and non-force-free models. The magnetic helicity is estimated by the twist multiplied by the square of the axial magnetic flux. We compare the obtained values with those derived by a finite volume helicity estimation method. We find that the magnetic helicity obtained with the twist method agrees with the helicity carried by the purely current-carrying part of the field within uncertainties for most test cases. It is also found that the current-carrying part of the model field is relatively significant at the very location of the magnetic flux rope. This qualitatively explains the agreement between the magnetic helicity computed by the twist method and the helicity contributed purely by the current-carrying magnetic field.

Nonlinear Force-free Coronal Magnetic Stereoscopy

Abstract Insights into the 3D structure of the solar coronal magnetic field have been obtained in the past by two completely different approaches. The first approach are nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolations, which use photospheric vector magnetograms as boundary condition. The second approach uses stereoscopy of coronal magnetic loops observed in EUV coronal images from different vantage points. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. Extrapolation methods are sensitive to noise and inconsistencies in the boundary data, and the accuracy of stereoscopy is affected by the ability of identifying the same structure in different images and by the separation angle between the view directions. As a consequence, for the same observational data, the 3D coronal magnetic fields computed with the two methods do not necessarily coincide. In an earlier work (Paper I) we extended our NLFFF optimization code by including stereoscopic constrains. The method was successfully tested with synthetic data, and within this work, we apply the newly developed code to a combined data set from SDO/HMI, SDO/AIA, and the two STEREO spacecraft. The extended method (called S-NLFFF) contains an additional term that monitors and minimizes the angle between the local magnetic field direction and the orientation of the 3D coronal loops reconstructed by stereoscopy. We find that when we prescribe the shape of the 3D stereoscopically reconstructed loops, the S-NLFFF method leads to a much better agreement between the modeled field and the stereoscopically reconstructed loops. We also find an appreciable decrease by a factor of two in the angle between the current and the magnetic field. This indicates the improved quality of the force-free solution obtained by S-NLFFF.

Comparison of potential field solutions for Carrington Rotation 2144

AbstractWe examined differences among the coronal magnetic field structures derived with the potential field source surface (PFSS) model for Carrington Rotation 2144, from 21 November to 19 December 2013. We used the synoptic maps of solar photospheric magnetic field from four observatories, the Huairou Solar Observing Station (HSOS), Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG), Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI), and Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO). We tested two smoothing methods, Gaussian and boxcar averaging, and correction of unbalanced net magnetic flux. The solutions of three‐dimensional coronal magnetic field are significantly different each other. An open‐field region derived with HSOS data agrees best with the corresponding coronal hole observed by Solar Dynamics Observatories/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, while HMI data yielded best agreements with the near‐Earth OMNI database. The GONG data overall gave agreements as good as the HMI. The PFSS calculations using WSO data were least sensitive to the choices we examined in this work. Differences in PFSS solutions using different choices and parameters in smoothing imply that the photospheric magnetic field distributions with size of several degrees at midlatitude and low‐latitude regions can be decisive, at least, in the examined period. To better determine the global solar corona, therefore, further evaluation of influences from compact bipolar magnetic field is needed.

Filament shape versus coronal potential magnetic field structure

Solar filament shape in projection on disc depends on the structure of the coronal magnetic field. We calculate the position of polarity inversion lines (PILs) of coronal potential magnetic field at different heights above the photosphere, which compose the magnetic neutral surface, and compare with them the distribution of the filament material in H$\alpha$ chromospheric images. We found that the most of the filament material is enclosed between two polarity inversion lines (PILs), one at a lower height close to the chromosphere and one at a higher level, which can be considered as a height of the filament spine. Observations of the same filament on the limb by the {\it STEREO} spacecraft confirm that the height of the spine is really very close to the value obtained from the PIL and filament border matching. Such matching can be used for filament height estimations in on-disk observations. Filament barbs are housed within protruding sections of the low-level PIL. On the base of simple model, we show that the similarity of the neutral surfaces in potential and non-potential fields with the same sub-photospheric sources is the reason for the found tendency for the filament material to gather near the potential-field neutral surface.

THE RELATION BETWEEN SOLAR ERUPTION TOPOLOGIES AND OBSERVED FLARE FEATURES. I. FLARE RIBBONS

In this paper we present a topological magnetic field investigation of seven two-ribbon flares in sigmoidal active regions observed with Hinode, STEREO, and SDO. We first derive the 3D coronal magnetic field structure of all regions using marginally unstable 3D coronal magnetic field models created with the flux rope insertion method. The unstable models have been shown to be a good model of the flaring magnetic field configurations. Regions are selected based on their pre-flare configurations along with the appearance and observational coverage of flare ribbons, and the model is constrained using pre-flare features observed in extreme ultraviolet and X-ray passbands. We perform a topology analysis of the models by computing the squashing factor, Q, in order to determine the locations of prominent quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs). QSLs from these maps are compared to flare ribbons at their full extents. We show that in all cases the straight segments of the two J-shaped ribbons are matched very well by the flux-rope-related QSLs, and the matches to the hooked segments are less consistent but still good for most cases. In addition, we show that these QSLs overlay ridges in the electric current density maps. This study is the largest sample of regions with QSLs derived from 3D coronal magnetic field models, and it shows that the magnetofrictional modeling technique that we employ gives a very good representation of flaring regions, with the power to predict flare ribbon locations in the event of a flare following the time of the model.

Hinode magnetic-field observations of solar flares for exploring the energy storage and trigger mechanisms

AbstractThe spectro-polarimeter in the Hinode Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) is one of the powerful instruments for the most accurate measurements of vector magnetic fields on the solar surface. The magnetic field configuration and possible candidates for flare trigger are briefly discussed with some SOT observations of solar flare events, which include X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, X1.2 flare on 7 January 2014 and two M-class flares on 2 February 2014. Especially, using an unique set of the Hinode and SDO data for the X5.4/X1.3 flares on 7 March 2012, we briefly reviewed remarkable properties observed in the spatial distribution of the photospheric magnetic flux, chromospheric flare ribbons, and the 3D coronal magnetic field structure inferred by non-linear force-free field modeling with the Hinode photospheric magnetic field data.

The solar type II radio bursts of 7 March 2012: Detailed simulation analyses

AbstractType II solar radio bursts are often indicators for impending space weather events at Earth. They are consequences of shock waves driven by coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that move outward from the Sun. We simulate such type II radio bursts by combining elaborate three‐dimensional (3‐D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) predictions of realistic CMEs near the Sun with an analytic kinetic radiation theory developed recently. The simulation approach includes the reconstruction of initial solar magnetic fields, the dimensioning of the initial flux rope of the CME with STEREO spacecraft data, and the launch of the CME into an empirical data‐driven corona and solar wind. In this paper, we simulate a complicated double CME event (a very fast CME followed by a slower CME without interaction) and the related coronal and interplanetary type II radio bursts that occurred on 7 March 2012. We extend our previous work to show harmonic and interplanetary emission as well as the simulation's surprising ability (for these events at least) for predicting emission for two closely spaced CMEs leaving the same active region. We demonstrate that the theory predicts well the observed fundamental and harmonic emission from ∼20 MHz to 50 kHz or from the high corona to near 1 AU. Specifically, the theory predicts flux, frequency, and time variations that are consistent with the presence or absence of observed type II emissions when interfering emissions are absent and are not inconsistent with observations when interfering type III bursts are present. The predicted and observed type II emission is predominantly fundamental for these two events. Harmonic emission occurs for the second CME only for a short time interval, when an extended shock has developed that can drive flank emission. The coronal and interplanetary emission follow closely hyperbolic lines in frequency‐time space, consisting of a succession of islands of emission with varying intensity. The islands develop due to competition between the shock moving through varying coronal and solar wind magnetic field structures (e.g., loops and streamers), growth of the driven radio source due to the spherical expansion of the shock, and movement of the active radio sources from the shock's nose to its flanks.