@article{YanXueJiangetal.2022, author = {Yan, Xiaoli and Xue, Zhike and Jiang, Chaowei and Priest, E. R. and Kliem, Bernhard and Yang, Liheng and Wang, Jincheng and Kong, Defang and Song, Yongliang and Feng, Xueshang and Liu, Zhong}, title = {Fast plasmoid-mediated reconnection in a solar flare}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {13}, journal = {Nature Communications}, number = {1}, publisher = {Nature Publishing Group UK}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-022-28269-w}, pages = {14}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Magnetic reconnection is a multi-faceted process of energy conversion in astrophysical, space and laboratory plasmas that operates at microscopic scales but has macroscopic drivers and consequences. Solar flares present a key laboratory for its study, leaving imprints of the microscopic physics in radiation spectra and allowing the macroscopic evolution to be imaged, yet a full observational characterization remains elusive. Here we combine high resolution imaging and spectral observations of a confined solar flare at multiple wavelengths with data-constrained magnetohydrodynamic modeling to study the dynamics of the flare plasma from the current sheet to the plasmoid scale. The analysis suggests that the flare resulted from the interaction of a twisted magnetic flux rope surrounding a filament with nearby magnetic loops whose feet are anchored in chromospheric fibrils. Bright cusp-shaped structures represent the region around a reconnecting separator or quasi-separator (hyperbolic flux tube). The fast reconnection, which is relevant for other astrophysical environments, revealed plasmoids in the current sheet and separatrices and associated unresolved turbulent motions. Solar flares provide wide range of observational details about fundamental processes involved. Here, the authors show evidence for magnetic reconnection in a strong confined solar flare displaying all four reconnection flows with plasmoids in the current sheet and the separatrices.}, language = {en} } @article{XueYanChengetal.2016, author = {Xue, Zhike and Yan, Xiaoli and Cheng, Xin and Yang, Liheng and Su, Yingna and Kliem, Bernhard and Zhang, Jun and Liu, Zhong and Bi, Yi and Xiang, Yongyuan and Yang, Kai and Zhao, Li}, title = {Observing the release of twist by magnetic reconnection in a solar filament eruption}, series = {Nature Communications}, volume = {7}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Nature Publ. Group}, address = {London}, issn = {2041-1723}, doi = {10.1038/ncomms11837}, pages = {11}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process of topology change and energy release, taking place in plasmas on the Sun, in space, in astrophysical objects and in the laboratory. However, observational evidence has been relatively rare and typically only partial. Here we present evidence of fast reconnection in a solar filament eruption using high-resolution H-alpha images from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope, supplemented by extreme ultraviolet observations. The reconnection is seen to occur between a set of ambient chromospheric fibrils and the filament itself. This allows for the relaxation of magnetic tension in the filament by an untwisting motion, demonstrating a flux rope structure. The topology change and untwisting are also found through nonlinear force-free field modelling of the active region in combination with magnetohydrodynamic simulation. These results demonstrate a new role for reconnection in solar eruptions: the release of magnetic twist.}, language = {en} } @article{WangMuglachKliem2009, author = {Wang, Yi-Ming and Muglach, Karin and Kliem, Bernhard}, title = {Endpoint brightenings in erupting filaments}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637x/699/1/133}, year = {2009}, abstract = {Two well known phenomena associated with erupting filaments are the transient coronal holes that form on each side of the filament channel and the bright post-event arcade with its expanding double row of footpoints. Here we focus on a frequently overlooked signature of filament eruptions: the spike- or fan-shaped brightenings that appear to mark the far endpoints of the filament. From a sample of non-active-region filament events observed with the Extreme- Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, we find that these brightenings usually occur near the outer edges of the transient holes, in contrast to the post-event arcades, which define their inner edges. The endpoints are often multiple and are rooted in and around strong network flux well outside the filament channel, a result that is consistent with the axial field of the filament being much stronger than the photospheric field inside the channel. The extreme ultraviolet brightenings, which are most intense at the time of maximum outward acceleration of the filament, can be used to determine unambiguously the direction of the axial field component from longitudinal magnetograms. Their location near the outer boundary of the transient holes suggests that we are observing the footprints of the current sheet formed at the leading edge of the erupting filament, as distinct from the vertical current sheet behind the filament which is the source of the post-event arcade.}, language = {en} } @article{VeronigPodladchikovaDissaueretal.2018, author = {Veronig, Astrid M. and Podladchikova, Tatiana and Dissauer, Karin and Temmer, Manuela and Seaton, Daniel B. and Long, David and Guo, Jingnan and Vrsnak, Bojan and Harra, Louise and Kliem, Bernhard}, title = {Genesis and Impulsive Evolution of the 2017 September 10 Coronal Mass Ejection}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {868}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.3847/1538-4357/aaeac5}, pages = {17}, year = {2018}, abstract = {The X8.2 event of 2017 September 10 provides unique observations to study the genesis, magnetic morphology, and impulsive dynamics of a very fast coronal mass ejection (CME). Combining GOES-16/SUVI and SDO/AIA EUV imagery, we identify a hot (T approximate to 10-15 MK) bright rim around a quickly expanding cavity, embedded inside a much larger CME shell (T approximate to 1-2 MK). The CME shell develops from a dense set of large AR loops ( greater than or similar to 0.5R(s)) and seamlessly evolves into the CME front observed in LASCO C2. The strong lateral overexpansion of the CME shell acts as a piston initiating the fast EUV wave. The hot cavity rim is demonstrated to be a manifestation of the dominantly poloidal flux and frozen-in plasma added to the rising flux rope by magnetic reconnection in the current sheet beneath. The same structure is later observed as the core of the white-light CME, challenging the traditional interpretation of the CME three-part morphology. The large amount of added magnetic flux suggested by these observations explains the extreme accelerations of the radial and lateral expansion of the CME shell and cavity, all reaching values of 5-10 km s(-2). The acceleration peaks occur simultaneously with the first RHESSI 100-300 keV hard X-ray burst of the associated flare, further underlining the importance of the reconnection process for the impulsive CME evolution. Finally, the much higher radial propagation speed of the flux rope in relation to the CME shell causes a distinct deformation of the white-light CME front and shock.}, language = {en} } @article{vanDrielGesztelyiBakerToeroeketal.2014, author = {van Driel-Gesztelyi, L. and Baker, Daniel N. and Toeroek, T. and Pariat, E. and Green, L. M. and Williams, D. R. and Carlyle, J. and Valori, G. and Demoulin, Pascal and Kliem, Bernhard and Long, D. M. and Matthews, S. A. and Malherbe, J. -M.}, title = {Coronal magnetic reconnection driven by CME expansion-the 2011 June 7 event}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {788}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/788/1/85}, pages = {12}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) erupt and expand in a magnetically structured solar corona. Various indirect observational pieces of evidence have shown that the magnetic field of CMEs reconnects with surrounding magnetic fields, forming, e.g., dimming regions distant from the CME source regions. Analyzing Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observations of the eruption from AR 11226 on 2011 June 7, we present the first direct evidence of coronal magnetic reconnection between the fields of two adjacent active regions during a CME. The observations are presented jointly with a data-constrained numerical simulation, demonstrating the formation/intensification of current sheets along a hyperbolic flux tube at the interface between the CME and the neighboring AR 11227. Reconnection resulted in the formation of new magnetic connections between the erupting magnetic structure from AR 11226 and the neighboring active region AR 11227 about 200 Mm from the eruption site. The onset of reconnection first becomes apparent in the SDO/AIA images when filament plasma, originally contained within the erupting flux rope, is redirected toward remote areas in AR 11227, tracing the change of large-scale magnetic connectivity. The location of the coronal reconnection region becomes bright and directly observable at SDO/AIA wavelengths, owing to the presence of down-flowing cool, dense (1010 cm(-3)) filament plasma in its vicinity. The high-density plasma around the reconnection region is heated to coronal temperatures, presumably by slow-mode shocks and Coulomb collisions. These results provide the first direct observational evidence that CMEs reconnect with surrounding magnetic structures, leading to a large-scale reconfiguration of the coronal magnetic field.}, language = {en} } @article{ValoriKliemToeroeketal.2010, author = {Valori, Gherardo and Kliem, Bernhard and T{\"o}r{\"o}k, Tibor and Titov, Viacheslav S.}, title = {Testing magnetofrictional extrapolation with the Titov-Demoulin model of solar active regions}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201014416}, year = {2010}, abstract = {We examine the nonlinear magnetofrictional extrapolation scheme using the solar active region model by Titov and Demoulin as test field. This model consists of an arched, line-tied current channel held in force-free equilibrium by the potential field of a bipolar flux distribution in the bottom boundary. A modified version with a parabolic current density profile is employed here. We find that the equilibrium is reconstructed with very high accuracy in a representative range of parameter space, using only the vector field in the bottom boundary as input. Structural features formed in the interface between the flux rope and the surrounding arcade - "hyperbolic flux tube" and "bald patch separatrix surface" - are reliably reproduced, as are the flux rope twist and the energy and helicity of the configuration. This demonstrates that force-free fields containing these basic structural elements of solar active regions can be obtained by extrapolation. The influence of the chosen initial condition on the accuracy of reconstruction is also addressed, confirming that the initial field that best matches the external potential field of the model quite naturally leads to the best reconstruction. Extrapolating the magnetogram of a Titov-Demoulin equilibrium in the unstable range of parameter space yields a sequence of two opposing evolutionary phases, which clearly indicate the unstable nature of the configuration: a partial buildup of the flux rope with rising free energy is followed by destruction of the rope, losing most of the free energy.}, language = {en} } @article{ToeroekBergerKliem2010, author = {T{\"o}r{\"o}k, Tibor and Berger, Mitch A. and Kliem, Bernhard}, title = {The writhe of helical structures in the solar corona}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/200913578}, year = {2010}, abstract = {Context. Helicity is a fundamental property of magnetic fields, conserved in ideal MHD. In flux rope geometry, it consists of twist and writhe helicity. Despite the common occurrence of helical structures in the solar atmosphere, little is known about how their shape relates to the writhe, which fraction of helicity is contained in writhe, and how much helicity is exchanged between twist and writhe when they erupt. Aims. Here we perform a quantitative investigation of these questions relevant for coronal flux ropes. Methods. The decomposition of the writhe of a curve into local and nonlocal components greatly facilitates its computation. We use it to study the relation between writhe and projected S shape of helical curves and to measure writhe and twist in numerical simulations of flux rope instabilities. The results are discussed with regard to filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Results. (1) We demonstrate that the relation between writhe and projected S shape is not unique in principle, but that the ambiguity does not affect low- lying structures, thus supporting the established empirical rule which associates stable forward (reverse) S shaped structures low in the corona with positive (negative) helicity. (2) Kink-unstable erupting flux ropes are found to transform a far smaller fraction of their twist helicity into writhe helicity than often assumed. (3) Confined flux rope eruptions tend to show stronger writhe at low heights than ejective eruptions (CMEs). This argues against suggestions that the writhing facilitates the rise of the rope through the overlying field. (4) Erupting filaments which are S shaped already before the eruption and keep the sign of their axis writhe (which is expected if field of one chirality dominates the source volume of the eruption), must reverse their S shape in the course of the rise. Implications for the occurrence of the helical kink instability in such events are discussed. (5) The writhe of rising loops can easily be estimated from the angle of rotation about the direction of ascent, once the apex height exceeds the footpoint separation significantly. Conclusions. Writhe can straightforwardly be computed for numerical data and can often be estimated from observations. It is useful in interpreting S shaped coronal structures and in constraining models of eruptions.}, language = {en} } @article{ToeroekLeakeTitovetal.2014, author = {Toeroek, T. and Leake, J. E. and Titov, Viacheslav S. and Archontis, V. and Mikic, Z. and Linton, M. G. and Dalmasse, K. and Aulanier, Guillaume and Kliem, Bernhard}, title = {Distribution of electric currents in solar active regions}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters}, volume = {782}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics ; Part 2, Letters}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {2041-8205}, doi = {10.1088/2041-8205/782/1/L10}, pages = {6}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{ToeroekKliemBergeretal.2014, author = {Toeroek, T. and Kliem, Bernhard and Berger, M. A. and Linton, M. G. and Demoulin, Pascal and van Driel-Gesztelyi, L.}, title = {The evolution of writhe in kink-unstable flux ropes and erupting filaments}, series = {Plasma physics and controlled fusion}, volume = {56}, journal = {Plasma physics and controlled fusion}, number = {6}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0741-3335}, doi = {10.1088/0741-3335/56/6/064012}, pages = {7}, year = {2014}, abstract = {The helical kink instability of a twisted magnetic flux tube has been suggested as a trigger mechanism for solar filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In order to investigate if estimations of the pre-emptive twist can be obtained from observations of writhe in such events, we quantitatively analyze the conversion of twist into writhe in the course of the instability, using numerical simulations. We consider the line tied, cylindrically symmetric Gold-Hoyle flux rope model and measure the writhe using the formulae by Berger and Prior which express the quantity as a single integral in space. We find that the amount of twist converted into writhe does not simply scale with the initial flux rope twist, but depends mainly on the growth rates of the instability eigenmodes of higher longitudinal order than the basic mode. The saturation levels of the writhe, as well as the shapes of the kinked flux ropes, are very similar for considerable ranges of initial flux rope twists, which essentially precludes estimations of pre-eruptive twist from measurements of writhe. However, our simulations suggest an upper twist limit of similar to 6 pi for the majority of filaments prior to their eruption.}, language = {en} } @article{ThompsonKliemToeroek2012, author = {Thompson, W. T. and Kliem, Bernhard and Toeroek, Tibor}, title = {3D reconstruction of a rotating erupting prominence}, series = {Solar physics : a journal for solar and solar-stellar research and the study of solar terrestrial physics}, volume = {276}, journal = {Solar physics : a journal for solar and solar-stellar research and the study of solar terrestrial physics}, number = {1-2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0038-0938}, doi = {10.1007/s11207-011-9868-5}, pages = {241 -- 259}, year = {2012}, abstract = {A bright prominence associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) was seen erupting from the Sun on 9 April 2008. This prominence was tracked by both the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) EUVI and COR1 telescopes, and was seen to rotate about the line of sight as it erupted; therefore, the event has been nicknamed the "Cartwheel CME." The threads of the prominence in the core of the CME quite clearly indicate the structure of a weakly to moderately twisted flux rope throughout the field of view, up to heliocentric heights of 4 solar radii. Although the STEREO separation was 48A degrees, it was possible to match some sharp features in the later part of the eruption as seen in the 304 line in EUVI and in the H alpha-sensitive bandpass of COR1 by both STEREO Ahead and Behind. These features could then be traced out in three-dimensional space, and reprojected into a view in which the eruption is directed toward the observer. The reconstructed view shows that the alignment of the prominence to the vertical axis rotates as it rises up to a leading-edge height of a parts per thousand aEuro parts per thousand 2.5 solar radii, and then remains approximately constant. The alignment at 2.5 solar radii differs by about 115A degrees from the original filament orientation inferred from H alpha and EUV data, and the height profile of the rotation, obtained here for the first time, shows that two thirds of the total rotation are reached within a parts per thousand aEuro parts per thousand 0.5 solar radii above the photosphere. These features are well reproduced by numerical simulations of an unstable moderately twisted flux rope embedded in external flux with a relatively strong shear field component.}, language = {en} } @article{TeriacaAndrettaAuchereetal.2012, author = {Teriaca, Luca and Andretta, Vincenzo and Auchere, Frederic and Brown, Charles M. and Buchlin, Eric and Cauzzi, Gianna and Culhane, J. Len and Curdt, Werner and Davila, Joseph M. and Del Zanna, Giulio and Doschek, George A. and Fineschi, Silvano and Fludra, Andrzej and Gallagher, Peter T. and Green, Lucie and Harra, Louise K. and Imada, Shinsuke and Innes, Davina and Kliem, Bernhard and Korendyke, Clarence and Mariska, John T. and Martinez-Pillet, Valentin and Parenti, Susanna and Patsourakos, Spiros and Peter, Hardi and Poletto, Luca and Rutten, Robert J. and Schuehle, Udo and Siemer, Martin and Shimizu, Toshifumi and Socas-Navarro, Hector and Solanki, Sami K. and Spadaro, Daniele and Trujillo-Bueno, Javier and Tsuneta, Saku and Dominguez, Santiago Vargas and Vial, Jean-Claude and Walsh, Robert and Warren, Harry P. and Wiegelmann, Thomas and Winter, Berend and Young, Peter}, title = {LEMUR large european module for solar ultraviolet research}, series = {Experimental astronomy : an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis}, volume = {34}, journal = {Experimental astronomy : an international journal on astronomical instrumentation and data analysis}, number = {2}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0922-6435}, doi = {10.1007/s10686-011-9274-x}, pages = {273 -- 309}, year = {2012}, abstract = {The solar outer atmosphere is an extremely dynamic environment characterized by the continuous interplay between the plasma and the magnetic field that generates and permeates it. Such interactions play a fundamental role in hugely diverse astrophysical systems, but occur at scales that cannot be studied outside the solar system. Understanding this complex system requires concerted, simultaneous solar observations from the visible to the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and soft X-rays, at high spatial resolution (between 0.1'' and 0.3''), at high temporal resolution (on the order of 10 s, i.e., the time scale of chromospheric dynamics), with a wide temperature coverage (0.01 MK to 20 MK, from the chromosphere to the flaring corona), and the capability of measuring magnetic fields through spectropolarimetry at visible and near-infrared wavelengths. Simultaneous spectroscopic measurements sampling the entire temperature range are particularly important. These requirements are fulfilled by the Japanese Solar-C mission (Plan B), composed of a spacecraft in a geosynchronous orbit with a payload providing a significant improvement of imaging and spectropolarimetric capabilities in the UV, visible, and near-infrared with respect to what is available today and foreseen in the near future. The Large European Module for solar Ultraviolet Research (LEMUR), described in this paper, is a large VUV telescope feeding a scientific payload of high-resolution imaging spectrographs and cameras. LEMUR consists of two major components: a VUV solar telescope with a 30 cm diameter mirror and a focal length of 3.6 m, and a focal-plane package composed of VUV spectrometers covering six carefully chosen wavelength ranges between 170 and 1270 . The LEMUR slit covers 280'' on the Sun with 0.14'' per pixel sampling. In addition, LEMUR is capable of measuring mass flows velocities (line shifts) down to 2 km s (-aEuro parts per thousand 1) or better. LEMUR has been proposed to ESA as the European contribution to the Solar C mission.}, language = {en} } @misc{SuKliemvanBallegooijenetal.2012, author = {Su, Yingna and Kliem, Bernhard and van Ballegooijen, Adriaan and Deluca, Edward}, title = {Numerical simulations of the CME on 2010 April 8}, series = {Solar and Astrophysical Dynamos and Magnetic Activity}, journal = {Solar and Astrophysical Dynamos and Magnetic Activity}, number = {674}, issn = {1866-8372}, doi = {10.25932/publishup-41488}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-414887}, pages = {575 -- 576}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We present 3D zero-beta ideal MHD simulations of the solar flare/CME event that occurred in Active Region 11060 on 2010 April 8. The initial magnetic configurations of the two simulations are stable nonlinear force-free field and unstable magnetic field models constructed by Su et al. (2011) using the flux rope insertion method. The MHD simulations confirm that the stable model relaxes to a stable equilibrium, while the unstable model erupts as a CME. Comparisons between observations and MHD simulations of the CME are also presented.}, language = {en} } @article{SeehaferFuhrmannValorietal.2007, author = {Seehafer, Norbert and Fuhrmann, M. and Valori, Gherardo and Kliem, Bernhard}, title = {Force-free magnetic fields in the solar atmosphere}, year = {2007}, language = {en} } @article{SchumacherKliemSeehafer2000, author = {Schumacher, J{\"o}rg and Kliem, Bernhard and Seehafer, Norbert}, title = {Three-dimensional spontaneous magnetic reconnection in neutral current sheets}, year = {2000}, language = {en} } @book{SchumacherKliemSeehafer1999, author = {Schumacher, J{\"o}rg and Kliem, Bernhard and Seehafer, Norbert}, title = {Three-dimensional spontaneous magnetic reconnection in neutral current sheets}, series = {Preprint series / Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam}, volume = {99,42}, journal = {Preprint series / Astrophysikalisches Institut Potsdam}, publisher = {AIP}, address = {Potsdam}, pages = {26 S. : graph. Darst.}, year = {1999}, language = {en} } @article{NiKliemLinetal.2015, author = {Ni, Lei and Kliem, Bernhard and Lin, Jun and Wu, Ning}, title = {Fast magnetic reconnection in the solar chromosphere mediated by theplasmoid instability}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {799}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/799/1/79}, pages = {16}, year = {2015}, abstract = {Magnetic reconnection in the partially ionized solar chromosphere is studied in 2.5 dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations including radiative cooling and ambipolar diffusion. A Harris current sheet with and without a guide field is considered. Characteristic values of the parameters in the middle chromosphere imply a high magnetic Reynolds number of similar to 10(6)-10(7) in the present simulations. Fast magnetic reconnection then develops as a consequence of the plasmoid instability without the need to invoke anomalous resistivity enhancements. Multiple levels of the instability are followed as it cascades to smaller scales, which approach the ion inertial length. The reconnection rate, normalized to the asymptotic values of magnetic field and Alfven velocity in the inflow region, reaches values in the range similar to 0.01-0.03 throughout the cascading plasmoid formation and for zero as well as for strong guide field. The outflow velocity reaches approximate to 40 km s(-1). Slow-mode shocks extend from the X-points, heating the plasmoids up to similar to 8 x 10(4) K. In the case of zero guide field, the inclusion of both ambipolar diffusion and radiative cooling causes a rapid thinning of the current sheet (down to similar to 30 m) and early formation of secondary islands. Both of these processes have very little effect on the plasmoid instability for a strong guide field. The reconnection rates, temperature enhancements, and upward outflow velocities from the vertical current sheet correspond well to their characteristic values in chromospheric jets.}, language = {en} } @article{LouisPuschmannKliemetal.2014, author = {Louis, Rohan E. and Puschmann, Klaus G. and Kliem, Bernhard and Balthasar, Horst and Denker, Carsten}, title = {Sunspot splitting triggering an eruptive flare}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {562}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {0004-6361}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/201321106}, pages = {15}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Aims. We investigate how the splitting of the leading sunspot and associated flux emergence and cancellation in active region NOAA 11515 caused an eruptive M5.6 flare on 2012 July 2. Methods. Continuum intensity, line-of-sight magnetogram, and dopplergram data of the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager were employed to analyse the photospheric evolution. Filtergrams in H alpha and He I 10830 angstrom of the Chromospheric Telescope at the Observatorio del Teide, Tenerife, track the evolution of the flare. The corresponding coronal conditions were derived from 171 angstrom and 304 angstrom images of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly. Local correlation tracking was utilized to determine shear flows. Results. Emerging flux formed a neutral line ahead of the leading sunspot and new satellite spots. The sunspot splitting caused a long-lasting flow towards this neutral line, where a filament formed. Further flux emergence, partly of mixed polarity, as well as episodes of flux cancellation occurred repeatedly at the neutral line. Following a nearby C-class precursor flare with signs of interaction with the filament, the filament erupted nearly simultaneously with the onset of the M5.6 flare and evolved into a coronal mass ejection. The sunspot stretched without forming a light bridge, splitting unusually fast (within about a day, complete approximate to 6 h after the eruption) in two nearly equal parts. The front part separated strongly from the active region to approach the neighbouring active region where all its coronal magnetic connections were rooted. It also rotated rapidly (by 4.9 degrees h(-1)) and caused significant shear flows at its edge. Conclusions. The eruption resulted from a complex sequence of processes in the (sub-)photosphere and corona. The persistent flows towards the neutral line likely caused the formation of a flux rope that held the filament. These flows, their associated flux cancellation, the emerging flux, and the precursor flare all contributed to the destabilization of the flux rope. We interpret the sunspot splitting as the separation of two flux bundles differently rooted in the convection zone and only temporarily joined in the spot. This explains the rotation as the continued rise of the separating flux, and it implies that at least this part of the sunspot was still connected to its roots deep in the convection zone.}, language = {en} } @article{LouisKliemRavindraetal.2015, author = {Louis, Rohan E. and Kliem, Bernhard and Ravindra, B. and Chintzoglou, Georgios}, title = {Triggering an Eruptive Flare by Emerging Flux in a Solar Active-Region Complex}, series = {Solar physics : a journal for solar and solar-stellar research and the study of solar terrestrial physics}, volume = {290}, journal = {Solar physics : a journal for solar and solar-stellar research and the study of solar terrestrial physics}, number = {12}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {Dordrecht}, issn = {0038-0938}, doi = {10.1007/s11207-015-0726-8}, pages = {3641 -- 3662}, year = {2015}, abstract = {A flare and fast coronal mass ejection originated between solar active regions NOAA 11514 and 11515 on 2012 July 1 (SOL2012-07-01) in response to flux emergence in front of the leading sunspot of the trailing region 11515. Analyzing the evolution of the photospheric magnetic flux and the coronal structure, we find that the flux emergence triggered the eruption by interaction with overlying flux in a non-standard way. The new flux neither had the opposite orientation nor a location near the polarity inversion line, which are favorable for strong reconnection with the arcade flux under which it emerged. Moreover, its flux content remained significantly smaller than that of the arcade (). However, a loop system rooted in the trailing active region ran in part under the arcade between the active regions, passing over the site of flux emergence. The reconnection with the emerging flux, leading to a series of jet emissions into the loop system, caused a strong but confined rise of the loop system. This lifted the arcade between the two active regions, weakening its downward tension force and thus destabilizing the considerably sheared flux under the arcade. The complex event was also associated with supporting precursor activity in an enhanced network near the active regions, acting on the large-scale overlying flux, and with two simultaneous confined flares within the active regions.}, language = {en} } @article{LiuLiuXuetal.2013, author = {Liu, Rui and Liu, Chang and Xu, Yan and Liu, Wei and Kliem, Bernhard and Wang, Haimin}, title = {Observation of a moretown wave and wave-filament interactions associated with the renowned X9 flare on 1990 May 24}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {773}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/773/2/166}, pages = {13}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Using Big Bear Solar Observatory film data recently digitized at NJIT, we investigate a Moreton wave associated with an X9 flare on 1990 May 24, as well as its interactions with four filaments F1-F4 located close to the flaring region. The interaction yields interesting insight into physical properties of both the wave and the filaments. The first clear Moreton wavefront appears at the flaring-region periphery at approximately the same time as the peak of a microwave burst and the first of two gamma-ray peaks. The wavefront propagates at different speeds ranging from 1500-2600 km s(-1) in different directions, reaching as far as 600 Mm away from the flaring site. Sequential chromospheric brightenings are observed ahead of the Moreton wavefront. A slower diffuse front at 300-600 km s(-1) is observed to trail the fast Moreton wavefront about one minute after the onset. The Moreton wave decelerates to similar to 550 km s(-1) as it sweeps through F1. The wave passage results in F1's oscillation which is featured by similar to 1 mHz signals with coherent Fourier phases over the filament, the activation of F3 and F4 followed by gradual recovery, but no disturbance in F2. Different height and magnetic environment together may account for the distinct responses of the filaments to the wave passage. The wavefront bulges at F4, whose spine is oriented perpendicular to the upcoming wavefront. The deformation of the wavefront is suggested to be due to both the forward inclination of the wavefront and the enhancement of the local Alfven speed within the filament channel.}, language = {en} } @article{LiuKliemToeroeketal.2012, author = {Liu, Rui and Kliem, Bernhard and Toeroek, Tibor and Liu, Chang and Titov, Viacheslav S. and Lionello, Roberto and Linker, Jon A. and Wang, Haimin}, title = {Slow rise and partial eruption of a double-decker filament. I. observations and interpretation}, series = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, volume = {756}, journal = {The astrophysical journal : an international review of spectroscopy and astronomical physics}, number = {1}, publisher = {IOP Publ. Ltd.}, address = {Bristol}, issn = {0004-637X}, doi = {10.1088/0004-637X/756/1/59}, pages = {14}, year = {2012}, abstract = {We study an active-region dextral filament that was composed of two branches separated in height by about 13 Mm, as inferred from three-dimensional reconstruction by combining SDO and STEREO-B observations. This "double-decker" configuration sustained for days before the upper branch erupted with a GOES-class M1.0 flare on 2010 August 7. Analyzing this evolution, we obtain the following main results. (1) During the hours before the eruption, filament threads within the lower branch were observed to intermittently brighten up, lift upward, and then merge with the upper branch. The merging process contributed magnetic flux and current to the upper branch, resulting in its quasi-static ascent. (2) This transfer might serve as the key mechanism for the upper branch to lose equilibrium by reaching the limiting flux that can be stably held down by the overlying field or by reaching the threshold of the torus instability. (3) The erupting branch first straightened from a reverse S shape that followed the polarity inversion line and then writhed into a forward S shape. This shows a transfer of left-handed helicity in a sequence of writhe-twist-writhe. The fact that the initial writhe is converted into the twist of the flux rope excludes the helical kink instability as the trigger process of the eruption, but supports the occurrence of the instability in the main phase, which is indeed indicated by the very strong writhing motion. (4) A hard X-ray sigmoid, likely of coronal origin, formed in the gap between the two original filament branches in the impulsive phase of the associated flare. This supports a model of transient sigmoids forming in the vertical flare current sheet. (5) Left-handed magnetic helicity is inferred for both branches of the dextral filament. (6) Two types of force-free magnetic configurations are compatible with the data, a double flux rope equilibrium and a single flux rope situated above a loop arcade.}, language = {en} }