Cluster of solar active regions and onset of coronal mass ejections

  • JingXiu Wang
  • YuZong Zhang
  • Han He
  • AnQin Chen
  • ChunLan Jin
  • GuiPing Zhou
Article
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Abstract

Abstract round-the-clock solar observations with full-disk coverage of vector magnetograms and multi-wavelength images demonstrate that solar active regions (ARs) are ultimately connected with magnetic field. Often two or more ARs are clustered, creating a favorable magnetic environment for the onset of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In this work, we describe a new type of magnetic complex: cluster of solar ARs. An AR cluster is referred to as the close connection of two or more ARs which are located in nearly the same latitude and a narrow span of longitude. We illustrate three examples of AR clusters, each of which has two ARs connected and formed a common dome of magnetic flux system. They are clusters of NOAA (i.e., National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) ARs 11226 & 11227, 11429 & 11430, and 11525 & 11524. In these AR clusters, CME initiations were often tied to the instability of the magnetic structures connecting two partner ARs, in the form of inter-connecting loops and/or channeling filaments between the two ARs. We show the evidence that, at least, some of the flare/CMEs in an AR cluster are not a phenomenon of a single AR, but the result of magnetic interaction in the whole AR cluster. The observations shed new light on understanding the mechanism(s) of solar activity. Instead of the simple bipolar topology as suggested by the so-called standard flare model, a multi-bipolar magnetic topology is more common to host the violent solar activity in solar atmosphere.

Keywords

activity coronal mass ejection magnetic fields 
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Copyright information

© Science China Press and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2015

Authors and Affiliations

  • JingXiu Wang
    • 1
  • YuZong Zhang
    • 1
  • Han He
    • 1
  • AnQin Chen
    • 2
  • ChunLan Jin
    • 1
  • GuiPing Zhou
    • 1
  1. 1.Key Lab of Solar Activity, National Astronomical ObservatoriesChinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
  2. 2.National Center for Space WeatherChina Meteorological AdministrationBeijingChina

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