Abstract
We have studied symmetric mass injection into a dipole magnetic field using a 2-D ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical model as a simulation of the formation of Kippenhahn-Schlüter (K-S)-type quiescent prominence (QP) magnetic field configurations. The result shows that there is an optimum magnetic field strength for QP formation, suggesting why prominences do not form above every neutral line.
In the model, we varied the injection velocity, density, and magnetic field strength to find the optimum conditions for the formation of a K-S-type field configuration. Such a configuration is assumed to be necessary for QP formation in which injected plasma accumulates and subsequently condenses on magnetic field lines. The condensed plasma would, then, be supported by magnetic field against gravity. We find that a weaker magnetic field strength is more favorable for the condensation but that a stronger field is more favorable for the support against gravity. These two conflicting conditions lead to an optimum field strength for a QP formation by mass injection.
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An, CH., Bao, J.J., Wu, S.T. et al. Numerical simulation of mass injection for the formation of prominence magnetic field configurations. Sol Phys 115, 93–106 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146232
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00146232