Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Structural elements of filaments

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Filaments are cool structures (∼ 7000 K) embedded in the hot corona. Observations in the optical wavelength range (Hα, Hβ, Ca ii K) show that filaments consist principally of a main body with the footpoints tied in the photosphere, generally at the boundaries of the supergranules. New instrumentation (Big Bear, Sacramento Peak, Canary Islands) reveals that filaments are highly structured. The dimension of the fine structures is limited by the spatial resolving power of the instruments (∼ 350 km). These fine structures may be caused by filamentation along the magnetic field or by a radiative instability during the formation of the prominences. New attempts based on radiative transfer calculations, density diagnostics, or dynamics are being developed in order to estimate the number of threads integrated along the line of sight, 2 to 200 according to various authors. Plasma parameter values are derived from these studies. While the models of prominences take into account the magnetic field observations, the fine structures and the dynamics are ignored most of the time.

The Prominence-Corona Transition Region (PCTR) is mainly observed at radio wavelengths and in EUV lines. It seems that the fine structures, which have different temperatures spread over a large interval, co-exist spatially. Progress on PCTR models is discussed. The existence of coronal cavities around prominences is still controversial.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amari, T., Démoulin, P., Browning, P., Hood, A., and Priest, E. R.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 241, 604.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballester, J. L. and Priest, E. R.: 1989, Astron. Astrophys. 225, 213.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bommier, V., Leroy, J. L., and Sahal-Bréchot, S.: 1981, Astron. Astrophys. 100, 231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiuderi, C. and Chiuderi-Drago, F.: 1991, Solar Phys. 132, 81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiuderi-Drago, F.: 1990, Lecture Notes in Physics 363, 70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chiuderi-Drago, F., Engvold, O., and Jensen, E.: 1992, Solar Phys. 139, 47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Choe, G. S. and Lee, L. C.: 1992, Solar Phys. 138, 291.

    Google Scholar 

  • Démoulin, P. and Priest, E. R.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Démoulin, P., Raadu, M., Malherbe, J. M., and Schmieder, B.: 1987, Astron. Astrophys. 183, 142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engvold, O.: 1976, Solar Phys. 49, 283.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engvold, O.: 1988, in R. C. Altrock (ed.), ‘The Prominence Corona Transition Region’, Proceedings of the 9th Sacramento Peak Summer Symposium, p. 151.

  • Engvold, O., Jensen, E., Yi, Z., and Brynildsen, N.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontenla, J. M. and Rovira, M.: 1985, Solar Phys. 96, 53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gary, D. E.: 1986, in A. I. Poland (ed.), Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conference Publication 2442, p. 121.

  • Heasley, J. N. and Milkey, R. W.: 1983, Astrophys. J. 268, 398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinzel, P.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinzel, P., Goutebroze, P., and Vial, J. C.: 1987, Astron. Astrophys. 183, 351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heinzel, P., Gouttebroze, P., and Vial, J. C.: 1988, in E. R. Priest and J. L. Ballester (eds.), Proceedings of Mallorca Workshop, p. 71.

  • Hirayama, T.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, E.: 1986, in A. I. Poland (ed.), Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conference Publication 2442, p. 63.

  • Jensen, E. and Wiik, J. E.: 1990, Lecture Notes in Physics 363, 298.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, I.: 1990, Lectures Notes 363, 49.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kippenhahn, R. and Schlüter, R.: 1957, Z. Astrophys. 43, 36.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotrč, P. and Heinzel, P.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuin, P. and Poland, A. I.: 1991, Astrophys. J. 370, 763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kundu, M. R., Fürst, E., Hirth, W., and Butz, M.: 1978, Astron. Astrophys. 62, 431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuperus, M. and Raadu, M.: 1973, Solar Phys. 28, 77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Landi Degl'Innocenti, E., Bommier, V., and Sahal, S.: 1987, Astron. Astrophys. 186, 335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroy, J. L.: 1989, in E. R. Priest (ed.), Dynamics and Structure of Quiescent Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, p. 77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroy, J. L., Bommier, V., and Sahal-Bréchot, S.: 1984, Astron. Astrophys. 131, 44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malherbe, J. M.: 1989, in E. R. Priest (ed.), Dynamics and Structure of Quiescent Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, p. 115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. F.: 1990, ‘Dynamics of Quiescent Prominences’, IAU Colloq. 117, 363, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, S. F.: 1991, in Z. Švestka, B. V. Jackson, and M. E. Machado (eds.), Proceedings of the IAU Colloquium 133, Lecture Notes in Physics 399, 331.

  • Martin, S. F., Livi, H. B., and Wang, J.: 1985, Australian J. Phys. 38, 929.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mein, P. and Mein, N.: 1988, Astron. Astrophys. 203, 162.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mein, P., and Mein, N.: 1991, Solar Phys. 136, 317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mein, P., Mein, N., Schmieder, B., and Noëns, J. C.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mouradian, Z. and Soru-Escaut, I.: 1989, Astron. Astrophys. 210, 410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mouradian, Z., Martres, M. J., and Soru-Escaut, I.: 1981, in Moriyama and J. C. Hénoux (eds.), Proceedings of the Japan-France Seminar on Solar Physics, p. 195.

  • Noëns, J. C. and Mouradian, Z.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poland, A. I.: 1986, in A. I. Poland (ed.), Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conference Publication 2442.

  • Poland, A. I.: 1990, ‘Dynamics of Quiescent Prominences’, IAU Colloq. 117, 363, 120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poland, A. I. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1983, Solar Phys. 84, 63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest, E. R.: 1989, in E. R. Priest (ed.), Dynamics and Structure of Quiescent Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest, E. R., Anzer, U., and Hood, A. W.: 1989, Astrophys. J. 344, 1010.

    Google Scholar 

  • Priest, E. R., Hood, A. W., and Anzer, U.: 1991, Solar Phys. 132, 195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ribes, E. and Bonnefond, F.: 1990, Geophys. Astrophys. Fluid Dynamics 55, 241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridgway, C., Priest, E. R., and Amari, T.: 1991, Astrophys. J. 367, 327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rompolt, B. and Bogdan, T.: 1986, Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conference Publication 2442, p. 81.

  • Ruždjak, V. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E. (eds.): 1990, ‘Dynamics of Quiescent Prominences’, IAU Colloq. 117.

  • Saito, K. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1973, Solar Phys. 31, 105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sakai, J., Colin, A., and Priest, E. R.: 1987, Solar Phys. 114, 293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmahl, E. J. and Orrall, E. Q.: 1986, in A. I. Poland (ed.), Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA Conference Publication 2442, p. 127.

  • Schmieder, B.: 1989, in E. R. Priest (ed.), Dynamics and Structure of Quiescent Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland, p. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B.: 1990, in V. Ruždjak and E. Tandberg-Hanssen (eds.), ‘Dynamics of Quiescent Prominences’, IAU Colloq. 117, 363.

  • Schmieder, B. and Mein, P.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmieder, B., Dere, K. P., and Wiik, J. E.: 1991, in Z. Švestka, B. V. Jackson, and M. E. Machado (eds.), Proceedings of the IAU Colloquium 133, Lecture Notes in Physics 399, 333.

  • Schmieder, B., Raadu, M., and Wiik, J. E.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 252, 353.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1974, Solar Prominences, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. T. and Schmieder, B.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 243, 501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uranov, A. M.: 1989, Proceedings of the Chapman Conference on the Physics of Magnetic Flux Ropes, Bermudas.

  • van Ballegooijen, A. A. and Martens, P. C. H.: 1989, Astrophys. J. 343, 971.

    Google Scholar 

  • van der Linden, R. A. and Goossens, M.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vial, J. C.: 1986, Coronal and Prominence Plasmas, NASA CP 2442, 89.

  • Vial, J. C., Rovira, M., Fontenla, J., and Gouttebroze, P.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vršnak, B., Ruždjak, V., Brajša, R., and Džubur, A.: 1988, Solar Phys. 116, 45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker, A. B. C., Barbee, J. T., Hoover, R. B., and Lindblom, J. F.: 1988, Science 241, 1781.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiehr, E. and Stellmacher, G.: 1991, Astron. Astrophys. 248, 227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiik, J. E., Schmieder, B., Noëns, J. C., and Heinzel, P.: 1991, preprint.

  • Wu, S. T., Bao, J. J., An, C. H., and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1990, Solar Phys. 125, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yi, Zhang, Engvold, O., and Keil, S. L.: 1991, Solar Phys. 132, 63.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q. Z. and Fang, C.: 1987, Astron. Astrophys. 175, 277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, H. Q., Ai, G. X., Sakurai, T., and Kurokawa, H.: 1991, Solar Phys. 136, 269.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zharkova, V. V.: 1989, Hvar Obs. Bull. 13, No. 1, 33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zirker, J. B. and Koutchmy, S.: 1990, Solar Phys. 127, 109.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zirker, J. B. and Koutchmy, S.: 1991, Solar Phys. 131, 107.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, URA326, DASOP, F 92195, Meudon Principal Cedex, France

    B. Schmieder

Authors
  1. B. Schmieder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Schmieder, B. Structural elements of filaments. Sol Phys 141, 275–287 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00155180

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00155180

Keywords

Search

Navigation