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Large-Scale Vortex Motion and Multiple Plasmoid Ejection Due to Twisting Prominence Threads and Associated Reconnection

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Abstract

We analyze the characteristics of a quiescent polar prominence using the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Initially, small-scale barb-like structures are evident on the solar disk, which firstly grow vertically and thereafter move towards the south-west limb. Later, a spine connects these barbs and we observe apparent rotating motions in the upper part of the prominence. These apparent rotating motions might play an important role for the evolution and growth of the filament by transferring cool plasma and magnetic twist. Large-scale vortex motion is evident in the upper part of the prominence and consists of a swirl-like structure within it. The slow motion of the footpoint twists the legs of the prominence due to magnetic shear, causing two different kinds of magnetic reconnection. The internal reconnection is initiated by a resistive-tearing-mode instability, which leads to the formation of multiple plasmoids in the elongated current sheet. The estimated growth rate was found to be 0.02 – 0.05. The magnetic reconnection heats the current sheet for a small duration. However, most of the energy release due to magnetic reconnection is absorbed by the surrounding cool and dense plasma and used to accelerate the plasmoid ejection. The multiple plasmoid ejections destroy the current sheet. Thereafter, the magnetic arcades collapse near the X-point. Oppositely directed magnetic arcades may reconnect with the southern segment of the prominence and an elongated thin current sheet is formed. This external reconnection drives the prominence eruption.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the anonymous reviewer for valuable comments that have helped us to substantially improve the manuscript. A.K. Srivastava and S.K. Mishra acknowledge the DST-SERB (YSS/2015/000621) project. A.K. Srivastava acknowledges the UKIERI Research Grant for the support of his research. P.F. Chen was supported by the Chinese grants NSFC 11533005, 11961131002 and Jiangsu 333 Project (No. BRA2017359). We acknowledge the use of Cheung et al. (2015) for calculating the differential emission measure (DEM). Data courtesy of NASA/SDO and the AIA science team.

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  1. Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, 221005, India

    Sudheer K. Mishra & A. K. Srivastava

  2. School of Astronomy & Space Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China

    P. F. Chen

  3. Key Laboratary of Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Ministry of Education, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China

    P. F. Chen

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  1. Sudheer K. Mishra
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11207_2020_1733_MOESM1_ESM.mp4

The animation (movie1.mp4) shows the evolution of a helical flux rope, apparent rotating motion of plasma, and swirling motion on the top of the prominence. It also includes the basic structure and internal dynamics; i.e. barbs, spine, swirl motion, horns, apparent helical motion etc., in a polar prominence. It runs from 9 June 2018 at 08:30 UT to 14 June 2018 07:30 UT. (MP4 5.3 MB)

11207_2020_1733_MOESM2_ESM.mp4

The animation (movie2.mp4) shows the full evolution of large-scale vortex motion and swirl-like structure within it in a polar prominence using SDO/AIA 304 Angstrom data. This animation run from 09:20 UT to 11:50 UT 14 June 2018. (MP4 15.8 MB)

11207_2020_1733_MOESM3_ESM.mp4

The animation (movie3.mp4) shows that oppositely directed prominence legs reconnect over a polarity inversion line (PIL) and initiate the plasmoid-enhanced reconnection. We assume that the PIL is lying between the prominence legs. The animation runs from 11:00 UT to 13:00 UT on 14 June 2018. (MP4 2.9 MB)

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Mishra, S.K., Srivastava, A.K. & Chen, P.F. Large-Scale Vortex Motion and Multiple Plasmoid Ejection Due to Twisting Prominence Threads and Associated Reconnection. Sol Phys 295, 167 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-020-01733-w

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