Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Configuration and gradual dynamics of prominence-related X-ray coronal cavities

  • Published:
Solar Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We have analyzed X-ray images of the solar corona obtained by the S-054 telescope on Skylab, together with Hα filtergrams from the Catania Astrophysical Observatory and EUV and magnetic data, to study the morphology and the evolution of the coronal structures associated with prominences (coronal cavities).

X-ray cavities are associated with prominences and are enclosed by series of loops of hot plasma typically higher than 5 × 109 cm. Helmet streamers can be observed only at very large heights (> 1 solar radius). The cavities show a higher luminosity when prominences have temporarily disappeared. The density in one of these X-ray cavities (∼ 3 × 108cm−3) is insufficient to allow formation of dense (≳ 1011 cm−3) prominences by local condensation from the corona.

Prominences associated with young (up to three solar rotations) and old (greater than eight) magnetic neutral lines are significantly less stable than those associated with middle-aged neutral lines. Downward bending of the top of the inner magnetic loop, necessary in some models of prominences, is not detected in these X-ray observations. The relevance of these results to models of prominence formation is discussed.

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

  • Alikhanov, S. G.: 1967, Soviet Phys. Dokl. 12, 601.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anzer, U. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1970, Solar Phys. 11, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Athay, R. C.: 1972, The Solar Chromosphere and Corona, D. Reidel Publ. Co., Dordrecht, Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Balanovsky, J. and Perepelkin, E.: 1928, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 88, 740.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bohlin, D. J.: 1976, Private communication.

  • Chultem, T. S. and Yakovkim, N. A.: 1974, Solar Phys. 34, 133.

    Google Scholar 

  • Compagno, G.: 1975, Thesis, University of Palermo.

  • d'Azambuja, L. and d'Azambuja, M.: 1948, Ann. Obs. Paris-Meudon 6, 7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dungey, J. W.: 1953, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 113, 180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, G. B.: 1965, Astrophys. J. 142, 531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fort, B. and Martres, M. J.: 1974, Astron. Astrophys. 33, 249.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godoli, G., Sciuto, V., Zappala', R. A.: 1974, in G. Righini (ed.), ‘Skylab Solar Workshop’, Osservazionie memorie Oss. Ast. Arcetri 104, 209.

  • Harvey, J. W.: 1969, Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Colorado.

  • Heasley, J. N. and Milkey, R. W.: 1978, Astrophys. J. 221, 677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hildner, E.: 1971, Ph. D. Thesis, Univ. of Colorado.

  • Hildner, E.: 1974, Solar Phys. 35, 123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, S. A., Pikel'ner, S. B., and Tsytovich, V. N.: 1974, Phys. Rept. 15, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kawaguchi, F.: 1967, Solar Phys. 1, 420.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleczek, J. and Hansen, R. T.: 1962, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacific 74, 507.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuperus, M. and Tandberg-Hanssen, E.: 1967, Solar Phys. 2, 39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leroy, J. L. and Servajean, R.: 1966, Ann. Astrophys. 29, 263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxson, C. W. and Vaiana, G. S.: 1977, Astrophys. J. 215, 919.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, P. S.: 1972a, in P. S. McIntosh and M. Dryer (eds.), Solar Activity Observations and Predictions, MIT Press, Cambridge, Mass.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, P. S.: 1972b, Rev. Geophys. Space Phys. 10, 837.

    Google Scholar 

  • McIntosh, P. S.: 1975a, Report UAG No. 40.

  • McIntosh, P. S.: 1975b, Private communication.

  • McIntosh, P. S., Kreiger, A. S., Nolte, J. T., and Vaiana, G. S.: 1976, Solar Phys. 49, 57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakagawa, Y.: 1970, Solar Phys. 12, 419.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakagawa, Y. and Malville, J. M.: 1969, Solar Phys. 9, 102.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noyes, R. W., Dupree, A. K., Huber, M. C., Parkinson, W. H., Reeves, E. M., and Withbroe, G. L.: 1972, Astrophys. J. 178, 515.

    Google Scholar 

  • Orrall, F. Q. and Schmahl, E. J.: 1976, Solar Phys. 50, 365.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pallavicini, R., Serio, S., and Vaiana, G. S.: 1976, Astrophys. J. 216, 108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parker, E. N.: 1953, Astrophys. J. 117, 431.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pikel'ner, S. B.: 1971, Solar Phys. 17, 44.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pneuman, G. W.: 1972, Astrophys. J. 177, 793.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pustil'nik, L. A.: 1974, Soviet Astron. AJ. 17, 763.

    Google Scholar 

  • Raju, P. K.: 1966, Ph.D. Thesis, Yale University.

  • Raju, P. K.: 1968, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 139, 479.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosner, R., Tucker, W. H., and Vaiana, G. S.: 1978a, Astrophys. J. 220, 643.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosner, R., Serio, S., and Vaiana, G. S.: 1978b, work in progress.

  • Rust, D.: 1966, Ph.D. Thesis, University of Colorado.

  • Saito, K. and Hyder, C. L.: 1968, Solar Phys. 5, 61.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmahl, E. J., Foukal, P. V., Huber, M. C., Noyes, R. W., Reeves, E. M., Timothy, J. G., Vernazza, J. E., and Withbroe, G. L.: 1974, Solar Phys. 39, 337.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sheeley, N. R., Jr., Bohlin, J. D., Brueckner, G. E., Purcell, J. D., Scherrer, V. E., Tousey, R., Smith, J. B. Jr., Speich, D. M., Tandberg-Hanssen, E., Wilson, R.M., de Loach, A. C., Hoover, R. B., and McGuire, J. P.: 1975, Solar Phys. 45, 377.

    Google Scholar 

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

    Google Scholar 

  • Tandberg-Hanssen, E. and Anzer, U.: 1970, Solar Phys. 15, 158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Uchida, Y.: 1963, Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan 15, 65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaiana, G. S., Reidy, W. P., Zehnpfennig, T., and Van Speybroeck, L.: 1968, Science 161, 564.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaiana, G. S., Krieger, A. S., and Timothy, A. F.: 1973, Solar Phys. 32, 81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaiana, G. S., Krieger, A. S., Silk, J., Timothy, A., Chase, R., Davis, J., Gerassimenko, M., Golub, L., Kahler, S., and Petrasso, R.: 1974, in D. Newkirk (ed.), ‘Coronal Disturbances’, IAU Symp. 57, 501.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaiana, G. S., Van Speybroeck, L., Zombeck, M. V., Krieger, A. S., Silk, J. K., and Timothy, A.: 1977, Space Sci. Instr. 3, 19.

    Google Scholar 

  • van de Hulst, H. C.: 1953, in G. K. Kuiper (ed.), The Sun, Univ. of Chicago Press, p. 296.

  • Van Speybroeck, L. P., Krieger, A. S., and Vaiana, G. S.: 1970, Nature 227, 818.

    Google Scholar 

  • Von Klüber, H.: 1961, Monthly Notices Roy. Astron. Soc. 123, 61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waldmeier, M.: 1955, Ergebnisse und Probleme der Sonnen-Forschung, Leipzig, p. 234.

  • Waldmeier, M.: 1970, Solar Phys. 15, 167.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallenquist, A.: 1957, Uppsala Astron. Obs. Ann. 4, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Webb, D. F., Kreiger, A. S., and Rust, D. M.: Solar Phys. 48, 159.

  • Williamson, N. K., Fullerton, C. M., and Billings, D. E.: 1961, Astrophys. J. 133, 973.

    Google Scholar 

  • Withbroe, G. L.: 1976, Inv. paper A.G.U. Meeting, Washington, D.C., CFA preprint No. 524.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, USA

    S. Serio & G. S. Vaiana

  2. Osservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Italy

    S. Serio & G. S. Vaiana

  3. Osservatorio Astrofiscio di Catania, Italy

    G. Godoli, S. Motta, V. Pirronello & R. A. Zappala'

Authors
  1. S. Serio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. S. Vaiana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Godoli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S. Motta
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. V. Pirronello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. A. Zappala'
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Presently at Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri, Firenze, Italy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Serio, S., Vaiana, G.S., Godoli, G. et al. Configuration and gradual dynamics of prominence-related X-ray coronal cavities. Sol Phys 59, 65–86 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154932

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00154932

Keywords

Search

Navigation