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Modelling the global solar corona : filament chirality observations and surface simulations

Yeates, A.R.; Mackay, D.H.; van Ballegooijen, A.A.

Authors

D.H. Mackay

A.A. van Ballegooijen



Abstract

The hemispheric pattern of solar filaments is considered in the context of the global magnetic field of the solar corona. In recent work Mackay and van Ballegooijen have shown how, for a pair of interacting magnetic bipoles, the observed chirality pattern could be explained by the dominant range of bipole tilt angles and helicity in each hemisphere. This study aims to test this earlier result through a direct comparison between theory and observations, using newly developed simulations of the actual surface and 3D coronal magnetic fields over a 6-month period, on a global scale. We consider two key components: (1) observations of filament chirality for the sample of 255 filaments and (2) our new simulations of the large-scale surface magnetic field. Based on a flux-transport model, these will be used as the lower boundary condition for the future 3D coronal simulations. Our technique differs significantly from those of other authors, where the coronal field is either assumed to be purely potential or has to be reset back to potential every 27 days for the photospheric field to remain accurate. In our case we ensure accuracy by the insertion of newly emerging bipolar active regions, based on observed photospheric synoptic magnetograms. The large-scale surface field is shown to remain accurate over the 6-month period, without any resetting. This new technique will enable future simulations to consider the long-term buildup and transport of helicity and shear in the coronal magnetic field over many months or years.

Citation

Yeates, A., Mackay, D., & van Ballegooijen, A. (2007). Modelling the global solar corona : filament chirality observations and surface simulations. Solar Physics, 245(1), 87-107. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-007-9013-7

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jul 30, 2007
Publication Date Sep 1, 2007
Deposit Date Oct 14, 2011
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Solar Physics
Print ISSN 0038-0938
Electronic ISSN 1573-093X
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 245
Issue 1
Pages 87-107
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-007-9013-7
Keywords Sun: magnetic field, Sun: corona, Sun: prominences.

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