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From Pseudostreamer Jets to Coronal Mass Ejections: Observations of the Breakout Continuum

Kumar, Pankaj; Karpen, Judith T.; Antiochos, Spiro K.; Wyper, Peter F.; DeVore, C. Richard; Lynch, Benjamin J.

From Pseudostreamer Jets to Coronal Mass Ejections: Observations of the Breakout Continuum Thumbnail


Authors

Pankaj Kumar

Judith T. Karpen

Spiro K. Antiochos

C. Richard DeVore

Benjamin J. Lynch



Abstract

The magnetic breakout model, in which reconnection in the corona leads to destabilization of a filament channel, explains numerous features of eruptive solar events, from small-scale jets to global-scale coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The underlying multipolar topology, pre-eruption activities, and sequence of magnetic-reconnection onsets (first breakout, then flare) of many observed fast CMEs/eruptive flares are fully consistent with the model. Recently, we demonstrated that most observed coronal-hole jets in fan/spine topologies also are induced by breakout reconnection at the null point above a filament channel (with or without a filament). For these two types of eruptions occurring in similar topologies, the key question is, why do some events generate jets while others form CMEs? We focused on the initiation of eruptions in large bright points/small active regions that were located in coronal holes and clearly exhibited null-point (fan/spine) topologies: such configurations are referred to as pseudostreamers. We analyzed and compared Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment, and Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager observations of three events. Our analysis of the events revealed two new observable signatures of breakout reconnection prior to the explosive jet/CME outflows and flare onset: coronal dimming and the opening up of field lines above the breakout current sheet. Most key properties were similar among the selected erupting structures, thereby eliminating region size, photospheric field strength, magnetic configuration, and pre-eruptive evolution as discriminating factors between jets and CMEs. We consider the factors that contribute to the different types of dynamic behavior, and conclude that the main determining factor is the ratio of the magnetic free energy associated with the filament channel compared to the energy associated with the overlying flux inside and outside the pseudostreamer dome.

Citation

Kumar, P., Karpen, J. T., Antiochos, S. K., Wyper, P. F., DeVore, C. R., & Lynch, B. J. (2021). From Pseudostreamer Jets to Coronal Mass Ejections: Observations of the Breakout Continuum. Astrophysical Journal, 907(1), https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abca8b

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 11, 2020
Online Publication Date Jan 25, 2021
Publication Date 2021
Deposit Date Mar 2, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN 0004-637X
Publisher American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 907
Issue 1
DOI https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/abca8b
Keywords Solar coronal streamers; Solar coronal mass ejections; Solar active regions; Solar coronal holes; Solar filaments; Solar magnetic reconnection

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Publisher Licence URL
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Copyright Statement
Original content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.




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