Spatial relationship between 5303-A and H alpha components of a loop prominence system.

Abstract

There are remarkable similarities in the structure of loop prominences when observed in H alpha and coronal lines, although the lines arise from extremely different excitation conditions. This leads to the consideration of a multicomponent model, where different emission lines come from different elements of the structure. The late phases of a large west limb loop prominence system followed by a surge were recorded at Haleakala Observatory on March 6, 1970. Simultaneous filtergrams in H alpha and 5303-A were obtained, together with spectra at three heights in the prominence over the range from 3850 to 5950 A. The positions of bright knots of emission as seen in the green line are compared with associated H alpha knots. With these relative positions determined, the filtergrams are superimposed to demonstrate the two-dimensional spatial relationship between H alpha and 5303-A structures. The results support a model of cool loops within a closely associated hot-loop system.