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At least 55 records · Page 3

Observations of disconnection of open coronal magnetic structures

The solar maximum mission coronagraph/polarimeter observations are surveyed for evidence of magnetic disconnection of previously open magnetic structures and several sequences of images consistent with this interpretation are identified. Such disconnection occurs when open field lines above helmet streamers reconnect, in contrast to previously suggested disconnections of CMEs into closed plasmoids. In this paper a clear example of open field disconnection is shown in detail. The event, on June 27, 1988, is preceded by compression of a preexisting helmet streamer and the open coronal field around it. The compressed helmet streamer and surrounding open field region detach in a large U-shaped structure which subsequently accelerates outward from the sun. The observed sequence of events is consistent with reconnection across the heliospheric current sheet and the creation of a detached U-shaped magnetic structure. Unlike CMEs, which may open new magnetic flux into interplanetary space, this process could serve to close off previously open flux, perhaps helping to maintain the roughly constant amount of open magnetic flux observed in interplanetary space.

Mccomas, D. J.↗

Disconnection of open coronal magnetic structures

We have examined the Solar Maximum Mission coronagraph/polarimeter observations for evidence of magnetic disconnection of previously open magnetic structures and a number of likely examples have been found. Probable coronal disconnections typically appear as pinching off of helmet streamers followed by the release and outward acceleration of a large U or V-shaped structure. The observed sequence of events is consistent with reconnection across the heliospheric current sheet between previously open magnetic field regions, and the creation of a detached magnetic structure which is open to interplanetary space at both ends. Sunward of the reconnection point, coronal disconnection events would return previously open magnetic flux to the Sun as closed field arches. Here we (1) describe one clear disconnection event (1 June 1989); (2) examine the results of a limited survey of disconnection events; and (3) discuss the potential importance of coronal disconnections for maintaining flux in interplanetary space.

Mccomas, D. J.↗

The origins of planar magnetic structures in the solar wind

It is shown that the solar-wind settings of planar magnetic structures (PMSs) are generally inconsistent with their interpretation by Nakagawa et al. (1989) as magnetic loops or tongues resulting from newly emerging magnetic flux in the photosphere. It is suggested that PMS events have two origins: (1) compression and/or draping of preexisting magnetic structures on the leading edge of high-speed streams, especially ahead of coronal mass ejections; and (2) discontinuities near the heliospheric current sheet.

Neugebauer, M.↗

Oval-cycloidal Magnetic Structure with Phase-shift in the Non-centrosymmetric Tetragonal Compound CePdSi 3

CePdSi 3 with H // [100] exhibits multiple metamagnetic transitions. Since there is no frustration in this system, it is suggested that the origin of the multiple metamagnetic transitions is the influence of the antisymmetric spin–orbit interaction. To clarify the magnetic structure under the influence of the antisymmetric spin–orbit interaction, neutron diffraction experiments have been performed using single crystal samples of CePdSi3. There are observed magnetic reflections with incommensurate magnetic propagation vector q=(0.315,0,0) in the phase I. In addition, additional magnetic reflections were also observed in the phase III. The magnetic structure was found to be an oval-cycloidal structure at the phase III in CePdSi 3 , and we discuss the origin of the unusual magnetic structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Active Region Magnetic Structure Observed in the Photosphere and Chromosphere

The magnetic flux above sunspots and plage in NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Active Region 8299 has been measured in the photosphere and the chromosphere. We investigate the vertical magnetic structure above the umbrae, penumbrae and plage regions using quantitative statistical comparisons of the photospheric and chromospheric vector magnetic flux data. The results include: (1) a decrease in flux with height, (2) the direct detection of the superpenumbral canopy in the chromosphere, (3) values for dB/dz which are consistent with earlier investigations when derived from a straight difference between the two datasets but quite low when derived from the delta x B = 0 condition, (4) a monolithic structure in the umbra which extends well into the upper chromosphere with a very complex and varied structure in the penumbra and plage, as evidenced by (5) a uniform magnetic scale height in the umbrae with an abrupt jump to widely varying scale heights in the penumbral and plage regions. Further, we find (6) evidence for a very large (delta z approximately equals 3Mm) height difference between the atmospheric layers sampled in the two magnetograms, almost a factor of three larger than that implied by atmospheric models. We additionally test the apropriateness of using photospheric magnetic flux as a boundary for field-line extrapolations, and find a better agreement with observed coronal structure when the chromospheric flux is used as a boundary.

Leka, K. D.↗

Formation and dynamics of large-scale magnetic structures in the ionosphere of Venus

The formation and dynamics of large-scale magnetic structures in the ionosphere of Venus are examined. It is shown that such structures must be the result of steady state convection of interplanetary field lines into the ionosphere by the small amount of solar wind plasma (less than or approximately equal to 1-5 percent) absorbed by the planetary atmosphere below the ionopause, rather than isolated remnants of large fields persisting for long periods without connection to the solar wind induced current and convection pattern. In particular, it is demonstrated that the magnetic diffusion of such structures would result in their dissipation with time scales of 1-10 min, if they were not steady state structures in convective and diffusive equilibriuim. It is shown that the equations governing the diffusion of these magnetic structures are similar to those governing diffusion of a gas out of an enclosed chamber with a porous wall, and a simple analog is illustrated. The application of these results to magnetic fields of astrophysical plasmas is discussed.

Cloutier, P. A.↗

Coronal magnetic structure at a solar sector boundary

The persistent large-scale coronal magnetic structure associated with a sector boundary appears to consist of a magnetic arcade loop structure extending from one solar polar region to the other in approximately the North-South direction. This structure was inferred from computer coronal magnetic field maps for days on which a stable magnetic sector boundary was near central meridian, based on an interplanetary sector boundary observed to recur during much of 1968 and 1969.

Wilcox, J. M.↗

Coronal magnetic structure at a solar sector boundary

A persistent large-scale coronal magnetic structure associated with a sector boundary is shown to consist probably of a magnetic arcade loop structure extending from one solar polar region to the other in approximately the north-south direction. This structure was inferred from computed coronal magnetic field maps for days on which a stable magnetic sector boundary was near the central meridian, based on an interplanetary sector boundary observed to recur during much of 1968 and 1969.

Wilcox, J. M.↗

Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) at Venus

We present the first observation of magnetic fluctuations consistent with Short Large-Amplitude Magnetic Structures (SLAMS) in the foreshock of the planet Venus. Three monolithic magnetic field spikes were observed by the Venus Express on the 11th of April 2009. The structures were approx.1.5->11s in duration, had magnetic compression ratios between approx.3->6, and exhibited elliptical polarization. These characteristics are consistent with the SLAMS observed at Earth, Jupiter, and Comet Giacobini-Zinner, and thus we hypothesize that it is possible SLAMS may be found at any celestial body with a foreshock.

Collinson, G. A.↗

Statistical properties of magnetic structures and energy dissipation during turbulent reconnection in the Earth's magnetotail

We present the first statistical study of magnetic structures and associated energy dissipation observed during a single period of turbulent magnetic reconnection, by using the in situ measurements of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the Earth's magnetotail on 26 July 2017. The structures are selected by identifying a bipolar signature in the magnetic field and categorized as plasmoids or current sheets via an automated algorithm which examines current density and plasma flow. The size of the plasmoids forms a decaying exponential distribution ranging from subelectron up to ion scales. The presence of substantial number of current sheets is consistent with a physical picture of dynamic production and merging of plasmoids during turbulent reconnection. The magnetic structures are locations of significant energy dissipation via electric field parallel to the local magnetic field, while dissipation via perpendicular electric field dominates outside of the structures. Significant energy also returns from particles to fields.

Magnetotail↗

Statistical Properties of Magnetic Structures and Energy Dissipation during Turbulent Reconnection in the Earth's Magnetotail

Here, we present the first statistical study of magnetic structures and associated energy dissipation observed during a single period of turbulent magnetic reconnection, by using the in situ measurements of the Magnetospheric Multiscale mission in the Earth's magnetotail on 26 July 2017. The structures are selected by identifying a bipolar signature in the magnetic field and categorized as plasmoids or current sheets via an automated algorithm which examines current density and plasma flow. The size of the plasmoids forms a decaying exponential distribution ranging from subelectron up to ion scales. The presence of substantial number of current sheets is consistent with a physical picture of dynamic production and merging of plasmoids during turbulent reconnection. The magnetic structures are locations of significant energy dissipation via electric field parallel to the local magnetic field, while dissipation via perpendicular electric field dominates outside of the structures. Significant energy also returns from particles to fields.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Magnetic Structure and Propagation of Two Interacting CMEs from the Sun to Saturn

One of the grand challenges in heliophysics is the characterization of coronal mass ejection (CME) magnetic structure and evolution from eruption at the Sun through heliospheric propagation. At present, the main difficulties are related to the lack of direct measurements of the coronal magnetic fi elds and the lack of 3D in-situ measurements of the CME body in interplanetary space. Nevertheless, the evolution of a CME magnetic structure can be followed using a combination of multi-point remote-sensing observations and multi-spacecraft in-situ measurements as well as modelling. Accordingly, we present in this work the analysis of two CMEs that erupted from the Sun on 28 April 2012. We follow their eruption and early evolution using remote-sensing data, fi nding indications of CME{CME interaction, and then analyse their interplanetary counterpart(s) using in-situ measurements at Venus, Earth, and Saturn. We observe a seemingly single flux rope at all locations, but find possible signatures of interaction at Earth, where high-cadence plasma data are available. Reconstructions of the in-situ flux ropes provide almost identical results at Venus and Earth but show greater discrepancies at Saturn, suggesting that the CME was highly distorted and/or that further interaction with nearby solar wind structures took place before 10 AU. This work highlights the difficulties in connecting structures from the Sun to the outer heliosphere and demonstrates the importance of multi-spacecraft studies to achieve a deeper understanding of the magnetic confi guration of CMEs.

Erika Palmerio↗

CME Magnetic Structure and IMF Preconditioning Affecting SEP Transport

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and solar energetic particles (SEPs) are two manifestations of the various solar phenomena that are known to cause severe space weather effects throughout the heliosphere. The evolution of CMEs after eruption, especially in terms of their magnetic structure, and the configuration of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) that influences the transport of SEPs are currently areas of active research. These two aspects are not necessarily independent of each other, especially during solar maximum when multiple eruptive events can occur close in time. Accordingly, we present in this work theanalysis of a CME that erupted from the Sun on 2012 May 11 (SOL2012-05-11) and an SEP event following an eruption that took place on 2012 May 17 (SOL2012-05-17),∼20◦in both latitude and longitude away from the May 11 CME source region. After observing in detailthe eruption and early evolution of the May 11 CME using remote-sensing data from three viewpoints, we evaluate its propagation through interplanetary space using several models.Then, we analyse in-situ measurements from five predicted impact locations (Venus, Earth, the Spitzer Space Telescope, the Mars Science Laboratory en route to Mars, and Mars) in the inner heliosphere in order to search for CME signatures. We find that all five in-situlocations detect signatures of an impulsive SEP event, which we trace back to the May 17 eruption. These findings suggest that the May 11 CME, which was crossing the various locations around the time of the May 17 eruption, provided a direct magnetic connectivityfor the efficient transport of SEPs with an impulsive profile. We discuss the space weather implications of CME evolution, regarding in particular its magnetic structure, and CME-driven IMF preconditioning that facilitates SEP transport from a later event. Finally, this work remarks the importance of the availability of data from multiple spacecraft, even those that do not include space weather research as their primary objective.

Erika Palmerio↗

Solar wind, energetic particles, and coronal magnetic structure - The first year of solar cycle 20

Coronal magnetic field structure is investigated by using solar and interplanetary magnetic polarity measurements and by using observations of solar wind plasma and energetic particles during the first 8 months of 1965. When it is compared by using all data available during this period, interplanetary polarity (mapped back to the high corona by using observed solar wind velocities) correlates best with mid-latitude solar polarity. However, when it is compared at only those times when energetic particles were present in the interplanetary medium and again at times of fast solar wind, the best correlation is with equatorial solar polarity. From these results we infer that energetic particles and fast solar wind escape preferentially from equatorial coronal magnetic structures which are open, while the more usual equatorial structures at this time are closed.

Nolte, J. T.↗

Noncollinear magnetic structure and magnetoelectric coupling in buckled honeycomb Co 4 Nb 2 O 9 : A single-crystal neutron diffraction study

Through an analysis of single-crystal neutron diffraction data, we present the magnetic structure and magnetoelectric properties of Co 4 Nb 2 O 9 under various magnetic fields. In zero field, neutron diffraction experiments below T N =27K reveal that the Co 2+ moments order in the (ab) plane without any spin canting along the c axis, manifested by the magnetic symmetry C2/c'. Along each Co chain parallel to the c axis, the moments of nearest-neighbor Co atoms order ferromagnetically with a small cant away from the next-nearest-neighbor Co moments. Under the applied magnetic field H ∥ a, three magnetic domains were aligned with their major magnetic moments perpendicular to the magnetic field with no other observable magnetic transitions. The influences of magnetic fields on the magnetic structures associated with the observed magnetoelectric coupling are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Solar magnetic structure and the solar activity cycle review of observational data

Data on solar magnetism that may offer clues for understanding stellar magnetism in general were reviewed. Magnetic phenomena in the photosphere and low chromosphere, where the magnetic structure can be studied in detail, are discussed. Properties of the discrete magnetic elements and their extensions through the chromosphere and transition zone up to the corona are described. The structure and evolution of active regions and other structured aggregates of magnetic elements are considered.

Zwaan, C.↗