The Magnetic Structure of Solar Prominence Cavities: New Observational Signature Revealed by Coronal Magnetometry

The Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP) obtains daily full-Sun above-the-limb coronal observations in linear polarization, allowing for the first time a diagnostic of the coronal magnetic field direction in quiescent prominence cavities. We find that these cavities consistently possess a charac...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:arXiv.org 2013-04
Main Authors: Bak-Steslicka, U, Gibson, S E, Fan, Y, Bethge, C, land, B, Rachmeler, L A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Diagnostic systems
Holes
Linear polarization
Magnetic flux
Magnetic measurement
Magnetic structure
Polarimeters
Prominences
Solar corona
Solar magnetic field
Topology
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Summary:The Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP) obtains daily full-Sun above-the-limb coronal observations in linear polarization, allowing for the first time a diagnostic of the coronal magnetic field direction in quiescent prominence cavities. We find that these cavities consistently possess a characteristic "lagomorphic" signature in linear polarization indicating twist or shear extending up into the cavity above the neutral line. We demonstrate that such a signature may be explained by a magnetic flux-rope model, a topology with implications for solar eruptions. We find corroborating evidence for a flux rope structure in the pattern of concentric rings within cavities seen in CoMP line-of-sight velocity.
ISSN:2331-8422
DOI:10.48550/arxiv.1304.7388