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Observing the release of twist by magnetic reconnection in a solar filament eruption

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  • Zhike Xue

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory of Solar Activity, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaoli Yan

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xin Cheng

    (School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University)

  • Liheng Yang

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Key Laboratory of Solar Activity, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yingna Su

    (Key Laboratory for Dark Matter and Space Science, Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Bernhard Kliem

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam)

  • Jun Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Solar Activity, National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Zhong Liu

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yi Bi

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yongyuan Xiang

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Kai Yang

    (School of Astronomy and Space Science, Nanjing University)

  • Li Zhao

    (Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process of topology change and energy release, taking place in plasmas on the Sun, in space, in astrophysical objects and in the laboratory. However, observational evidence has been relatively rare and typically only partial. Here we present evidence of fast reconnection in a solar filament eruption using high-resolution H-alpha images from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope, supplemented by extreme ultraviolet observations. The reconnection is seen to occur between a set of ambient chromospheric fibrils and the filament itself. This allows for the relaxation of magnetic tension in the filament by an untwisting motion, demonstrating a flux rope structure. The topology change and untwisting are also found through nonlinear force-free field modelling of the active region in combination with magnetohydrodynamic simulation. These results demonstrate a new role for reconnection in solar eruptions: the release of magnetic twist.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhike Xue & Xiaoli Yan & Xin Cheng & Liheng Yang & Yingna Su & Bernhard Kliem & Jun Zhang & Zhong Liu & Yi Bi & Yongyuan Xiang & Kai Yang & Li Zhao, 2016. "Observing the release of twist by magnetic reconnection in a solar filament eruption," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11837
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11837
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