The Motion of Eruptive Prominences.
Abstract
A theory is suggested for the motion of such eruptive prominences as are associated with solar eruptions, according to which the constant velocities are maintained by radiation pressure of La and changes in velocity may originate in magnetic fields. The La line emitted by a single flocculus is shown to be strongly reversed. The total effect produced by several flocculi with different La widths is equivalent to that of an La con- tour with several maxima and minima. Provided the intensities are of the right order, to each hump in the contour there corresponds one stable velocity. If the prominence is electrically charged, on moving into a horizontal magnetic field it experiences a force which accelerates it along a horizontal direction, but the radiation exerts sufficient pressure to maintain an essentially constant vertical velocity. On mov- ing into a field of the opposite direction, the prominence is deflected toward the vertical with an increased velocity and may again be subjected to a further radiation pressure, thus giving rise to an increase in velocity
- Publication:
-
The Astrophysical Journal
- Pub Date:
- January 1940
- DOI:
- 10.1086/144148
- Bibcode:
- 1940ApJ....91...83G