Kinematics and evolution of eruptive prominences of two different basic types
Abstract
The kinematics and the evolution of three eruptive prominences (EPs) observed in Wroclaw, Poland were studied. Two of them are classical examples for the two basic different types of eruption (type I and type II, according to Rompolt, 1984). Their basic kinematic characteristics were compared and discussed from the point of view of their associations with topologically different parts of the erupting huge magnetic system. Some essential differences in their kinematics and evolution were established.
The kinematics and evolution of type I arch EP of 5 May 1980 and the type II EP of 8 May 1979, associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs), are radically different. The arch EP of 5 May 1980, associated with fast CME, rose with increasing acceleration up to its complete disappearing, while the eruption of the EP of 8 May 1979, associated with slow CME, was consisted of two phases: acceleration and constant velocity. The eruption of EP of type II was followed by a final, post-eruptive phase when the prominence plasma fell back to the chromosphere. The EPs of types I and II showed two kind of horizontal expansions (HE): large-scale, apparent horizontal expansion and small-scale displacements between threads feet composing the EP legs. These two kinds of HE are strongly distinguished for the EP of type I. The large-scale expansion of the arch legs lasts up to the end of the eruption and the alternative small-scale displacement change of the threads feet in the arch legs is still present. The two kinds of HE take place in two consecutive stages during the evolution of the EP of type II. The first stage is characterized by an alternative small-scale displacement change of the threads feet in the EP leg occurred during the eruptive phase up to the full untwisting of the EP body threads. Second stage is presented by a large-scale HE of the fully untwisted threads occurred during the EP post-eruptive phase. The EP of 14 August 1979 associated with fast CME shows kinematics and evolution of the eruption, as well as a horizontal expansion very similar to these ones of the type II EPs. Some differences in kinematic patterns of the EP of 14 August 1979 and those one of 8 May 1979 are probably due to its different topologies of the magnetic field configuration (normal and inverse), as well as its association with a different type of CMEs (fast and slow).- Publication:
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Bulgarian Astronomical Journal
- Pub Date:
- 2010
- Bibcode:
- 2010BlgAJ..13...47D
- Keywords:
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- prominences;
- eruptions;
- magnetic fields helical structures