Coronal Diagnostics from Cometary Emission
Abstract
The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission observed from sungrazing comets as they pass through the solar atmosphere can be used to infer the properties of the corona. In this paper we will discuss several of these properties that can be estimated from the EUV observations of Comet Lovejoy from AIA/SDO and SWAP/PROBA2. The longevity of the emission allows us to constrain the coronal electron density through which the comet passes. We will also discuss how dispersion of the emitting cometary material we can be used to estimate the local Alfven speed in the corona. Finally, measuring the deformation of the magnetic field as it is impacted by the comet can be used to estimate the magnetic field strength in this location. In the absence of the comet, none of these parameters are directly measurable in the corona. Sungrazing comets are thus unique probes of the solar atmosphere.
- Publication:
-
American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #224
- Pub Date:
- June 2014
- Bibcode:
- 2014AAS...22442203B