Magnetic Helicity in Filaments, CMES and Magnetic Clouds
Abstract
Filaments coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and magnetic clouds (MCs) all show signatures of twisted and writhing magnetic fields. CMEs are often associated with MCs whose fields are regularly probed with sensitive magnetometers. These measurements reveal that MC fields are helical and each cloud carries magnetic helicity away from the sun. It is more difficult to determine the helicity of the corresponding features - filaments and coronal structures - on the sun. This talk will survey helicity estimates of solar features including their hemispherical distributions and evidence for writhe and twist in the fields. The distribution of magnetic helicity in the solar atmosphere may provide important clues to the workings of the solar dynamo.
- Publication:
-
IAU Joint Discussion
- Pub Date:
- 2003
- Bibcode:
- 2003IAUJD...3E..23R