On the Nature and Genesis of EUV Waves: A Synthesis of Observations from SOHO, STEREO, SDO, and Hinode (Invited Review)
Abstract
A major, albeit serendipitous, discovery of the SOlar and Heliospheric Observatory mission was the observation by the Extreme Ultraviolet Telescope (EIT) of large-scale extreme ultraviolet (EUV) intensity fronts propagating over a significant fraction of the Sun's surface. These so-called EIT or EUV waves are associated with eruptive phenomena and have been studied intensely. However, their wave nature has been challenged by non-wave (or pseudo-wave) interpretations and the subject remains under debate. A string of recent solar missions has provided a wealth of detailed EUV observations of these waves bringing us closer to resolving the question of their nature. With this review, we gather the current state-of-the-art knowledge in the field and synthesize it into a picture of an EUV wave driven by the lateral expansion of the CME. This picture can account for both wave and pseudo-wave interpretations of the observations, thus resolving the controversy over the nature of EUV waves to a large degree but not completely. We close with a discussion on several remaining open questions in the field of EUV waves research.
- Publication:
-
Solar Physics
- Pub Date:
- November 2012
- DOI:
- 10.1007/s11207-012-9988-6
- arXiv:
- arXiv:1203.1135
- Bibcode:
- 2012SoPh..281..187P
- Keywords:
-
- Corona;
- active;
- Coronal mass ejections;
- Low coronal signatures;
- Waves;
- magnetohydrodynamic;
- propagation;
- plasma;
- Astrophysics - Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
- E-Print:
- Solar Physics, Special Issue "The Sun in 360",2012, accepted for publication