An Observational Research on Magnetic Reconnection Current Sheet Occurred in Two Solar Eruptions
Abstract
The coronal magnetic configuration is severely stretched by the disruption in the process of coronal mass ejection (CME), pushing the magnetic fields of opposite polarity to approach one another, and creating a magnetic neutral region (current sheet) behind CME. Magnetic reconnection taking place inside the current sheet converts the magnetic energy into heat and kinetic energy of the plasma, and the kinetic energy of energetic particles. The role of the current sheet in this process is two-fold: the region where reconnection occurs, and connecting the flare to the associated CME. We studied the events of 2003 January 3 and 2003 November 4, respectively. Development of the current sheet was observed in both cases. We investigated the dynamic features of the two events, as well as physical properties of the current sheet, on the basis of analyzing the observational data from LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph) and UVCS (Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer) on board SOHO (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory), and the Hα data from BBSO (Big Bear Solar Observatory) and YNAO (Yunnan Observatories). The existence of ions with high ionization state, such as Fe^{+17} and Si^{+11}, indicated a high temperature up to 3×10^{6}-5×10^{6} K. Direct measurements showed that the apparent thickness of the current sheet varies from 1.3×10^{4} to 1.1×10^{5} km, which increases first and then decreases with time. Using the CHIANTI code (v.7.1), we further calculated the averages of the electron temperature and the corresponding emission measure in the current sheet of the 2003 January 3 event, which were about 3.86× 10^{6} K and 6.1× 10^{24} cm^{-5}, respectively. We also noticed that the current sheet twisted forth and back in a quasi-periodical fashion during the event on 2003 November 4 by analyzing the data from SOHO/UVCS.
- Publication:
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Acta Astronomica Sinica
- Pub Date:
- November 2015
- Bibcode:
- 2015AcASn..56..598C
- Keywords:
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- Sun: coronal mass ejections (CMEs);
- Sun: current sheet;
- Sun: emission measure;
- Sun: UV radiation