In situ composition measurements of ICME prominence material with Solar Orbiter
Abstract
Observations of interplanetary prominence material are rare and present unique opportunities to study ICME formation, eruption, internal structure, and evolution. The Heavy Ion Sensor (HIS) onboard Solar Orbiter observed the passage of multiple interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) during late October to early November 2021. These ICMEs varied in their speed, magnetic field structure, and – as measured by HIS – their plasma composition. We present measurements of low charge state heavy ions, which appear only during a 1-hour interval within the first event, and compare these composition signatures against the other ICMEs during this time period. In addition to comparisons across ICMEs, we leverage the near radial alignment between Solar Orbiter and Earth during this period to compare spatiotemporal features. The sharp contrast in prominence plasma signatures from Solar Orbiter at 0.8 AU to spacecraft at 1 AU indicate substantial evolution of the internal ICME structure and/or the small spatial scales of the prominence material.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2022
- Bibcode:
- 2022AGUFMSH22E2047D