ASPCS
 
Back to Volume
Paper: The Prominence/Coronal Cavity System: A Unified View of Magnetic Structures in the Solar Corona
Volume: 463, 2nd ATST-EAST Workshop in Solar Physics: Magnetic Fields from the Photosphere to the Corona
Page: 147
Authors: Berger, T.
Abstract: Hinode/SOT and SDO/AIA movies have given us new insights into the dynamic connections between prominences and coronal cavities. The observations suggest that prominences and coronal cavities are elements of a single large-scale structure in the solar corona: a helical magnetic flux rope. We discuss supporting observational evidence such as the relationship between the so-called “prominence bubbles” discovered by Hinode/SOT and coronal cavities, as well as spiral flows in the central regions of coronal cavities observed by AIA. We hypothesize that coronal cavity flux ropes support a form of magneto-thermal convection in which hot plasma and magnetic flux are transported upward into the coronal cavity flux rope with subsequent radiative cooling and condensation forming the partially ionized prominence return flows seen in visible light observations. Understanding the mass, magnetic flux, and helicity transport of this complex system will lead to better understanding of quiet Sun coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
Back to Volume