2007 PROM WORKSHOPSpace Sciences Lab / UC-Berkeley

Sheared-Field Prominences and the Eruptive Implications of Magnetic

Topology

B. J. Lynch, Y. Li, J. G. LuhmannS. K. Antiochos, C. R. DeVore

Two Basic CME Source Region Topologies

approximately

[Y. Li, 2006]

[Y. Li, 2006]

approximately

bipo

lar

mul

tipo

lar

Emo : “Maximally Open” ( 0% blue-red reconnection )

Emc : “Maximally Closed”( 100% blue-red reconnection )

Topology Determines Open State(s)bi

pola

rm

ulti

pola

r

only one Open State possibility

[DeVore et al., 2005]

B2

[DeVore et al., 2005]

[MacNeice et al., 2004]

(Br2+B

2)K.E.

0% rxn

100% rxn

Energy Evolution of MultipolarConfiguration in 2.5D

In MHD treatments of multipolar topologies, you can approach the no-reconnection limit before it “switches on”

Magnetic Neutral Lines

3D Null Point

Bipolar Multipolar

Magnetic Topologies in 3D

Magnetic Neutral Line

Bipolar Multipolar

Surface Field Evolution

Radial Velocity Evolution (=0)

Bipolar Multipolar

Magnetic Fieldline Evolution

Bipolar Multipolar

t = 15000 s

Flare reconnection starts

Magnetic + Kinetic Energy Evolution

Bipolar: EM(0) = 4.117e+31 ergsMultipolar: EM(0) = 2.566e+31 ergs

Initial (Potential) Magnetic Energies

EM=EM(t)-EM(0)

Notice the magnetic energy signature of the Br diffusion

EDIFF ~ 3.90e+31 ergs !!

Moderately fast breakout eruption (~500 km/s), but the rapid conversion from EM EK not super impressive

BUT, the Bipolar case doesn’t show any sign of eruption!

Summary & Current/Future Work

Bipolar Arcades Don’t Erupt Without Something Else Happening !!!

• Aly-Sturrock holds up in 3D!• Breakout works in 3D and probably for the reasons we think…• Theorists & modelers may still be relevant!

• Next simulation—• Get rid of that inner-boundary Br diffusion!• Slower driving, “cleaner” magnetic, kinetic energy profiles

(so far, so good… )

t = 5000 s t = 7500 s t = 10000 s

Sheared Field Prominence Structure

Three perspectives of the non-eruptive Bipolar fieldlines at t=15,000 seconds

Essentially the spherical version of sheared-arcade prominence model…[DeVore & Antiochos, 2000 and others]

3D Erupting Fieldlines3D Erupting Fieldlines

And because we can’t let the data folks have all the fun…