Formation of a tiny flux rope in the center of an active region driven by magnetic flux emergence, convergence, and cancellation

Ruisheng Zheng, Yao Chen, Bing Wang, Hongqiang Song, Wenda Cao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Aims. Flux ropes are generally believed to be core structures of solar eruptions that are significant for the space weather, but their formation mechanism remains intensely debated. We report on the formation of a tiny flux rope beneath clusters of active region loops on 2018 August 24. Methods. Combining the high-quality multiwavelength observations from multiple instruments, we studied the event in detail in the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. Results. In the source region, the continual emergence of two positive polarities (P1 and P2) that appeared as two pores (A and B) is unambiguous. Interestingly, P2 and Pore B slowly approached P1 and Pore A, implying a magnetic flux convergence. During the emergence and convergence, P1 and P2 successively interacted with a minor negative polarity (N3) that emerged, which led to a continuous magnetic flux cancellation. As a result, the overlying loops became much sheared and finally evolved into a tiny twisted flux rope that was evidenced by a transient inverse S-shaped sigmoid, the twisted filament threads with blueshift and redshift signatures, and a hot channel. Conclusions. All the results show that the formation of the tiny flux rope in the center of the active region was closely associated with the continuous magnetic flux emergence, convergence, and cancellation in the photosphere. Hence, we suggest that the magnetic flux emergence, convergence, and cancellation are crucial for the formation of the tiny flux rope.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberA199
JournalAstronomy and Astrophysics
Volume642
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2020

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Space and Planetary Science

Keywords

  • Sun: activity
  • Sun: corona
  • Sun: filaments, prominences

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