An observation of solar active region expansion into the heliosphere

作者：Morgan H^*

来源：Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, 2013, 433(1): L74-L78.

DOI：10.1093/mnrasl/slt066

• Sun: corona
• Sun: heliosphere
• Sun: magnetic topology
• solar wind

According to current models, solar closed-field active regions are isolated from contributing directly to the solar wind except through small- or large-scale magnetic reconnection, including coronal mass ejections. Here we show the first direct evidence of active regions contributing directly to the solar wind by a steady-state, quiescent expansion. Advanced image processing of coronagraph data reveals a large system of nested closed-field magnetic structures expanding and accelerating to heights of at least 14 R-circle dot within a helmet streamer above a large active region. The system persists for several days, and must therefore be an important contribution to the slow solar wind.

• 出版日期2013-6