Partial Eruption, Confinement, and Twist Buildup and Release of a Double-decker Filament

We investigate the failed partial eruption of a filament system in NOAA AR 12104 on 2014 July 5, using multiwavelength EUV, magnetogram, and Hα observations, as well as magnetic field modeling. The filament system consists of two almost co-spatial segments with different end points, both resembling a C shape. Following an ejection and a precursor flare related to flux cancellation, only the upper segment rises and then displays a prominent twisted structure, while rolling over toward its footpoints. The lower segment remains undisturbed, indicating that the system possesses a double-decker structure. The erupted segment ends up with a reverse-C shape, with material draining toward its footpoints, while losing its twist. Using the flux rope insertion method, we construct a model of the source region that qualitatively reproduces key elements of the observed evolution. At the eruption onset, the model consists of a flux rope atop a flux bundle with negligible twist, which is consistent with the observational interpretation that the filament possesses a double-decker structure. The flux rope reaches the critical height of the torus instability during its initial relaxation, while the lower flux bundle remains in stable equilibrium. The eruption terminates when the flux rope reaches a dome-shaped quasi-separatrix layer that is reminiscent of a magnetic fan surface, although no magnetic null is found. The flux rope is destroyed by reconnection with the confining overlying flux above the dome, transferring its twist in the process.

The CERN-MEDICIS Isotope Separator Beamline

CERN-MEDICIS is an off-line isotope separator facility for the extraction of radioisotopes from irradiated targets of interest to medical applications. The beamline, between the ion source and the collection chamber, consists of ion extraction and focusing elements, and a dipole magnet mass spectrometer recovered from the LISOL facility in Louvain-la-Neuve. The latter has been modified for compatibility with MEDICIS, including the installation of a window for injecting laser light into the ion source for resonance photo-ionization. Ion beam optics and magnetic field modeling using SIMION and OPERA respectively were performed for the design and characterization of the beamline. The individual components and their optimal configuration in terms of ion beam extraction, mass separation, and ion transport efficiency is described, along with details of the commissioning and initial performance assessment with stable ion beams.

Distortion of magnetic fields in Barnard 68

The magnetic field structure, kinematical stability, and evolutionary status of the starless dense core Barnard 68 (B68) are revealed based on the near-infrared polarimetric observations of background stars, measuring the dichroically polarized light produced by aligned dust grains in the core. After subtracting unrelated ambient polarization components, the magnetic fields pervading B68 are mapped using 38 stars and axisymmetrically distorted hourglass-like magnetic fields are obtained, although the evidence for the hourglass field is not very strong. On the basis of simple 2D and 3D magnetic field modeling, the magnetic inclination angles on the plane-of-sky and in the line-of-sight direction are determined to be 47° ± 5° and 20° ± 10°, respectively. The total magnetic field strength of B68 is obtained to be $26.1 \pm 8.7\, \mu \mbox{G}$. The critical mass of B68, evaluated using both magnetic and thermal/turbulent support, is $M_{\rm cr} = 2.30 \pm 0.20\, {M}_{\odot }$, which is consistent with the observed core mass of $M_{\rm core}=2.1\, M_{\odot }$, suggesting a nearly critical state. We found a relatively linear relationship between polarization and extinction up to AV ∼ 30 mag toward the stars with deepest obscuration. Further theoretical and observational studies are required to explain the dust alignment in cold and dense regions in the core.