Active Region Contributions to the Solar Wind over Multiple Solar Cycles

Both coronal holes and active regions are source regions of the solar wind. The distribution of these coronal structures across both space and time is well known, but it is unclear how much each source contributes to the solar wind. In this study we use photospheric magnetic field maps observed over the past four solar cycles to estimate what fraction of magnetic open solar flux is rooted in active regions, a proxy for the fraction of all solar wind originating in active regions. We find that the fractional contribution of active regions to the solar wind varies between 30% to 80% at any one time during solar maximum and is negligible at solar minimum, showing a strong correlation with sunspot number. While active regions are typically confined to latitudes ±30∘ in the corona, the solar wind they produce can reach latitudes up to ±60∘. Their fractional contribution to the solar wind also correlates with coronal mass ejection rate, and is highly variable, changing by ±20% on monthly timescales within individual solar maxima. We speculate that these variations could be driven by coronal mass ejections causing reconfigurations of the coronal magnetic field on sub-monthly timescales.

Modeling the formation and eruption of coronal structures by linking data-driven magnetofrictional and MHD simulations

<p>The time-dependent magnetofrictional model (TMFM) is a prevalent approach that has proven to be a very useful tool in the study of the formation of unstable structures in the solar corona. In particular, it is capable of incorporating observational data as initial and boundary conditions and requires shorter computational time compared to MHD simulations. To leverage the efficiency of data-driven TMFM and also to simulate eruptive events in the MHD framework, one can apply TMFM up to a certain time before the expected eruption(s) and then go on with simulation in the full or ideal MHD regime in order to more accurately capture the eruption process. However, due to the different evolution processes in these two models, using TMFM snapshots in an MHD simulation is non-trivial with several issues that need to be addressed, both physically and numerically.</p><p> </p><p>In this study, we showcase our progress in using magnetofrictional model results as input to dynamical MHD simulations. In particular, we discuss the incompatibility of the TMFM output to serve as the initial condition in MHD, and show our methods of mitigating this.</p><p>As our benchmark test-case, we study the evolution of NOAA active region 12673, which was previously studied using data-driven TMFM by Price et al. (2019).</p>

Quiet-Sun hydrogen Lyman-α line profile derived from SOHO/SUMER solar-disk observations

Context. The solar radiation in the Lyman-α spectral line of hydrogen plays a significant role in the illumination of chromospheric and coronal structures, such as prominences, spicules, chromospheric fibrils, cores of coronal mass ejections, and solar wind. Moreover, it is important for the investigation of the heliosphere, Earth’s ionosphere, and the atmospheres of planets, moons, and comets. Aims. We derive a reference quiet-Sun Lyman-α spectral profile that is representative of the Lyman-α radiation from the solar disk during a minimum of solar activity. This profile can serve as an incident radiation boundary condition for the radiative transfer modelling of chromospheric and coronal structures. Because the solar radiation in the Lyman lines is not constant over time but varies significantly with the solar cycle, we provide a method for the adaptation of the incident radiation Lyman line profiles (Lyman-α and higher lines) to a specific date. Moreover, we analyse how the change in the incident radiation influences the synthetic spectra produced by the radiative transfer modelling. Methods. We used SOHO/SUMER Lyman-α raster scans obtained without the use of the attenuator in various quiet-Sun regions on the solar disk. The observations were performed on three consecutive days (June 24, 25, and 26, 2008) during a period of minimum solar activity. The reference Lyman-α profile was obtained as a spatial average over eight available raster scans. To take into account the Lyman-α variation with the solar cycle, we used the LISIRD composite Lyman-α index. To estimate the influence of the change in the incident radiation in the Lyman lines on the results of radiative transfer models, we used a 2D prominence fine structure model. Results. We present the reference quiet-Sun Lyman-α profile and a table of coefficients describing the variation of the Lyman lines with the solar cycle throughout the lifetime of SOHO. The analysis of the influence of the change in the incident radiation shows that the synthetic spectra are strongly affected by the modification of the incident radiation boundary condition. The most pronounced impact is on the central and integrated intensities of the Lyman lines. There, the change in the synthetic spectra can often have the same amplitude as the change in the incident radiation itself. The impact on the specific intensities in the peaks of reversed Lyman-line profiles is smaller but still significant. The hydrogen Hα line can also be considerably affected, despite the fact that the Hα radiation from the solar disk does not vary with the solar cycle.

Hot X-ray onsets of solar flares

ABSTRACT The study of the localized plasma conditions before the impulsive phase of a solar flare can help us understand the physical processes that occur leading up to the main flare energy release. Here, we present evidence of a hot X-ray ‘onset’ interval of enhanced isothermal plasma temperatures in the range of 10–15 MK over a period of time prior to the flare’s impulsive phase. This ‘hot onset’ interval occurs during the initial soft X-ray increase and definitely before any detectable hard X-ray emission. The isothermal temperatures, estimated by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite X-ray sensor, and confirmed with data from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, show no signs of gradual increase, and the ‘hot onset’ phenomenon occurs regardless of flare classification or configuration. In a small sample of four representative flare events, we tentatively identify this early hot onset soft X-ray emission to occur within footpoint and low-lying loop regions, rather than in coronal structures, based on images from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly. We confirm this via limb occultation of a flaring region. These hot X-ray onsets appear before there is evidence of collisional heating by non-thermal electrons, and hence challenge the standard modelling techniques.

The forming slow solar wind imaged along streamer rays by the wide-angle imager on Parker Solar Probe

<p>The Wide-field Imager for Solar PRobe (WISPR) obtained the first high-resolution images of coronal rays at heights below 15 R<sub>sun</sub> when Parker Solar Probe (PSP) was located inside 0.25 AU during the first encounter. We exploit these remarkable images to reveal the structure of coronal rays at scales that are not easily discernible in images taken from near 1 AU. To analyze and interpret WISPR observations which evolve rapidly both radially and longitudinally, we construct a latitude versus time map using full WISPR dataset from the first encounter. From the exploitation of this map and also from sequential WISPR images we show the presence of multiple sub-structures inside streamers and pseudo-streamers. WISPR unveils the fine-scale structure of the densest part of streamer rays that we identify as the solar origin of the heliospheric plasma sheet typically measured in situ in the solar wind. We exploit 3-D magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models and we construct synthetic white-light images to study the origin of the coronal structures observed by WISPR. Overall, including the effect of the spacecraft relative motion towards the individual coronal structures we can interpret several observed features by WISPR. Moreover, we relate some coronal rays to folds in the heliospheric current sheet that are unresolved from 1 AU. Other rays appear to form as a result of the inherently inhomogeneous distribution of open magnetic flux tubes. This work was funded by the European Research Council through the project SLOW_SOURCE - DLV-819189.</p>

Measuring relative abundances in the solar corona with optimised linear combinations of spectral lines

Context. Elemental abundances in some coronal structures differ significantly from photospheric abundances, with a dependence on the first ionization potential (FIP) of the element. Measuring these FIP-dependent abundance biases is important for coronal and heliospheric physics. Aims. We aim to build a method for optimal determination of FIP biases in the corona from spectroscopic observations in a way that is in practice independent from differential emission measure (DEM) inversions. Methods. We optimised linear combinations of spectroscopic lines of low-FIP and high-FIP elements so that the ratio of the corresponding radiances yields the relative FIP bias with good accuracy for any DEM in a small set of typical DEMs. Results. These optimised linear combinations of lines allow retrieval of a test FIP bias map with good accuracy for all DEMs in the map. The results also compare well with a FIP bias map obtained from observations using a DEM-dependent method. Conclusions. The method provides a convenient, fast, and accurate way of computing relative FIP bias maps. It can be used to optimise the use of existing observations and the design of new observations and instruments.