The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current
The buildup of the preeruptive magnetic field configuration and the eruption onset mechanism are critical yet poorly understood in solar eruptions. Coronal structures like sigmoids and filaments have been identified as preeruptive magnetic structures; their associated preflare motions as well as pre...
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IOP Publishing
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Astrophysical Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb7d8 |
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| author | Wensi Wang Rui Liu Jiong Qiu Jinhan Guo Yuming Wang |
| author_facet | Wensi Wang Rui Liu Jiong Qiu Jinhan Guo Yuming Wang |
| author_sort | Wensi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The buildup of the preeruptive magnetic field configuration and the eruption onset mechanism are critical yet poorly understood in solar eruptions. Coronal structures like sigmoids and filaments have been identified as preeruptive magnetic structures; their associated preflare motions as well as preflare brightenings have been identified as precursor signatures, yet none of these definitively lead to eruptions, and the cause and effect is contentious. Most importantly, how the preeruptive coronal structure evolves with the photospheric magnetic field is elusive. Here we report the development of the photospheric nonneutralized electric current associated with the buildup of a preeruptive coronal structure observed as a bundle of hot low-lying coronal loops collectively taking a sigmoidal shape. The significant nonneutralized electric current appeared several hours ahead of the formation of the preeruptive structure. The buildup of the preeruptive structure in the corona was simultaneous with the gradual extension of the nonneutralized electric current in the photosphere. The synchronous evolution seemed to stop when intermittent brightening occurred along the preeruptive structure in the corona. The preflare brightening lasted for about 4 hr, with two ribbon-like structures matching the nonneutralized electric current. Eventually, the preeruptive structure evolved into a magnetic flux rope (MFR) and erupted. Quantitative measurements indicate that the significant nonneutralized electric current also flows through the footpoints of the erupting MFR, which are well identified by a pair of conjugate dimmings. The evolution of the photospheric nonneutralized electric current is demonstrated to signal the buildup of the preeruptive structure and the imminent eruption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bf36d9119b0742a0a9d65bdaeb8f1ebf |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1538-4357 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
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| series | The Astrophysical Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-bf36d9119b0742a0a9d65bdaeb8f1ebf2025-08-20T02:41:23ZengIOP PublishingThe Astrophysical Journal1538-43572025-01-01982211510.3847/1538-4357/adb7d8The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric CurrentWensi Wang0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9865-5245Rui Liu1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4618-4979Jiong Qiu2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2797-744XJinhan Guo3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4205-5566Yuming Wang4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8887-3919CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cn; Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaCAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cn; Mengcheng National Geophysical Observatory, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaDepartment of Physic, Montana State University , Bozeman, MT 59717, USASchool of Astronomy and Space Science and Key Laboratory for Modern Astronomy and Astrophysics, Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023, People’s Republic of China; Centre for Mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, Department of Mathematics, KU Leuven , Celestijnenlaan 200B, B-3001 Leuven, BelgiumCAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of China ; minesnow@ustc.edu.cn; National Key Laboratory of Deep Space Exploration, Deep Space Exploration Laboratory/School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China , Hefei 230026, People’s Republic of ChinaThe buildup of the preeruptive magnetic field configuration and the eruption onset mechanism are critical yet poorly understood in solar eruptions. Coronal structures like sigmoids and filaments have been identified as preeruptive magnetic structures; their associated preflare motions as well as preflare brightenings have been identified as precursor signatures, yet none of these definitively lead to eruptions, and the cause and effect is contentious. Most importantly, how the preeruptive coronal structure evolves with the photospheric magnetic field is elusive. Here we report the development of the photospheric nonneutralized electric current associated with the buildup of a preeruptive coronal structure observed as a bundle of hot low-lying coronal loops collectively taking a sigmoidal shape. The significant nonneutralized electric current appeared several hours ahead of the formation of the preeruptive structure. The buildup of the preeruptive structure in the corona was simultaneous with the gradual extension of the nonneutralized electric current in the photosphere. The synchronous evolution seemed to stop when intermittent brightening occurred along the preeruptive structure in the corona. The preflare brightening lasted for about 4 hr, with two ribbon-like structures matching the nonneutralized electric current. Eventually, the preeruptive structure evolved into a magnetic flux rope (MFR) and erupted. Quantitative measurements indicate that the significant nonneutralized electric current also flows through the footpoints of the erupting MFR, which are well identified by a pair of conjugate dimmings. The evolution of the photospheric nonneutralized electric current is demonstrated to signal the buildup of the preeruptive structure and the imminent eruption.https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb7d8Solar flaresSolar coronal mass ejectionsSolar magnetic fields |
| spellingShingle | Wensi Wang Rui Liu Jiong Qiu Jinhan Guo Yuming Wang The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current The Astrophysical Journal Solar flares Solar coronal mass ejections Solar magnetic fields |
| title | The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current |
| title_full | The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current |
| title_fullStr | The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current |
| title_short | The Origin of a Preeruptive Magnetic Structure with Significant Nonneutralized Electric Current |
| title_sort | origin of a preeruptive magnetic structure with significant nonneutralized electric current |
| topic | Solar flares Solar coronal mass ejections Solar magnetic fields |
| url | https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/adb7d8 |
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