Magnetic Energy of Force-Free Fields with Detached Field Lines

Using an axisymmetrical ideal MHD model in spherical coordinates, we present a numerical study of magnetic configurations characterized by a levitating flux rope embedded in a bipolar background field whose normal field at the solar surface is the same or very close to that of a central dipole. The characteristic plasma β (the ratio between gas pressure and magnetic pressure) is taken to be so small (β = 10-4) that the magnetic field is close to being force-free. The system as a whole is then let evolve quasi-statically with a slow increase of either the annular magnetic flux or the axial magnetic flux of the rope, and the total magnetic energy of the system grows accordingly. It is found that there exists an energy threshold: the flux rope sticks to the solar surface in equilibrium if the magnetic energy of the system is below the threshold, whereas it loses equilibrium if the threshold is exceeded. The energy threshold is found to be larger than that of the corresponding fully-open magnetic field by a factor of nearly 1.08 irrespective as to whether the background field is completely closed or partly open, or whether the magnetic energy is enhanced by an increase of annular or axial flux of the rope. This gives an example showing that a force-free magnetic field may have an energy larger than the corresponding open field energy if part of the field lines is allowed to be detached from the solar surface. The implication of such a conclusion in coronal mass ejections is briefly discussed and some comments are made on the maximum energy of force-free magnetic fields.

The Relationship between Magnetic Gradient and Magnetic Shear in Five Super Active Regions Producing Great Flares

We study the magnetic structure of five well-known active regions that produced great flares （X5 or larger）. The six flares under investigation are the X12 flare on 1991 June 9 in AR 6659, the X5.7 flare on 2000 July 14 in AR 9077, the X5.6 flare on 2001 April 6 in AR 9415, the X5.3 flare on 2001 August 25 in AR 9591, the X17 flare on 2003 October 28 and the X10 flare on 2003 October 29, both in AR 10486. The last five events had corresponding LASCO observations and were all associated with Halo CMEs. We analyzed vector magnetograms from Big Bear Solar Observatory, Huairou Solar Observing Station, Marshall Space Flight Center and Mees Solar Observatory. In particular, we studied the magnetic gradient derived from line-of-sight magnetograms and magnetic shear derived from vector magnetograms, and found an apparent correlation between these two parameters at a level of about 90%. We found that the magnetic gradient could be a better proxy than the shear for predicting where a major flare might occur： all six flares occurred in neutral lines with maximum gradient. The mean gradient of the flaring neutral lines ranges from 0.14 to 0.50 G km^-1, 2.3 to 8 times the average value for all the neutral lines in the active regions. If we use magnetic shear as the proxy, the flaring neutral line in at least one, possibly two, of the six events would be mis-identified.

A Filament-Associated Halo Coronal Mass Ejection

There are only a few observations published so far that show the initiation of a coronal mass ejection (CME) and illustrate the magnetic changes in the surface origin of a CME. Any attempt to connect a CME with its local solar activities is meaningful. In this paper we present a clear instance of a halo CME initiation. A careful analysis of magnetograms shows that the only obvious magnetic changes in the surface region of the CME is a magnetic flux cancellation underneath a quiescent filament. The early disturbance was seen as the slow upward motion in segments of the quiescent filament. Four hours later, the filament was accelerated to about 50 km s-1 and erupted. While a small part of the material in the filament was ejected into the upper corona, most of the mass was transported to a nearby region. About forty minutes later, the transported mass was also ejected partially to the upper corona. The eruption of the filament triggered a two-ribbon flare, with post-flare loops connecting the flare ribbons. A halo CME, which is inferred to be associated with the eruptive filament, was observed from LASCO/C2 and C3. The halo CME contained two CME events, each event corresponded to a partial mass ejection of the filament. We suggest that the magnetic reconnection at the lower atmosphere is responsible for the filament eruption and the halo CME.

Boosting the energy harvesting performance of cantilever structured magneto-mechano-electric generator by controlling magnetic flux intensity on magnet proof mass

A cantilever-structured magneto-mechano-electric(MME)generator comprising a magnetoelectric composite with a magnet proof mass is a potential candidate for powering autonomous wireless sensor networks.Recently,the concept of a magnetic flux concentrator(MFC)to enhance the output performance of the MME generator by focusing the ultralow-intensity magnetic field into the MME generator was introduced.However,the MFC-concentrated magnetic flux mostly focused on the end tip of the MME cantilever rather than at the magnet proof mass located on the cantilever beam.Considering that the torque generated by the magnet proof mass contributes more than half of the output power of an MME generator,optimizing the volume and position of the proof-mass with MFC is crucial for better performance.Furthermore,a smaller proof-mass is desirable for the long-term reliability of cantilevertype harvesters.Hence,we investigated the effect of the position and weight(volume)of the magnet proof mass with respect to the MFC on the output performance of the MME generator through finite element analysis and experiments.The MME generator with the lighter magnet proof mass at the optimized position generated a maximum power of 5.35 mW under a 10 Oe magnetic field,which was 210%of that of the MME configuration used in our previous study.Furthermore,the MME generator showed broadband characteristics around the practical frequency of 60 Hz,which could provide more freedom to design the harvester with high performance.

Flux emergence in the solar active region NOAA 11158: the evolution of net current

We present a detailed investigation of the evolution of observed net vertical current using a time series of vector magnetograms of the active region （AR） NOAA 11158 obtained from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager. We also discuss the relation of net current to the observed eruptive events. The AR evolved from the βγ to βγδ3 configuration over a period of six days. The AR had two sub-regions of activity with opposite chirality： one dominated by sunspot rotation producing a strong CME, and the other showing large shear motions producing a strong flare. The net current in each polarity over the CME producing sub-region increased to a maximum and then decreased when the sunspots were separated. The time profile of net current in this sub-region followed the time profile of the rotation rate of the south-polarity sunspot in the same sub-region. The net current in the flaring sub-region showed a sudden increase at the time of the strong flare and remained unchanged until the end of the observation, while the sunspots maintained their close proximity. The systematic evo- lution of the observed net current is seen to follow the time evolution of total length of strongly sheared polarity inversion lines in both of the sub-regions. The observed photospheric net current could be explained as an inevitable product of the emergence of a twisted flux rope, from a higher pressure confinement below the photosphere into the lower pressure environment of the photosphere.

The surge-like eruption of a miniature filament

We report on the rare eruption of a miniature Hα filament that took the form of a surge. The filament first underwent a full development within 46 min and then began to erupt 9 min later, followed by a compact, impulsive X-ray class M2.2 flare with a two-ribbon nature only at the early eruption phase. During the eruption, its top rose, whereas the two legs remained rooted in the chromosphere and showed little swelling perpendicular to the rising direction. This led to a surge-like eruption with a narrow angular extent. Similar to the recent observations for standard and blowout X- ray jets by Moore et al., we thus define it as a ＂blowout Hα surge.＂ Furthermore, our observations showed that the eruption was associated with （1） a coronal mass ejection guided by a pre-existing streamer, （2） abrupt, significant, and persistent changes in the photospheric magnetic field around the filament, and （3） a sudden disappearance of a small pore. These observations thus provide evidence that a blowout surge is a small- scale version of a large-scale filament eruption in many aspects. Our observations further suggest that at least part of the Hα surges belong to blowout-type cases, and the exact distinction between the standard and blowout Hα surges is important in understanding their different origins and associated eruptive phenomena.

A time series of filament eruptions observed by three eyes from space:from failed to successful eruptions

We present stereoscopic observations of six sequential eruptions of a filament in the active region NOAA 11045 on 2010 Feb 8, with the advantage of the STEREO twin viewpoints in combination with Earth＇s viewpoint from SOHO instruments and ground-based telescopes. The last one of the six eruptions is a coronal mass ejection, but the others are not. The flare in this successful one is more intense than in the others. Moreover, the velocity of filament material in the successful one is also the largest among them. Interestingly, all the filament velocities are found to be proportional to the power of their flares. We calculate magnetic field intensity at low altitude, the decay indexes of the external field above the filament, and the asymmetry properties of the overlying fields before and after the failed eruptions and find little difference between them, indicating the same coronal confinement exists for both the failed and successful eruptions. The results suggest that, besides the confinement of the coronal magnetic field, the energy released in the low corona should be another crucial element affecting a failed or successful filament eruption. That is, a coronal mass ejection can only be launched if the energy released exceeds some critical value, given the same initial coronal conditions.

The Filament Eruption of 1999 March 21 and Its Associated Coronal Dimmings and CME

We report a filament eruption near the center of the solar disk on 1999 March 21, in multi-wavelength observations by the Yohkoh Soft X-Ray Telescope （SXT）, the Extremeultraviolet Images Telescope （EIT） and the Michelson Doppler Imager （MDI） on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory （SOHO）. The eruption involved in the disappearance of an Ha filament can be clearly identified in EIT 195A difference images. Two flare-like EUV ribbons and two obvious coronal dimming regions were formed. The two dimming regions had a similar appearance in lines formed in temperature range 6×10^4 K to several 10^6 K. They were located in regions of opposite magnetic polarities near the two ends of the eruptive filament. No significant X-ray or Hα flare was recorded associated with the eruption and no obvious photospheric magnetic activity was detected around the eruptive region, and particularly below the coronal dimming regions. The above surface activities were closely associated with a partial halo-type coronal mass ejection （CME） observed by the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraphs （LASCO） on the SOHO. In terms of the magnetic flux rope model of CMEs, we explained these multiple observations as an integral process of largescale rearrangement of coronal magnetic field initiated by the filament eruption, in which the dimming regions marked the evacuated feet of the flux rope.

Origin and structures of solar eruptions Ⅰ: Magnetic flux rope

Coronal mass ejections(CMEs) and solar flares are the large-scale and most energetic eruptive phenomena in our solar system and able to release a large quantity of plasma and magnetic flux from the solar atmosphere into the solar wind. When these high-speed magnetized plasmas along with the energetic particles arrive at the Earth, they may interact with the magnetosphere and ionosphere, and seriously affect the safety of human high-tech activities in outer space. The travel time of a CME to 1 AU is about 1–3 days, while energetic particles from the eruptions arrive even earlier. An efficient forecast of these phenomena therefore requires a clear detection of CMEs/flares at the stage as early as possible. To estimate the possibility of an eruption leading to a CME/flare, we need to elucidate some fundamental but elusive processes including in particular the origin and structures of CMEs/flares. Understanding these processes can not only improve the prediction of the occurrence of CMEs/flares and their effects on geospace and the heliosphere but also help understand the mass ejections and flares on other solar-type stars. The main purpose of this review is to address the origin and early structures of CMEs/flares, from multi-wavelength observational perspective. First of all, we start with the ongoing debate of whether the pre-eruptive configuration, i.e., a helical magnetic flux rope(MFR), of CMEs/flares exists before the eruption and then emphatically introduce observational manifestations of the MFR. Secondly, we elaborate on the possible formation mechanisms of the MFR through distinct ways. Thirdly, we discuss the initiation of the MFR and associated dynamics during its evolution toward the CME/flare. Finally, we come to some conclusions and put forward some prospects in the future.

Origin and structures of solar eruptions Ⅱ: Magnetic modeling

The topology and dynamics of the three-dimensional magnetic field in the solar atmosphere govern various solar eruptive phenomena and activities, such as flares, coronal mass ejections, and filaments/prominences. We have to observe and model the vector magnetic field to understand the structures and physical mechanisms of these solar activities. Vector magnetic fields on the photosphere are routinely observed via the polarized light, and inferred with the inversion of Stokes profiles. To analyze these vector magnetic fields, we need first to remove the 180° ambiguity of the transverse components and correct the projection effect. Then, the vector magnetic field can be served as the boundary conditions for a force-free field modeling after a proper preprocessing. The photospheric velocity field can also be derived from a time sequence of vector magnetic fields.Three-dimensional magnetic field could be derived and studied with theoretical force-free field models, numerical nonlinear force-free field models, magnetohydrostatic models, and magnetohydrodynamic models. Magnetic energy can be computed with three-dimensional magnetic field models or a time series of vector magnetic field. The magnetic topology is analyzed by pinpointing the positions of magnetic null points, bald patches, and quasi-separatrix layers. As a well conserved physical quantity,magnetic helicity can be computed with various methods, such as the finite volume method, discrete flux tube method, and helicity flux integration method. This quantity serves as a promising parameter characterizing the activity level of solar active regions.

Identification of Biomarkers for Endometriosis Using Clinical Proteomics

Background：We investigated possible biomarkers for endometriosis （EM） using the ClinProt technique and proteomics methods.Methods：We enrolled 50 patients with EM,34 with benign ovarian neoplasms and 40 healthy volunteers in this study.Serum proteomic spectra were generated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry （MS） combined with weak cationic exchange （WCX） magnetic beads.Possible biomarkers were analyzed by a random and repeat pattern model-validation method that we designed,and ClinProtools software,results were refined using online liquid chromatography-tandem MS.Results：We found a cluster of 5 peptides （4210,5264,2660,5635,and 5904 Da）,using 3 peptides （4210,5904,2660 Da） to discriminate EM patients from healthy volunteers,with 96.67％ sensitivity and 100％ specificity.We selected 4210 and 5904 m/z,which differed most between patients with EM and controls,and identified them as fragments of ATP1B4,and the fibrinogen alpha （FGA） isoform 1/2 of the FGA chain precursor,respectively.Conclusions：ClinProt can identify EM biomarkers,which-most notably-distinguish even early-stage or minimal disease.We found 5 stable peaks at 4210,5264,2660,5635,and 5904 Da as potential EM biomarkers,the strongest of which were associated with ATP1B4 （4210 Da） and FGA （5904 Da）; this indicates that ATP1B4 and FGA are associated with EM pathogenesis.