Formation and Eruption of Solar Prominences

Van Ballegooijen, A. A. and P. C. H. Martens, Formation and Eruption of Solar Prominences, ApJ, 343, 971 (1989) (ADS)

The cartoon

(click on the image for a larger version)

Converging flow in a sheared photospheric field results in the creation of a Mikic-Lee_2006SSRv..123...57M_CME flux rope, which could become unstable. Such a process could thus lead to a flare and possibly to a CME as well. This basic mechanism is attactive because the magnetic reconnection responsible for the formation of the helical structure can occur in a somewhat resistive medium that can stress the field. It is also probably a more general mechanism than the cartoon implies, and has achieved great popularity.

Date: 2012 January 12

Update: 2019 December 04