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