Observation of bi-directional jets in a prominence
Hillier, A; Polito, V
Date: 13 July 2021
Journal
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Publisher
EDP Sciences / European Southern Observatory
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Quiescent prominences host a large range of flows, many driven by buoyancy, which lead to velocity shear. The presence
of these shear flows could bend and stretch the magnetic field resulting in the formation of current sheets which can lead
to magnetic reconnection. Though this has been hypothesised to occur in prominences, with ...
Quiescent prominences host a large range of flows, many driven by buoyancy, which lead to velocity shear. The presence
of these shear flows could bend and stretch the magnetic field resulting in the formation of current sheets which can lead
to magnetic reconnection. Though this has been hypothesised to occur in prominences, with some observations that
are suggestive of this process, clear evidence has been lacking. In this paper we present observations performed on June
30, 2015 using the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) Si iv and Mg ii slit-jaw imagers of two bi-directional
jets that occur inside the body of the prominence. Such jets are highly consistent with what would be expected from
magnetic reconnection theory. Using this observation, we estimate that the prominence under study has an ambient
field strength in the range of 4.5 G to 9.2 G with ‘turbulent’ field strengths of 1 G. Our results highlight the ability
of gravity-driven flows to stretch and fold the magnetic field of the prominence, implying that locally, the quiescent
prominence field can be far from a static, force-free magnetic field.
Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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