arXiv subjects

Robert J. Leamon

Publications and source records attributed to Robert J. Leamon.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

STEREO Observations of Quasi-Periodically Driven High Velocity Outflows in Polar Plumes

Plumes are one of the most ubiquitous features seen at the limb in polar coronal holes and are considered to be a source of high density plasma streams to the fast solar wind. We analyze STEREO observations of plumes and aim to reinterpret and place observations with previous generations of EUV imagers within a new context that was recently developed from Hinode observations. We exploit the higher signal-to-noise, spatial and temporal resolution of the EUVI telescopes over that of SOHO/EIT to study the temporal variation of polar plumes in high detail. We employ recently developed insight from imaging (and spectral) diagnostics of active region, plage, and quiet Sun plasmas to identify the presence of apparent motions as high-speed upflows in magnetic regions as opposed to previous interpretations of propagating waves. In almost all polar plumes observed at the limb in these STEREO sequences, in all coronal passbands, we observe high speed jets of plasma traveling along the structures with a mean velocity of 135km/s at a range of temperatures from 0.5-1.5MK. The jets have an apparent brightness enhancement of ~5% above that of the plumes they travel on and repeat quasi-periodically, with repeat-times ranging from five to twenty-five minutes. We also notice a very weak, fine scale, rapidly evolving, but ubiquitous companion of the plumes that covers the entire coronal hole limb. The observed jets are remarkably similar in intensity enhancement, periodicity and velocity to those observed in other magnetic regions of the solar atmosphere. They are multi-thermal in nature. We infer that the jets observed on the plumes are a source of heated mass to the fast solar wind. Further, based on the previous results that motivated this study, we suggest that these jets originated in the upper chromosphere.

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arXiv2009

How The Solar Wind Ties To Its Photospheric Origins

We present a new method of visualizing the solar photospheric magnetic field based on the "Magnetic Range of Influence" (MRoI). The MRoI is a simple realization of the magnetic environment in the photosphere, reflecting the distance required to balance the integrated magnetic field contained in any magnetogram pixel. It provides a new perspective on where sub-terrestrial field lines in a Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) model connect to the photosphere, and thus the source of Earth-directed solar wind (within the limitations of PFSS models), something that is not usually obvious from a regular synoptic magnetogram. In each of three sample solar rotations, at different phases of the solar cycle, the PFSS footpoint either jumps between isolated areas of high MRoI or moves slowly within one such area. Footpoint motions are consistent with Fisk's interchange reconnection model.

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arXiv2009

More of the Inconvenient Truth About Coronal Dimmings

We continue the investigation of a CME-driven coronal dimming from December 14 2006 using unique high resolution imaging of the chromosphere and corona from the Hinode spacecraft. Over the course of the dimming event we observe the dynamic increase of non-thermal line broadening of multiple emission lines as the CME is released and the corona opens; reaching levels seen in coronal holes. As the corona begins to close, refill and brighten, we see a reduction of the non-thermal broadening towards the pre-eruption level. The dynamic evolution of non-thermal broadening is consistent with the expected change of Alfven wave amplitudes in the magnetically open rarefied dimming region, compared to the dense closed corona prior to the CME. The presented data reinforce the belief that coronal dimmings must be temporary sources of the fast solar wind. It is unclear if such a rapid transition in the thermodynamics of the corona to a solar wind state has an effect on the CME itself.

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arXiv2007

Empirical Solar Wind Forecasting from the Chromosphere

Recently, we correlated the inferred structure of the solar chromospheric plasma topography with solar wind velocity and composition data measured at 1AU. We now offer a physical justification of these relationships and present initial results of a empirical prediction model based on them. While still limited by the fundamentally complex physics behind the origins of the solar wind and how its structure develops in the magnetic photosphere and expands into the heliosphere, our model provides a near continuous range of solar wind speeds and composition quantities that are simply estimated from the inferred structure of the chromosphere. We suggest that the derived quantities may provide input to other, more sophisticated, prediction tools or models such as those to study Coronal Mass Ejections (CME) propagation and Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) generation.

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arXiv2007

The Post-Eruptive Evolution of a Coronal Dimming

We discuss the post-eruptive evolution of a "coronal dimming" based on observations of the EUV corona from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory and the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer. This discussion highlights the roles played by magnetoconvection-driven magnetic reconnection and the global magnetic environment of the plasma in the "filling" and apparent motion of the region following the eruption of a coronal mass ejection (CME). A crucial element in our understanding of the dimming region evolution is developed by monitoring the disappearance and reappearance of bright TRACE "moss" around the active region giving rise to the CME. We interpret the change in the TRACE moss as a proxy of the changing coronal magnetic field topology behind the CME front. We infer that the change in global magnetic topology also results in a shift of energy balance in the process responsible for the production of the moss emission while the coronal magnetic topology evolves from closed, to open and back to closed again because, following the eruption, the moss reforms around the active region in almost exactly its pre-event configuration. As a result of the moss evolution, combining our discussion with recent spectroscopic results of an equatorial coronal hole, we suggest that the interchangeable use of the term "transient coronal hole" to describe a coronal dimming is more than just a simple coincidence.

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arXiv1998

Contribution of cyclotron-resonant damping to kinetic dissipation of interplanetary turbulence

We examine some implications of inertial range and dissipation range correlation and spectral analyses extracted from 33 intervals of Wind magnetic field data. When field polarity and signatures of cross helicity and magnetic helicity are examined, most of the datasets suggest some role of cyclotron resonant dissipative processes involving thermal protons. We postulate that an active spectral cascade into the dissipation range is balanced by a combination of cyclotron-resonant and non-cyclotron-resonant kinetic dissipation mechanisms, of which only the former induces a magnetic helicity signature. A rate balance theory, constrained by the data, suggests that the ratio of the two mechanisms is of order unity. While highly simplified, this approach appears to account for several observed features, and explains why complete cyclotron absorption, and the corresponding pure magnetic helicity signature, is usually not observed.

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