arXiv subjects

Tuanhui Zhou

Publications and source records attributed to Tuanhui Zhou.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2018

Two Kinds of Dynamic Behavior in a Quiescent Prominence Observed by the NVST

We present high-resolution observations of two kinds of dynamic behavior in a quiescent prominence using the New Vacuum Solar Telescope, i.e., Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities (KHIs) and small-scale oscillations. The KHIs were identified as rapidly developed vortex-like structures with counter-clockwise/clockwise rotations in the Ha red-wing images at +0.3 A, which were produced by the strong shear-flows motions on the surface/interface of prominence plumes. The KHI growth rates are estimated to be about 0.0135 +(-)0.0004 and 0.0138 +(-) 0.0004. Our observational results further suggest that the shear velocities (i.e, supersonic) of the mass flows are fast enough to produce the strong deformation of the boundary and overcome the restraining surface tension force. This flow-driven instability might play a significant role in the process of plasma transfer in solar prominences. The small-scale oscillations perpendicular to the prominence threads are observed in the Ha line-center images. The oscillatory periods changed non-monotonically and showed two changing patterns, in which one firstly decreased slowly and then it changed to increase, while the other grew fast at the beginning and then it changed to decrease. Both of these two thread oscillations with changing periods were observed to be unstable for an entire cycle, and they were local in nature. All our findings indicate that the small-scale thread oscillations could be magnetohydrodynamic waves in the solar corona.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2018

High resolution observations of sympathetic eruptions by NVST

We investigate two sympathetic filament eruptions observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) on 2015 October 15. The full picture of the eruptions is obtained from the corresponding SDO/AIA observations. The two filaments start from active region NOAA 12434 in the north and end in one large quiescent filament channel in the south. The left filament erupts firstly, followed by the right filament eruption about 10 minutes later. Clear twist structure and rotating motion are observed in both filaments during the eruption. Both eruptions are failed, since the filaments firstly rise up, then flow towards the south and merge into the southern large quiescent filament. We also observe repeating activations of mini filaments below the right filament after its eruption. Using magnetic field models constructed based on SDO/HMI magnetograms by flux rope insertion method, we find that the left filament eruption is likely to be triggered by kink instability, while weakening of overlying magnetic fields due to magnetic reconnection at an X-point between the two filament systems might play an important role in the onset of the right filament eruption.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

The radiation mechanism of fast radio bursts

Fast radio bursts are radio transients observed mainly around 1.5 GHz. Their peak frequency decreases at a rate of 100 ~ 500 MHz/s and some of them have a broader pulse with an exponentially decaying tail. Common assumptions for fast radio bursts include a dispersion effect resulting in the peak frequency drifting and a scattering effect resulting in pulse broadening. These assumptions attribute the abnormally large dispersion measure and scattering measure to the environmental medium of the host galaxy. Here we show that the radiation of fast radio bursts can be explained as an undulator radiation and the large dispersion measure can be due to a motion effect mainly from the rotation of the source which is probably variable stars. In our scenario, the pulse broadening is near-field effects and the pulse itself represents a Fresnel diffraction pattern sweeping the observer. Our work is the first analysis of properties of fast radio bursts in the context of a special mechanism of the radiation instead of a special propagation environment of the radiation.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2008

Early Abnormal Temperature Structure of X-ray Looptop Source of Solar Flares

This Letter is to investigate the physics of a newly discovered phenomenon -- contracting flare loops in the early phase of solar flares. In classical flare models, which were constructed based on the phenomenon of expansion of flare loops, an energy releasing site is put above flare loops. These models can predict that there is a vertical temperature gradient in the top of flare loops due to heat conduction and cooling effects. Therefore, the centroid of an X-ray looptop source at higher energy bands will be higher in altitude, for which we can define as normal temperature distribution. With observations made by {\it RHESSI}, we analyzed 10 M- or X-class flares (9 limb flares). For all these flares, the movement of looptop sources shows an obvious U-shaped trajectory, which we take as the signature of contraction-to-expansion of flare loops. We find that, for all these flares, normal temperature distribution does exist, but only along the path of expansion. The temperature distribution along the path of contraction is abnormal, showing no spatial order at all. The result suggests that magnetic reconnection processes in the contraction and expansion phases of these solar flares are different.

astro-ph↗