Coronal Flux Rope Catastrophe Associated With Internal Energy Release. Issue 4 (21st April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhuang, Bin; Hu, Youqiu; Wang, Yuming; Zhang, Quanhao; Liu, Rui; Gou, Tingyu; Shen, Chenglong
• Is Part Of: Journal of geophysical research. Volume 123:Issue 4(2018)
• Page Start: 2513
• Page End: 2519
• Publication Date: 2018-04-21
• Subjects: flux rope -- catastrophe -- internal energy release -- magnetic energy release; Magnetospheric physics -- Periodicals; Space environment -- Periodicals; Cosmic physics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Atmospheres -- Periodicals; Heliosphere (Astrophysics) -- Periodicals; Geophysics -- Periodicals; 523.01
• DOI: 10.1002/2018JA025283
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2169-9380

Abstract

Abstract: Magnetic energy during the catastrophe was predominantly studied by the previous catastrophe works since it is believed to be the main energy supplier for the solar eruptions. However, the contribution of other types of energies during the catastrophe cannot be neglected. This paper studies the catastrophe of the coronal flux rope system in the solar wind background, with emphasis on the transformation of different types of energies during the catastrophe. The coronal flux rope is characterized by its axial and poloidal magnetic fluxes and total mass. It is shown that a catastrophe can be triggered by not only an increase but also a decrease of the axial magnetic flux. Moreover, the internal energy of the rope is found to be released during the catastrophe so as to provide energy for the upward eruption of the flux rope. As far as the magnetic energy is concerned, it provides only part of the energy release, or even increases during the catastrophe, so the internal energy may act as the dominant or even the unique energy supplier during the catastrophe. Key Points: The catastrophe of the corona flux rope may be triggered by the decrease of its axial magnetic flux During the catastrophe, magnetic energy of the system contributes only a part of the energy release Internal energy release is found to be dominant during the catastrophe and may be the unique energy release