Witnessing magnetic twist with high-resolution observation from the 1.6-m New Solar Telescope.
Magnetic flux ropes are highly twisted, current-carrying magnetic fields. They are crucial for the instability of plasma involved in solar eruptions, which may lead to adverse space weather effects. Here we present observations of a flaring using the highest resolution chromospheric images from the 1.6-m New Solar Telescope at Big Bear Solar Observatory, supplemented by a magnetic field extrapolation model. A set of loops initially appear to peel off from an overall inverse S-shaped flux bundle, and then develop into a multi-stranded twisted flux rope, producing a two-ribbon flare. We show evidence that the flux rope is embedded in sheared arcades and becomes unstable following the enhancement of its twists. The subsequent motion of the flux rope is confined due to the strong strapping effect of the overlying field. These results provide a first opportunity to witness the detailed structure and evolution of flux ropes in the low solar atmosphere.
1] Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1982, USA [2] Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, California 92314-9672, USA.
Haimin
H
Wang
1] Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1982, USA [2] Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, California 92314-9672, USA.
Wenda
W
Cao
1] Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1982, USA [2] Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, California 92314-9672, USA.
Chang
C
Liu
1] Space Weather Research Laboratory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, University Heights, Newark, New Jersey 07102-1982, USA [2] Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, California 92314-9672, USA.
Yan
Y
Xu
1] Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences, CAS Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China [2] Collaborative Innovation Center of Astronautical Science and Technology, China.
Rui
R
Liu
Big Bear Solar Observatory, New Jersey Institute of Technology, 40386 North Shore Lane, Big Bear City, California 92314-9672, USA.
Zhicheng
Z
Zeng
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Astronomy Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
Jongchul
J
Chae
Purple Mountain Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 210008, China.
Haisheng
H
Ji