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- Title
Ultra-high-resolution observations of persistent null-point reconnection in the solar corona.
- Authors
Cheng, X.; Priest, E. R.; Li, H. T.; Chen, J.; Aulanier, G.; Chitta, L. P.; Wang, Y. L.; Peter, H.; Zhu, X. S.; Xing, C.; Ding, M. D.; Solanki, S. K.; Berghmans, D.; Teriaca, L.; Aznar Cuadrado, R.; Zhukov, A. N.; Guo, Y.; Long, D.; Harra, L.; Smith, P. J.
- Abstract
Magnetic reconnection is a key mechanism involved in solar eruptions and is also a prime possibility to heat the low corona to millions of degrees. Here, we present ultra-high-resolution extreme ultraviolet observations of persistent null-point reconnection in the corona at a scale of about 390 km over one hour observations of the Extreme-Ultraviolet Imager on board Solar Orbiter spacecraft. The observations show formation of a null-point configuration above a minor positive polarity embedded within a region of dominant negative polarity near a sunspot. The gentle phase of the persistent null-point reconnection is evidenced by sustained point-like high-temperature plasma (about 10 MK) near the null-point and constant outflow blobs not only along the outer spine but also along the fan surface. The blobs appear at a higher frequency than previously observed with an average velocity of about 80 km s−1 and life-times of about 40 s. The null-point reconnection also occurs explosively but only for 4 minutes, its coupling with a mini-filament eruption generates a spiral jet. These results suggest that magnetic reconnection, at previously unresolved scales, proceeds continually in a gentle and/or explosive way to persistently transfer mass and energy to the overlying corona. Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental energy release mechanism in space and laboratory plasmas. Here, the authors show persistent magnetic null-point reconnection in the solar corona at a scale of about 390 km.
- Subjects
MAGNETIC reconnection; SPACE stations; SPACE plasmas; SOLAR corona; MASS transfer; SUNSPOTS; ENERGY transfer
- Publication
Nature Communications, 2023, Vol 14, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
2041-1723
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/s41467-023-37888-w