Taking advantage of both the high temporal and spatial resolution of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we studied a limb coronal shock wave and its associated extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wave that occurred on 2010 June 13. Our main findings are (1) the shock wave appeared clearly only in the channels centered at 193Å and 211Å as a dome-like enhancement propagating ahead of its associated semi-spherical CME bubble; (2) the density compression of the shock is 1.56 according to radio data and the temperature of the shock is around 2.8 MK;(3) the shock wave first appeared at 05:38 UT, 2 minutes after the associated flare has started and 1 minute after its associated CME bubble appeared; (4) the top of the dome-like shock wave set out from about 1.23 R ⊙ and the thickness of the shocked layer is ∼ 2×10 4 km; (5) the speed of the shock wave is consistent with a slight decrease from about 600 km s −1 to 550 km s −1 ; (6) the lateral expansion of the shock wave suggests a constant speed around 400 km s −1 , which varies at different heights and directions. Our findings support the view that the coronal shock wave is driven by the CME bubble, and the on-limb EUV wave is consistent with a fast wave or at least includes the fast wave component.

We analyzed multi-wavelength observations of three surges with a recurrent period of about 70 min in H α , EUV, and soft X-ray, which occurred in the quiet-sun region on 2000 November 3. These homologous surges were associated with small flares at the same base, but their exact footpoints were spatially separated from the flare. Each surge consisted of a cool H α component and a hot, EUV or soft X-ray component, which showed different evolutions not only in space but also in time. The EUV jets had slightly converging shapes, underwent more complicate development, showed clearly twisting structures, and appeared to open to space. The H α surges, however, were smaller and only traced the edges of the jets. They always occurred later than the jets but had dark EUV counterparts appearing in the bright jets. These surge activities were closely associated with two emerging bipoles and their driven flux cancellations at the base region, and were consistent with the magnetic reconnection surge model. The possible cause of the delay between the surges and jets, of the dark structures in the jets are discussed, along with the possible role of flux cancellations in generation of these surges.

Using the multi-wavelength data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft, we study a jet occurred in coronal hole near the northern pole of the Sun. The jet presented distinct helical upward motion during ejection. By tracking six identified moving features (MFs) in the jet, we found that the plasma moved at an approximately constant speed along the jet's axis, meanwhile, they made a circular motion in the plane transverse to the axis. Inferred from linear and trigonometric fittings to the axial and transverse heights of the six tracks, the mean values of axial velocities, transverse velocities, angular speeds, rotation periods, and rotation radiuses of the jet are 114 km s −1 , 136 km s −1 , 0.81 • s −1 , 452 s, and 9.8 × 10 3 km respectively. As the MFs rose, the jet width at the corresponding height increased. For the first time, we derived the height variation of the longitudinal magnetic field strength in the jet from the assumption of magnetic flux conservation. Our results indicate that, at the heights of 1 × 10 4 ∼ 7 × 10 4 km from jet base, the flux density in the jet decreased from about 15 to 3 G as a function of B=0.5(R/R ⊙ -1) −0.84 (G). A comparison was made with the other results in previous studies.

Using the observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we investigate six X-class and twentynine M-class flares occurring in solar active region (AR) 12192 from October 18 to 29. Among them, thirty (including six X-and twenty-four M-class) flares originated from the AR core and the other five M-flares appeared at the AR periphery. Four of the X-flares exhibited similar flaring structures, indicating they were homologous flares with analogous triggering mechanism. The possible scenario is: photospheric motions of emerged magnetic fluxes lead to shearing of the associated coronal magnetic field, which then yields a tether-cutting favorable configuration. Among the five periphery M-flares, four were associated with jet activities. The HMI vertical magnetic field data show that the photospheric fluxes of opposite magnetic polarities emerged, converged and canceled with each other at the footpoints of the jets before the flares. Only one M-flare from the AR periphery was followed by a coronal mass ejection (CME). From October 20 to 26, the mean decay index of the horizontal background field within the height range of 40-105 Mm is below the typical threshold for torus instability onset. This suggests that a strong confinement from the overlying magnetic field might be responsible for the poor CME production of AR 12192.

Using the multi-wavelength data from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory, we investigated two successive solar flares, a C5.1 confined flare and an X4.9 ejective flare with a halo coronal mass ejection, in NOAA AR 11990 from 2014 Feb 24 to 25. Before the confined flare onset, EUV brightening beneath the filament was detected. As the flare began, a twisted helical flux rope (FR) wrapping around the filament moved upward and then stopped, and in the meantime an obvious X-ray source below it was observed. Prior to the ejective X4.9 flare, some pre-existing loop structures in the active region interacted with each other, which produced a brightening region beneath the filament. Meanwhile, a small flaring loop appeared below the interaction region and some new helical lines connecting the far ends of the loop structures was gradually formed and continually added into the former twisted FR. Then, due to the resulting imbalance between the magnetic pressure and tension, the new FR together with the filament erupted outward. Our observations coincide well with tether-cutting model, suggesting that the two flares probably have the same triggering mechanism, i.e., tether-cutting reconnection. To our knowledge, this is the first direct observation of tether-cutting reconnection occurring between the pre-existing loops in active region. In the ejective flare case, the erupting filament exhibited an Ω-like kinked structure and underwent an exponential rise after a slow-rise phase, indicating the kink instability might be also responsible for the eruption initiation.

Aims.To know more about the physical origin of surges and jets, we investigated seven successive surge events, which occurred above the satellite sunspots of active region NOAA 10720 on 2005 January 15. Methods. Using data from the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE), Big Bear Solar Observatory (BBSO) and Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), we present a detailed study of the surges and their relations with the associated small arch filament, UV jets, flares and photospheric longitudinal magnetic fields. Results. The seven H α surges we studied repeatedly occurred where the photospheric longitudinal fluxes of opposite magnetic polarities emerged, converged and were canceled by each other. Correspondingly, a small satellite spot emerged, decayed and disappeared during a period of about 2 hours in the white-light observations. In morphology, all surges displayed almost linear ejective structures. Their dynamic properties, such as the transverse velocity, projected maximum length and lifetime, varied in wide ranges. They are 30-200 km s −1 , 38 000-220 000 km and from several to tens of minutes, respectively. Correspondingly, the intensities of their correlated microflares were different too. The surges of major velocities or maximum lengths seemed to be accompanied by processes of more energy release. Prior to these surge events, a small H α arch filament connecting the opposite flux elements was found at the base region. Instead of erupting completely, it gradually disappeared during the surges. Its role in the surge activities is very like a bipolar flux, which contained the cool plasma and reconnected with the ambient magnetic fields. In 1600 Å, three surge events exhibited the composite structures of bright jets and nearby small flaring loops, which provides direct evidence of magnetic reconnection origin of the surges. A careful comparison revealed that the ends of the arch filament, the UV jets and the small flaring loops just corresponded to the interacting longitudinal fluxes in the photosphere. Conclusions. These observational results support the magnetic reconnection model of surges and jets.

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Triggering mechanisms of solar eruptions have long been a challenge. A few previous case studies have indicated that preceding gentle filament merging via magnetic reconnection may launch following intense eruption, according to the tether-cutting (TC) model. However, the detailed process of TC reconnection between filaments has not been exhibited yet. In this work, we report the high-resolution observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrometer (IRIS) of TC reconnection between two sheared filaments in NOAA active region 12146. The TC reconnection commenced on ∼15:35 UT on 2014 August 29 and triggered an eruptive GOES C4.3-class flare ∼8 minutes later. An associated coronal mass ejection appeared in the field of view of the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/LASCO C2 about 40 minutes later. Thanks to the high spatial resolution of IRIS data, bright plasma outflows generated by the TC reconnection are clearly observed, which moved along the subarcsecond fine-scale flux tube structures in the erupting filament. Based on the imaging and spectral observations, the mean plane-of-sky and line-of-sight velocities of the TC reconnection outflows are separately measured to be ∼79 and 86 km s −1 , which derives an average real speed of ∼120 km s −1 . In addition, it is found that spectral features, such as peak intensities, Doppler shifts, and line widths in the TC reconnection region are evidently enhanced compared to those in the nearby region just before the flare.