In this paper, we study the onset process of a solar eruption on 21 February 2015, focusing on its unambiguous precursor phase. With multi-wavelength imaging observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), definitive tether-cutting (TC) reconnection signatures, i.e., flux convergence and cancellation, bidirectional jets, as well as topology change of hot loops, were clearly observed below the pre-eruption filament. As TC reconnection progressed between the sheared arcades that enveloped the filament, a channel-like magnetic flux rope (MFR) arose in multi-wavelength AIA passbands wrapping around the main axis of the filament. With the subsequent ascent of the newborn MFR, the filament surprisingly split into three branches. After a 7-hour slow rise phase, the high-lying branch containing by the MFR abruptly accelerated causing a two-ribbon flare; while the two low-lying branches remained stable forming a partial eruption. Complemented by kinematic analysis and decay index calculation, we conclude that TC reconnection played a key role in building up the eruptive MFR and triggering its slow rise. The onset of the torus instability may have led the high-lying branch into the standard eruption scenario in the fashion of a catastrophe.
Using the data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory, the Ahead of Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory, the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG), and the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraphs, the nearly 90° deflected eruption of a filament and the following coronal mass ejection (CME) occurring on the northern edge of AR 11123 on 2010 November 15 were presented in this paper. The filament was very small with the projected length of about 2.6 × 104 km and centered at about W . The potential-field source-surface model identified that the filament was located near the northern flank of a helmet streamer. The filament initially erupted northward to the nearby open fields with speeds from 151 to 336 km s−1, resulting in a B7.6 subflare and some signatures of interchange reconnection. This suggested that the erupting filament interacted with the open fields at first. Then, guided by the highly-inclined open fields, it deflected about 90° southward on the plane of the sky to the magnetic minimum in the streamer configuration. In addition, the CME with the width of 64° and the central position angle of 221° was also deflected obviously in the inner corona to attain its final direction. Because the eruption failed to penetrate the open fields, these results corroborate the idea that open magnetic flux can act as a magnetic wall while a streamer belt can act as a potential well for coronal eruptions in the Sun.
Aims. We report our multiwavelength observations of two homologous circular-ribbon flares in active region 11991 on 2014 March 5, focusing on the transverse oscillations of an extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) loop excited by the flares. Methods. The flares were observed in ultraviolet and EUV wavelengths by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft. These flares were also observed in Hα line center by the 1 m New Vacuum Solar Telescope. Soft X-ray fluxes of the flares in 0.5–4 and 1–8 Å were recorded by the GOES spacecraft. Results. The transverse oscillations are of fast standing kink mode. The first-stage oscillation triggered by the C2.8 flare is decayless with lower amplitudes (310–510 km). The periods (115–118 s) in different wavelengths are nearly the same, indicating coherent oscillations. The magnetic field of the loop is estimated to be 65–78 G. The second-stage oscillation triggered by the M1.0 flare is decaying with larger amplitudes (1250–1280 km). The periods decrease from 117 s in 211 Å to 70 s in 171 Å, implying a decrease of loop length or an implosion after a gradual expansion. The damping time, which is 147–315 s, increases with the period, so that the values of τ/P are close to each other in different wavelengths. The thickness of the inhomogeneous layer is estimated to be ∼0″.45 under the assumption of resonant absorption. Conclusions. This is the first observation of the excitation of two kink-mode loop oscillations by two sympathetic flares. The results are important to understand the excitation of kink oscillations of coronal loops and hence the energy balance in the solar corona. Our findings also validate the prevalence of significantly amplified amplitudes of oscillations by successive drivers.
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