118607392
WAITING TIMES OF QUASI-HOMOLOGOUS CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS FROM SUPER ACTIVE REGIONS
Why and how do some active regions (ARs) frequently produce coronal mass ejections (CMEs)? These are key questions for deepening our understanding of the mechanisms and processes of energy accumulation and sudden release in ARs and for improving our space weather prediction capability. Although some case studies have been performed, these questions are still far from fully answered. These issues are now being addressed statistically through an investigation of the waiting times of quasi-homologous CMEs from super ARs in solar cycle 23. It is found that the waiting times of quasi-homologous CMEs have a two-component distribution with a separation at about 18 hr. The first component is a Gaussian-like distribution with a peak at about 7 hr, which indicates a tight physical connection between these quasi-homologous CMEs. The likelihood of two or more occurrences of CMEs faster than 1200 km s–1 from the same AR within 18 hr is about 20%. Furthermore, the correlation analysis among CME waiting times, CME speeds, and CME occurrence rates reveals that these quantities are independent of each other, suggesting that the perturbation by preceding CMEs rather than free energy input is the direct cause of quasi-homologous CMEs. The peak waiting time of 7 hr probably characterizes the timescale of the growth of the instabilities triggered by preceding CMEs. This study uncovers some clues from a statistical perspective for us to understand quasi-homologous CMEs as well as CME-rich ARs.
17103243
An analytical model probing the internal state of coronal mass ejections based on observations of their expansions and propagations
[1] In this paper, a generic self-similar flux rope model is proposed to probe the internal state of CMEs in order to understand the thermodynamic process and expansion of CMEs in interplanetary space. Using this model, three physical parameters and their variations with heliocentric distance can be inferred based on coronagraph observations of CMEs' propagation and expansion. One is the polytropic index Γ of the CME plasma, and the other two are the average Lorentz force and the thermal pressure force inside CMEs. By applying the model to the 8 October 2007 CME observed by STEREO/SECCHI, we find that (1) the polytropic index of the CME plasma increased from initially 1.24 to more than 1.35 quickly and then slowly decreased to about 1.34; it suggests that there be continuously heat injected/converted into the CME plasma and the value of Γ tends to be , a critical value inferred from the model for a force-free flux rope; (2) the Lorentz force directed inward while the thermal pressure force outward, and both of them decreased rapidly as the CME moved out; the direction of the two forces reveals that the thermal pressure force is the internal driver of the CME expansion, whereas the Lorentz force prevented the CME from expanding. Some limitations of the model and approximations are discussed meanwhile.
67817261
Critical Height for the Destabilization of Solar Prominences: Statistical Results from STEREO Observations
At which height is a prominence inclined to be unstable, or where is the most probable critical height for the prominence destabilization? This question was statistically studied based on 362 solar limb prominences well recognized by Solar Limb Prominence Catcher and Tracker from 2007 April to the end of 2009. We found that there are about 71% disrupted prominences (DPs), among which about 42% of them did not erupt successfully and about 89% of them experienced a sudden destabilization process. After a comprehensive analysis of the DPs, we
119228154
Full halo coronal mass ejections: Do we need to correct the projection effect in terms of velocity?
[1] The projection effect is one of the biggest obstacles in learning the real properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and forecasting their geoeffectiveness. To evaluate the projection effect, 86 full halo CMEs (FHCMEs) listed in the Coordinated Data Analysis Workshop CME catalog from 1 March 2007 to 31 May 2012 are investigated. By applying the Graduated Cylindrical Shell model, we obtain the deprojected values of the propagation velocity, direction, and angular width of these FHCMEs and compare them with the projected values measured in the plane-of-sky. Although these CMEs look full halo in the view angle of SOHO, it is found that their propagation directions and angular widths could vary in a large range, implying projection effect is a major reason causing a CME being halo, but not the only one. Furthermore, the comparison of the deprojected and projected velocities reveals that most FHCMEs originating within 45° of the Sun-Earth line with a projected speed slower than 900 km s−1 suffer from large projection effect, while the FHCMEs originating far from the vicinity of solar disk center or moving faster than 900 km s−1have small projection effect. Thus, for the latter class of FHCMEs, it is not necessary to correct the measured velocities.
41231566
Quantitative Analysis of CME Deflections in the Corona
In this paper, ten CME events viewed by the STEREO twin spacecraft are analyzed to study the deflections of CMEs during their propagation in the corona. Based on the three-dimensional information of the CMEs derived by the graduated cylindrical shell (GCS) model (Thernisien, Howard, and Vourlidas in Astrophys. J.652, 1305, 2006), it is found that the propagation directions of eight CMEs had changed. By applying the theoretical method proposed by Shen et al. (Solar Phys.269, 389, 2011) to all the CMEs, we found that the deflections are consistent, in strength and direction, with the gradient of the magnetic energy density. There is a positive correlation between the deflection rate and the strength of the magnetic energy density gradient and a weak anti-correlation between the deflection rate and the CME speed. Our results suggest that the deflections of CMEs are mainly controlled by the background magnetic field and can be quantitatively described by the magnetic energy density gradient (MEDG) model.
115149137
CONTRACTING AND ERUPTING COMPONENTS OF SIGMOIDAL ACTIVE REGIONS
It has recently been noted that solar eruptions can be associated with the contraction of coronal loops that are not involved in magnetic reconnection processes. In this paper, we investigate five coronal eruptions originating from four sigmoidal active regions, using high-cadence, high-resolution narrowband EUV images obtained by the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO). The magnitudes of the flares associated with the eruptions range from GOES class B to class X. Owing to the high-sensitivity and broad temperature coverage of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board SDO, we are able to identify both the contracting and erupting components of the eruptions: the former is observed in cold AIA channels as the contracting coronal loops overlying the elbows of the sigmoid, and the latter is preferentially observed in warm/hot AIA channels as an expanding bubble originating from the center of the sigmoid. The initiation of eruption always precedes the contraction, and in the energetically mild events (B- and C-flares), it also precedes the increase in GOES soft X-ray fluxes. In the more energetic events, the eruption is simultaneous with the impulsive phase of the nonthermal hard X-ray emission. These observations confirm that loop contraction is an integrated process in eruptions with partially opened arcades. The consequence of contraction is a new equilibrium with reduced magnetic energy, as the contracting loops never regain their original positions. The contracting process is a direct consequence of flare energy release, as evidenced by the strong correlation of the maximal contracting speed, and strong anti-correlation of the time delay of contraction relative to expansion, with the peak soft X-ray flux. This is also implied by the relationship between contraction and expansion, i.e., their timing and speed.
15483575
Energy Loss of Particles in Pulsar Radio Emission Region
Extremely relativistic particles play an important role in various radiative mechanisms of pulsar radio as well as high-energy emission. It is thus very essential to estimate the Lorentz factor of these particles in the radiation regions both observationally and theoretically. In this paper, according to the frequency dependence of component separation and considering some radiation processes, we obtain the Lorentz factor and its variation in the radiation region observationally for seven multi-frequency observed pulsars. It is found that the Lorentz factor decays substantially in the emission region, and the decay can not be well understood by all known energy loss processes. This result hints that there are some unknown processes which are responsible to loosing energy effectively.
12149444
Observation of a Near-Threshold Enhancement in the p-anti-p Mass Spectrum from Radiative J/psi --> gamma-p-anti-p Decays
We observe a narrow enhancement near 2m{sub p} in the invariant mass spectrum of p{bar p} pairs from radiative J/{psi} {yields} {gamma}p{bar p} decays. No similar structure is seen in J/{psi} {yields} {pi}{sup 0} p{bar p} decays. The results are based on an analysis of a 58 million event sample of J/{psi} decays accumulated with the BESII detector at the Beijing electron-positron collider. The enhancement can be fit with either an S- or P-wave Breit Wigner resonance function. In the case of the S-wave fit, the peak mass is below 2m{sup p} at M = 1859{sub -10}{sup +3} (stat){sub -25}{sup +5} (sys) MeV/c{sup 2} and the total width is {Lambda} < 30 MeV/c{sup 2} at the 90 percent confidence level. These mass and width values are not consistent with the properties of any known particle.
110979284
The R&D program for silicon detectors in CMS
Abstract This paper describes the main achievements in the development of radiation resistant silicon detectors to be used in the CMS tracker. After a general description of the basic requirements for the operation of large semiconductor systems in the LHC environment, the issue of radiation resistance is discussed in detail. Advantages and disadvantages of the different technological options are presented for comparison. Laboratory measurements and test beam data are used to check the performance of several series of prototypes fabricated by different companies. The expected performance of the final detector modules are presented together with preliminary test beam results on system prototypes.
119866130
Determination of the proton separation energy of Rh93 from mass measurements
The proposed {nu}p process, which occurs in the early time proton-rich neutrino winds of core-collapse supernovae, has the potential to resolve the long-standing uncertainty in the production of the light p-nuclei {sup 92}Mo and {sup 94}Mo. A recent study incorporating this {nu}p process has indicated that the proton separation energy S{sub p} of {sup 93}Rh is especially important in determining the relative production of these two isotopes. To reproduce the observed solar {sup 92}Mo/{sup 94}Mo abundance ratio of 1.57 a S{sub p} value for {sup 93}Rh of 1.64 {+-} 0.1 MeV is required. The previously unknown masses of {sup 92}Ru and {sup 93}Rh have been measured with the Canadian Penning Trap mass spectrometer resulting in an experimental value for S{sub p}({sup 93}Rh) of 2.007 {+-} 0.009 MeV. This implies that with our current understanding of the conditions in core-collapse supernova explosions the {nu}p process is not solely responsible for the observed solar {sup 92}Mo/{sup 94}Mo abundance ratio.
118409330
Unambiguous determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy using reactor neutrinos
Determination of the neutrino mass hierarchy in a reactor neutrino experiment at the medium baseline is discussed. Observation of the interference effects between the Delta m(31)(2) and Delta m(32)(2) oscillations enables a relative measurement independent of the knowledge of the absolute mass-squared difference. With a 20 kton liquid scintillator detector of the 3%/root E (MeV) energy resolution, the Daya Bay II experiment at a baseline of similar to 50 km from reactors of total thermal power 36 GW can determine the mass hierarchy at a confidence level of Delta chi(2)(MH) similar to (10 divided by 12) (3 divided by 3.5 sigma) in six years after taking into account the real spatial distribution of reactor cores. We show that the unknown residual energy nonlinearity of the liquid scintillator detector has limited impact on the sensitivity due to the self-calibration of small oscillation peaks. Furthermore, an extra increase of Delta chi(2)(MH) similar or equal to 4(9) can be obtained, by including the precise measurement of the effective mass-squared difference Delta m(mu mu)(2) of expected relative error 1.5% (1%) from ongoing long-baseline muon neutrino disappearance experiments. The sensitivities from the interference and from absolute measurements can be cross-checked. When combining these two, the mass hierarchy can be determined at a confidence level of Delta chi(2)(MH) similar to (15 divided by 20) (4 sigma) in six years.