Off-limb solar coronal wavefronts from SDO/AIA extreme-ultraviolet observations-implications for particle production

Abstract

We derive kinematic properties for two recent solar coronal transient waves observed off the western solar limb with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission. The two waves occurred over similar to 10 minute intervals on consecutive days-2010 June 12 and 13. For the first time, off-limb waves are imaged with a high 12 s cadence, making possible detailed analysis of these transients in the low corona between similar to 1.1 and 2.0 solar radii (R(S)). We use observations in the 193 and 211 angstrom AIA channels to constrain the kinematics of both waves. We obtain initial velocities for the two fronts of similar to 1287 and similar to 736 km s(-1), and accelerations of -1170 and -800 m s(-2), respectively. Additionally, differential emission measure analysis shows the June 13 wave is consistent with a weak shock. Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) wave positions are correlated with positions from simultaneous type II radio burst observations. We find good temporal and height association between the two, suggesting that the waves may be the EUV signatures of coronal shocks. Furthermore, the events are associated with significant increases in proton fluxes at 1 AU, possibly related to how waves propagate through the coronal magnetic field. Characterizing these coronal transients will be key to connecting their properties with energetic particle production close to the Sun.

Department

Physics

Publication Date

6-1-2011

Journal Title

Astrophysical Journal Letters

Publisher

IOP PUBLISHING LTD

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1088/2041-8205/733/2/L25

Document Type

Article

Rights

© 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.

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