Ultra-high-resolution Observations of Persistent Null-point Reconnection in the Solar Corona |
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Xin Cheng Submitted: 2023-04-18 18:45
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.
Authors: X. Cheng, E. R. Priest, H. T. Li, J. Chen, G. Aulanier, L. P. Chitta, Y. L. Wang, H. Peter, X. S. Zhu, C. Xing, M. D. Ding, S. K. Solanki, D. Berghmans, L. Teriaca, R. Aznar Cuadrado, A. N. Zhukov, Y. Guo, D. Long, L. Harra, P. J. Smith, L. Rodriguez, C. Verbeeck, K. Barczynski & S. Parenti
Projects: SO/EUI
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Publication Status: Nat Commun 14, 2107 (2023)
Last Modified: 2023-04-19 00:23
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