English

Driving Currents for Flux Rope Coronal Mass Ejections

Astrophysics 2011-02-11 v1 Plasma Physics Space Physics

Abstract

We present a method for measuring electrical currents enclosed by flux rope structures that are ejected within solar coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Such currents are responsible for providing the Lorentz self-force that propels CMEs. Our estimates for the driving current are based on measurements of the propelling force obtained using data from the LASCO coronagraphs aboard the SOHO satellite. We find that upper limits on the currents enclosed by CMEs are typically around 101010^{10} Amperes. We estimate that the magnetic flux enclosed by the CMEs in the LASCO field of view is a few ×1021\times 10^{21} Mx.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.0810.4210,
  title  = {Driving Currents for Flux Rope Coronal Mass Ejections},
  author = {Prasad Subramanian and Angelos Vourlidas},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:0810.4210},
  year   = {2011}
}

Comments

Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal

R2 v1 2026-06-21T11:34:06.509Z