English

Modeling Repeatedly Flaring $\delta$ Sunspots

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics 2016-03-09 v2

Abstract

Active regions (AR) appearing on the surface of the Sun are classified into α\alpha, β\beta, γ\gamma, and δ\delta by the rules of the Mount Wilson Observatory, California on the basis of their topological complexity. Amongst these, the δ\delta-sunspots are known to be super-active and produce the most X-ray flares. Here, we present results from a simulation of the Sun by mimicking the upper layers and the corona, but starting at a more primitive stage than any earlier treatment. We find that this initial state consisting of only a thin sub-photospheric magnetic sheet breaks into multiple flux-tubes which evolve into a colliding-merging system of spots of opposite polarity upon surface emergence, similar to those often seen on the Sun. The simulation goes on to produce many exotic δ\delta-sunspot associated phenomena: repeated flaring in the range of typical solar flare energy release and ejective helical flux ropes with embedded cool-dense plasma filaments resembling solar coronal mass ejections.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1601.00749,
  title  = {Modeling Repeatedly Flaring $\delta$ Sunspots},
  author = {Piyali Chatterjee and Viggo Hansteen and Mats Carlsson},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1601.00749},
  year   = {2016}
}

Comments

Minor changes consistent with Phys Rev Lett version

R2 v1 2026-06-22T12:23:02.455Z