Cavities in solar prominences

Hinode Narrowband Filter Imager

Prominences are structures made of cool chromospheric gas embedded in the very hot plasma of the solar corona. How this cool and dense material remains stable at such heights in the solar atmosphere is a mystery, but scientists believe that prominences are somehow supported by magnetic fields. To confirm or refute this idea, magnetic field measurements in the chromosphere will be needed.

Before those measurements become available, we can study the dynamics and evolution of prominences. When observed at high resolution, they show fine detail that evolves rapidly, on time scales of minutes. This movie shows an example of a prominence at the solar limb recorded in the center of the H-alpha line by the Narrowband Filter Imager aboard the Hinode satellite. The H-alpha observations sample gas at chromospheric temperatures. A slowly evolving prominence can be seen, showing intricate detail and dynamics. For example, blobs of gas can be observed moving upward and downward within the prominence. Also, large dark cavities form and disappear at the base of the prominence. These features provide new information on physical processes occurring in prominences which in turn may help us understand the magnetic configuration of prominences.

To download the movie, click HERE

Movie credit: Dick Shine (LMSAL)

Text credit: Luis Bellot Rubio (IAA-CSIC)

Observations: Hinode/NFI (ISAS/JAXA, NAOJ, NASA, STFC, ESA)