LASCO Observations of Disconnected Magnetic Structures out to beyond 28 Solar Radii during Coronal Mass Ejections
by G.M. Simnett, S.J. Tappin, S.P. Plunkett, D.K. Bedford,
C.J. Eyles, O.C. St. Cyr, R.A. Howard, G.E. Brueckner, D.J. Michels,
J.D. Moses, D. Socker, K.P. Dere, C.M. Korendyke, S.E. Paswaters,
D. Wang, R. Schwenn, P. Lamy, A. Llebaria, M.V. Bout
- Movie 1:
This sequence shows the evolution of the west limb mass ejection which
became visible above the C2 occulting disc (~ 2 R) about
04:00 UT on November 5. However, late on November 4 the near-equatorial
streamer brightened significantly. The mass ejection develops as a
swollen bubble of projected angular size around 30°. By 16:40
the leading part has cleared the outer edge of the C2 field-of-view at
6 R. In the frame at 19:20 UT the main ejection has clearly
disconnected from the Sun, apart from a thin bright line extending
backwards, which we suggest is evidence of a current sheet. The
"Y"-shaped formation moves out of the field-of-view. Several other
weaker "Y" features are also visible.
- Movie 2:
This sequence shows the evolution of the mass ejection in the C3
field-of-view. Note that the "Y" feature are still visible,
particularly at the end of November 5 and the beginning of November 6.
Note that a small bright blob of matter is ejected around 06:00 UT on
November 6 along the (projected) southern edge of the CME. The main
mass ejection ahead of the most prominent "Y" feature is interpreted
as a disconnected plasmoid, and it may be seen all the way to the edge
of the field-of-view at ~ 30 R.
- Movie 3 (~2Mb): LASCO C2/C3 composite movie of the 29 July 1996 CME. This sequence shows the CME off the west limb. It emphasises the
"<"-shaped rarefaction which is the subject of the paper by
Wu et al. (this issue).
More information on LASCO can be found at the LASCO Home Page.