Links between magnetic fields and plasma flows in a coronal hole

TL;DR

This study investigates the relationship between magnetic field structures and plasma flows in a coronal hole by analyzing Doppler-shift data and magnetic field extrapolations, revealing a clear connection between flow patterns and magnetic topology.

Contribution

It provides a detailed comparison of small-scale plasma flows and magnetic field structures in a coronal hole, highlighting the link between Doppler-shift patterns and magnetic topology.

Findings

Doppler-shift patterns are linked to magnetic field topology.

Presence of small closed-field regions within the open coronal hole.

Small-scale plasma flows are closely associated with magnetic structures.

Abstract

We compare the small-scale features visible in the Ne viii Doppler-shift map of an equatorial coronal hole (CH) as observed by SUMER with the small-scale structures of the magnetic field as constructed from a simultaneous photospheric magnetogram by a potential magnetic-field extrapolation. The combined data set is analysed with respect to the small-scale flows of coronal matter, which means that the Ne viii Doppler-shift used as tracer of the plasma flow is investigated in close connection with the ambient magnetic field. Some small closed-field regions in this largely open CH are also found in the coronal volume considered. The Doppler-shift patterns are found to be clearly linked with the field topology.