'EUV Waves' are Waves: First Quadrature Observations of an EUV Wave from STEREO

TL;DR

This study uses quadrature observations from STEREO to conclusively demonstrate that EUV waves are true fast-mode MHD waves, resolving a long-standing controversy.

Contribution

First quadrature observations from STEREO conclusively identify EUV waves as true fast-mode MHD waves, overcoming previous observational limitations.

Findings

EUV waves are confirmed as true fast-mode MHD waves.

Quadrature observations allow separation of CME and wave signatures.

High-cadence data from STEREO resolves previous ambiguities.

Abstract

The nature of CME-associated low corona propagating disturbances, 'EUV waves', has been controversial since their discovery by EIT on \textit{SOHO}. The low cadence, single viewpoint EUV images and the lack of simultaneous inner corona white light observations has hindered the resolution of the debate on whether they are true waves or just projections of the expanding CME. The operation of the twin EUV imagers and inner corona coronagraphs aboard \textsl{STEREO} has improved the situation dramatically. During early 2009, the \textsl{STEREO} Ahead (STA) and Behind (STB) spacecraft observed the Sun in quadrature having an $\approx 90^\circ$ angular separation. An EUV wave and CME erupted from active region 11012, on February 13, when the region was exactly at the limb for STA and hence at disk center for STB. The \textit{STEREO} observations capture the development of a CME and its accompanying EUV wave not only with high cadence but also in quadrature. The resulting unprecentented dataset allowed us to separate the CME structures from the EUV wave signatures and to determine without doubt the true nature of the wave. It is a fast-mode MHD wave after all!