Sunspot Rotation as a Driver of Major Solar Eruptions in NOAA Active Region 12158

TL;DR

This study links sunspot rotation in NOAA AR 12158 to the formation of twisted flux ropes and major solar eruptions, highlighting the role of magnetic non-potentiality and twist accumulation in eruption initiation.

Contribution

It demonstrates how sunspot rotation influences magnetic structure evolution and eruption triggers through detailed magnetic field analysis and modeling.

Findings

Sunspot rotates at 0-5 degrees per hour with changing trend.

Eruptions are associated with increased magnetic twist and energy release.

Magnetic structures evolve into flux ropes that can become unstable and erupt.

Abstract

We studied the developing conditions of sigmoid structure under the influence of magnetic non-potential characteristics of a rotating sunspot in the active region (AR) 12158. Vector magnetic field measurements from Helioseismic Magnetic Imager and coronal EUV observations from Atmospheric Imaging Assembly reveal that the erupting inverse-S sigmoid had roots in the location of the rotating sunspot. Sunspot rotates at a rate of 0-5deg/h with increasing trend in the first half followed by a decrease. Time evolution of many non-potential parameters had a well correspondence with the sunspot rotation. The evolution of the AR magnetic structure is approximated by a time series of force free equilibria. The NLFFF magnetic structure around the sunspot manifests the observed sigmoid structure. Field lines from the sunspot periphery constitute the body of the sigmoid and those from interior overly the sigmoid similar to a fluxrope structure. While the sunspot is being rotating, two major CME eruptions occurred in the AR. During the first (second) event, the coronal current concentrations enhanced (degraded) consistent with the photospheric net vertical current, however the magnetic energy is released during both the cases. The analysis results suggest that the magnetic connections of the sigmoid are driven by slow motion of sunspot rotation, which transforms to a highly twisted flux rope structure in a dynamical scenario. An exceeding critical twist in the flux rope probably leads to the loss of equilibrium and thus triggering the onset of two eruptions.