Prominence formation by levitation-condensation at extreme resolutions

TL;DR

This study uses high-resolution simulations to investigate prominence formation via levitation-condensation in the solar atmosphere, revealing a sequence governed by instabilities and magnetic dynamics.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of prominence formation at extreme resolutions, integrating advanced stability metrics in a 2.5D MHD simulation framework.

Findings

Formation sequence is consistent across resolutions and magnetic field strengths.

Condensations are driven by Thermal Instability after initial slow evolution governed by Convective Continuum Instability.

Mass-slippage explains the descent of prominence material post-formation.

Abstract

Prominences in the solar atmosphere represent an intriguing and delicate balance of forces and thermodynamics in an evolving magnetic topology. How this relatively cool material comes to reside at coronal heights, and what drives its evolution prior to, during, and after its appearance remains an area full of open questions. We deliberately focus on the levitation-condensation scenario, where a coronal flux rope forms and eventually demonstrates in-situ condensations, revisiting it at extreme resolutions down to order 6 km in scale. We perform grid-adaptive numerical simulations in a 2.5D translationally invariant setup, where we can study the distribution of all metrics involved in advanced magnetohydrodynamic stability theory for nested flux rope equilibria. We quantify in particular Convective Continuum Instability (CCI), Thermal Instability (TI), baroclinicity, and mass-slipping metrics within a series of numerical simulations of prominences formed via levitation-condensation. Overall, we find that the formation and evolution of prominence condensations happens in a clearly defined sequence regardless of resolution or background field strength between 3 and 10 Gauss. The CCI governs the slow evolution of plasma prior to the formation of distinct condensations found to be driven by the TI. Evolution of the condensations towards the topological dips of the magnetic flux rope is a consequence of these condensations forming initially outside of pressure balance with their surroundings. From the baroclinicity distributions, smaller-scale rotational motions are inferred within forming and evolving condensations. Upon the complete condensation of a prominence `monolith', the slow descent of this plasma towards lower heights appears consistent with the mass-slippage mechanism driven by episodes of both local current diffusion and magnetic reconnection.