A Model of Homologous Confined and Ejective Eruptions Involving Kink Instability and Flux Cancellation

TL;DR

This paper models a sequence of homologous confined and ejective eruptions driven by flux cancellation, showing how flux reduction triggers torus instability leading to a full eruption.

Contribution

It introduces a model linking flux cancellation to homologous eruptions, demonstrating flux reduction as a trigger for torus instability and eruption.

Findings

Flux cancellation increases magnetic energy in the flux rope.

Approximately 11% flux reduction triggers torus instability.

Homologous eruptions can be driven by flux cancellation processes.

Abstract

In this study, we model a sequence of a confined and a full eruption, employing the relaxed end state of the confined eruption of a kink-unstable flux rope as the initial condition for the ejective one. The full eruption, a model of a coronal mass ejection, develops as a result of converging motions imposed at the photospheric boundary, which drive flux cancellation. In this process, parts of the positive and negative external flux converge toward the polarity inversion line, reconnect, and cancel each other. Flux of the same amount as the canceled flux transfers to a flux rope, increasing the free magnetic energy of the coronal field. With sustained flux cancellation and the associated progressive weakening of the magnetic tension of the overlying flux, we find that a flux reduction of $\approx\!11\%$ initiates the torus instability of the flux rope, which leads to a full eruption. These results demonstrate that a homologous full eruption, following a confined one, can be driven by flux cancellation.