Polarimetric Studies of a Fast Coronal Mass Ejection

TL;DR

This study analyzes the polarization properties of a fast, wide coronal mass ejection using STEREO observations, revealing polarization degrees up to 80% and discussing measurement uncertainties and improvements.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed polarimetric analysis of a CME observed by STEREO, highlighting measurement challenges and proposing methods to enhance polarization data accuracy.

Findings

Polarization degree reaches up to 80%.

CME deflected towards the equator during propagation.

Uncertainties in polarization due to non-simultaneous imaging.

Abstract

In this work we performed a polarimetric study of a fast and wide coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on 12 July 2012 by the COR1 and COR2 instruments onboard Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) mission. The CME source region was an X1.4 flare located at approximately S15W01 on the solar disk as observed from the Earth's perspective. The position of the CME as derived from the 3D Graduated Cylindrical Shell (GCS) reconstruction method was at around S18W00 at 2.5 solar radii and S07W00 at 5.7 solar radii, meaning that the CME was deflected towards the Equator while propagating outward in the corona. The projected speed of the leading edge of the CME also evolved from around 200 km s$^{-1}$ in the lower corona to around 1000 km s$^{-1}$ in the COR2 field of view. The degree of polarisation of the CME is around 65 % but it can go as high as 80 % in some CME regions. The CME showed deviation of the polarisation angle from the tangential in the range of 10$^\circ$ - 15$^\circ$ (or more). Our analysis showed that this is mostly due to the fact that the sequence of three polarised images from where the polarised parameters are derived is not taken simultaneously, but at a difference of few seconds in time. In this interval of time, the CME is moving by at least two pixels in the FOV of the instruments and this displacement results in uncertainties in the polarisation parameters (degree of polarisation, polarisation angle, etc.). We propose some steps forward to improve the derivation of the polarisation. This study is important for analysing the future data from instruments with polarisation capabilities.