Understanding the complex morphology of a CME: multi-view analysis and numerical modeling

TL;DR

This paper investigates the complex morphology of a CME using multi-view observations and numerical modeling, revealing how ambient magnetic fields influence its structure and evolution.

Contribution

It introduces a combined multi-view observational and thermodynamic MHD modeling approach to understand the complex magnetic structure of CMEs.

Findings

The CME exhibited a two-MFR structure in white-light observations.

Ambient magnetic fields significantly influence CME morphology during early evolution.

Multi-view data and modeling reveal the magnetic configuration and development of complex CMEs.

Abstract

Although all coronal mass ejections (CMEs) that propagate into the heliosphere should contain a magnetic flux rope (MFR) component, the majority do not exhibit the expected white-light MFR morphology of a leading edge plus cavity. This different appearance could be the result of distortion of the internal magnetic structure, merging with other structures, or simply projection effects. These factors complicate the interpretation of CMEs. This complexity is exemplified by a CME observed on 28 March 2022. The event originated from a single eruption, evolving as a textbook CME in the low corona but appearing as a complex two-MFR structure in white-light observations. Why? To answer this question, we performed a multi-view data and modeling analysis to describe the CME coronal evolution. The thermodynamic MHD model, CORHEL-CME, helps reveal the magnetic configuration of this CME and also reveals that the ambient field plays a crucial role in shaping the complex structure of the CME during early evolution. Our research underscores the importance of integrating multiview observations with physics-based models to gain a deeper insight into the development of complex CMEs.