Magnetic flux cancellation in the solar atmosphere through 3D realistic numerical modeling

TL;DR

This study uses 3D realistic numerical simulations to analyze magnetic flux cancellation in the solar atmosphere, revealing reconnection processes and spectral signatures consistent with observations.

Contribution

It provides a detailed RMHD model of magnetic cancellation from the convection zone to the corona, including spectral synthesis and comparison with observations.

Findings

Reconnection occurs at chromospheric heights via quasi-separatrix layers.

Spectral features and intensity brightenings match observed phenomena.

Twisted magnetic flux ropes are formed during the process.

Abstract

We present a radiation-magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) simulation of a magnetic cancellation event. The model is calculated with the Bifrost code and spans from the uppermost convection zone to the corona. The cancellation occurs between the positive polarity of an emerged magnetic bipole and a preexisting negative polarity. We try both to understand the RMHD aspects as well as to carry out comparison to observations, in part via spectral synthesis of optically thick photospheric and chromospheric lines using the RH1.5D code, and optically thin coronal ones. The reconnection between the opposite flux systems takes place at chromospheric heights through a quasi-separatrix layer without null points. Sharp V-shaped upward-moving field lines and highly warped downward-moving post-reconnection loops are created. The chromospheric reconnection is in full swing when the colliding magnetic patches are still separated by a granular cell at the photosphere. In a later phase, photospheric cancellation takes place with submergence of the closed magnetic loops linking the opposite polarities. We carry out comparisons with the observations of the photospheric magnetic flux loss rates, as well as of the horizontal magnetic field and vertical velocity at the polarity inversion line. The reconnection outflows cause intensity brightenings, jets and different spectral features in the synthesized chromospheric spectral lines, strongly reminiscent of those found in recent observations. Coherent, twisted magnetic flux ropes are created by the flows associated with the process. Including coronal levels is crucial for proper modeling, even if no major ejection or brightening is produced in the corona in this event.