Asymmetric Magnetic Reconnection in Coronal Mass Ejection Current Sheets Crystal L. Pope Elmhurst College Advisors: Nick Murphy & Mari Paz Miralles Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

Magnetic Reconnection Why is it necessary? – Prevents infinite energy build-up What does it do? – Converts Magnetic Energy Where does it occur? – Solar flares, magnetosphere, CME current sheets

Corona Rising Flux Ropes 1. Chromosphere Current Sheets Corona Oppositely Directed Magnetic Field Lines Flux Ropes Chromosphere 2. X-Point Inflow Outflow Corona Chromosphere 3.

Cartwheel CME April 9 th :16 UT – 17:30 UT Hinode XRT Drift of Current Sheet

Tracking the Current Sheet Slices taken at x = [425, 435, 445] pixels x = [1.05, 1.06, 1.07] R SOL 512 pixels 1 2 3

Fitting Routine

Current Sheet Drift Over Time Average Drift ~ 8 km/sec

Second CME: 03/11/11– 03/12/11 18:07 UT to 06:23 UT Hinode XRT Average Drift = 5 to 10 km/sec

March 30 th to April 9 th 2008 SOHO EIT Average Drift = 0.2 to 0.3 km/sec Significance of Solar Rotation

Asymmetric Reconnection Savage et al. (2010) – CME current sheet observed at an angle to the Plane-of-Sky “Pulled” along by the Rising Flux Ropes Asymmetry in the Magnetic Fields

Resistive MHD Simulations

Simulation Results

Propagation of the X-point Inflow Outflow Moves Outward away from Conducting Wall Moves Upward towards the stronger B Compare to Observations

Voila Magnetic Reconnection Inflow Outflow V x (x n, z n ) and V z (x n, z n ) represent the plasma flow velocity at the X-Point dx n /dt and dz n /dt represent the change in position of the X-Point

Conclusions & Next Steps Drift due to Solar Rotation Insignificant Drift seen in Observations = Drift seen in Simulations Position of X-Point Apply to more CMEs with more instruments Use routine to track events with multiple current sheets Use Simulations to limit strength of Asymmetry

Many thanks to my advisors Nick Murphy & Mari Paz Miralles for their instruction... To the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Solar REU directors and mentors for a well-planned program and a fun summer... To the SSXG Admins for their witty comments and awesome computer skills... To the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics’ Interns, both Solar and Astro for general awesomeness and great memories …