Determination of 3D Trajectories of Knots in Solar Prominences Using MSDP Data

Abstract

In this paper we present a new method of restoration of the true three-dimensional (3D) trajectories of prominence knots using ground-based observations taken with a single telescope that is equipped with a Multi-Channel Subtractive Double Pass imaging spectrograph. Our method allows us to evaluate the true 3D trajectories of the prominence knots without any assumptions concerning the shape of the trajectories or the dynamics of the motion. The reconstructed trajectories of several knots observed in three prominences are presented.

Prominence 3D reconstruction in the STEREO era: A review

“…In particular, filament altitude maps similar to those derived by Gissot et al (2008) with STEREO data were also derived by Schwartz et al (2004), hence prior to STEREO, even if the spectroscopic model developed by Schwartz et al (2004) requires much stronger assumptions on unknown quantities with respect to the Gissot et al (2008) analysis. Also, 3D trajectories of prominences similar to those derived by Bemporad (2009) andLiewer et al (2009) with the ''tie-pointing'' technique applied to STEREO data are mainly analogous to trajectories inferred by Zapiör and Rudawy (2007) by combining Ha images and spectra.…”

“…An interesting technique to reconstruct the 3D trajectories of erupting prominence blobs has been recently developed by Zapiör and Rudawy (2007). In particular, the authors performed a numerical 3D trajectory reconstruction by analyzing Ha images and spectra acquired by a ground-based Multi-Channel Subtractive Double Pass spectrometer of the Astronomical Institute of the Wroclaw University (see also Rudawy et al, 2003).…”

“…5. An example of true 3D trajectory of a blob identified within an erupting prominence with spectrographic Ha images acquired by the MSDP instrument and analyzed with numerical interpolation (left) and polynomial fitting (right) (adapted from Zapiör and Rudawy, 2007. stereoscopy developed within the Solar Software library 1 and in particular of the scc_measure.pro routine. This routine (developed by Thompson and applied by the developer to reconstruct the 3D orientation of sungrazing comet tails; see Thompson, 2009) after reading in a pair of STEREO EUVI A and B images, is able to trace the LOS of a point selected in one image pair into the field-of-view of the second image, and then provides the 3D coordinates (altitude, latitude and longitude) of the selected point.…”

Estimation of Solar Prominence Magnetic Fields Based on the Reconstructed 3D Trajectories of Prominence Knots

“…The absolute starting positions of the knots along the Z -axis could not be determined with our method and thus we assumed for each knot z = 0 for starting or ending position. The detailed description of the applied reduction procedures was discussed in Zapiór and Rudawy (2010). The present version of the code automatically follows the positions of the selected knots on consecutive images, using simple knot identification and a tracking algorithm, which takes into account instantaneous changes of the brightness, shape and seeing-induced distortions of the knots.…”

“…Thus, each opportunity for independent check of the obtained results should be explored. In our previous paper (Zapiór and Rudawy, 2010) we presented in detail a method of restoration of the true 3D trajectories of prominence knots using ground-based observations taken with a single telescope equipped with a Multi-channel Subtractive Double Pass (MSDP) imaging spectrograph (Mein, 1977). We have shown that the method allows an evaluation of the true 3D trajectories of the prominence knots without any assumptions concerning the shape of trajectories or dynamics of the motion.…”