arrow
Return

Multi-viewpoint observation of a failed prominence eruption on the Sun

delete2026-05-20
delete0
PRE
AI
T
Tingyu Gou *
K
Katharine K. Reeves
P
Peter R. Young
A
Astrid Veronig
X
Xingyao Chen
S
Sijie Yu
B
Bin Chen
B
Bin Zhuang
DOI:10.1038/s41550-026-02872-zdelete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Solar eruptions are sudden ejections of coronal mass and magnetic fields accompanied by intense energy release. The eruptive structure does not always erupt successfully: it sometimes fails to escape the Sun after initiation. The failure of an eruption, however, provides an invaluable opportunity for improving our understanding of the intricate mechanism of eruptions. Here we present a comprehensive set of observations of a failed prominence eruption on the Sun that takes advantage of multi-viewpoint and multi-messenger imaging. Simultaneous off-limb and on-disk observations provides evidence of magnetic reconnection processes occurring at different sites during the flare. In addition to the standard flare reconnection behind the eruption, strong external reconnection occurs on the erupting flux rope, as evidenced by a wealth of signatures via multi-wavelength imaging and spectroscopy. The two reconnection processes may play contrasting roles in the acceleration of the flux rope and compete in altering the magnetic flux in the rope. As the high rate of external reconnection proceeds, the flux rope and embedded prominence decelerate noticeably and fail to erupt into the heliosphere, under strong magnetic confinement of overlying fields. Our results illustrate a well-defined physical picture for solar eruptive activities and provide insight into the lack of coronal mass ejections seen in other solar-type stars. Multi-viewpoint and coordinated observations unravel the unexpected failure of a violent solar eruption, driven by a dynamic, competitive interplay between internal and external reconnection processes.
Keywords:
failed prominence eruption
magnetic reconnection
flux rope
multi-viewpoint observation
solar eruption mechanism

Journal

Nature Astronomy cover
Nature Astronomy
IF:
14.3
Papers:
2.8K
Citations:
1.3W

Organization

U
university of graz
Scholars:
692
Papers: 348
Citations: 0
N
NASA
Scholars:
874
Papers: 454
Citations: 221
U
university of new hampshire
Scholars:
4.2K
Papers: 3.4K
Citations: 8
N
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Scholars:
4.1K
Papers: 4.5K
Citations: 4.6K
H
harvard and smithsonian
Scholars:
143
Papers: 63
Citations: 0
researcher View more organizations