The magnetic helicity sign of filament chirality

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-10-2000

Abstract

A solar prominence has either dextral or sinistral chirality depending on its axial field direction. We determine the magnetic helicity sign of filaments using high-resolution observations performed by Transition Region And Coronal Explorer. At EUV wavelengths, filaments sometimes appear as mixtures of bright threads and dark threads. This characteristic has enabled us to discern overlying threads and underlying ones and to determine the sign of magnetic helicity based on the assumption that the helicity sign of two crossing thread segments is the same as that of the filament. Our results support the notion that dextral filaments have negative magnetic and that sinistral filaments have positive helicity.

Identifier

0034633074 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Astrophysical Journal

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1086/312880

e-ISSN

15384357

ISSN

0004637X

First Page

L115

Last Page

L118

Issue

2 PART 2

Volume

540

Grant

NAG5-7837

Fund Ref

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

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