THE MAGNETIC STRUCTURE OF SOLAR PROMINENCE CAVITIES: NEW OBSERVATIONAL SIGNATURE REVEALED BY CORONAL MAGNETOMETRY

Abstract

The Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP) obtains daily full-Sun\nabove-the-limb coronal observations in linear polarization, allowing for the\nfirst time a diagnostic of the coronal magnetic field direction in quiescent\nprominence cavities. We find that these cavities consistently possess a\ncharacteristic "lagomorphic" signature in linear polarization indicating twist\nor shear extending up into the cavity above the neutral line. We demonstrate\nthat such a signature may be explained by a magnetic flux-rope model, a\ntopology with implications for solar eruptions. We find corroborating evidence\nfor a flux rope structure in the pattern of concentric rings within cavities\nseen in CoMP line-of-sight velocity.\n