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To better understand magnetic structure and eruptive process of solar filaments, a solar active-region filament (labeled F2) eruption associated with a B-class flare was investigated by using high-resolution H$\alpha$ data from the 1 m New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), combined with EUV observations of the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). The filament F2 was disturbed by another filament (labeled F1) eruption that experienced a whip-like motion. Before the filament F2 eruption, the Dopplergrams show that the southern and the northern parts of the filament F2 body exhibit blueshift and redshift along the filament spine, simultaneously. It implies that the filament F2 was rolling from one side to the other. During the filament F2 eruption, the Doppler velocity shifts of the filament body are opposite to that before its eruption. It demonstrates that the filament body exhibits an untwisting motion, which can be also identified by tracing the movement of the eruptive filament threads. Moreover, it is found that the material of the filament F2 was transferred to the surrounding magnetic field loops, which is caused by magnetic reconnection between the filament F2 and the surrounding magnetic loops. According to the right-bearing threads of the filament F2 before its eruption, it can be deduced that the filament F2 is initially supported by a sheared arcade. The following observations reveal that the twisted magnetic structure of the filament F2 formed in the eruption phase., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Soar filament eruptions are often associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the major impacts on space weather. However, the fine structures and the trigger mechanisms of solar filaments are still unclear. To address these issues, we studied a failed solar active-region filament eruption associated with a C-class flare by using high-resolution H$\alpha$ images from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), supplemented by EUV observations of the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). Before the filament eruption, a small bi-pole magnetic field emerged below the filament. And then magnetic reconnection between the filament and the emerging bi-pole magnetic field triggered the filament eruption. During the filament eruption, the untwisting motion of the filament can be clearly traced by the eruptive threads. Moreover, the foot-points of the eruptive threads are determined by tracing the descending filament materials. Note that the filament twisted structure and the right part of the eruptive filament threads cannot be seen before the filament eruption. These eruptive threads at the right part of the filament are found to be rooting in the weak negative polarities near the main negative sunspot. Moreover, a new filament formed in the filament channel due to material injection from the eruptive filament. The above observations and the potential field extrapolations are inclined to support that the filament materials were transferred into the overlying magnetic loops and the nearby filament channel by magnetic reconnection. These observations shed light on better understanding on the complexity of filament eruptions., Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Soar filament eruptions are often associated with solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the major impacts on space weather. However, the fine structures and the trigger mechanisms of solar filaments are still unclear. To address these issues, we studied a failed solar active-region filament eruption associated with a C-class flare by using high-resolution H$\alpha$ images from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), supplemented by EUV observations of the Solar Dynamical Observatory (SDO). Before the filament eruption, a small bi-pole magnetic field emerged below the filament. And then magnetic reconnection between the filament and the emerging bi-pole magnetic field triggered the filament eruption. During the filament eruption, the untwisting motion of the filament can be clearly traced by the eruptive threads. Moreover, the foot-points of the eruptive threads are determined by tracing the descending filament materials. Note that the filament twisted structure and the right part of the eruptive filament threads cannot be seen before the filament eruption. These eruptive threads at the right part of the filament are found to be rooting in the weak negative polarities near the main negative sunspot. Moreover, a new filament formed in the filament channel due to material injection from the eruptive filament. The above observations and the potential field extrapolations are inclined to support that the filament materials were transferred into the overlying magnetic loops and the nearby filament channel by magnetic reconnection. These observations shed light on better understanding on the complexity of filament eruptions., Comment: 20 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present a clear case study on the occurrence of two successive X-class flares including a decade-class flare (X9.3) and two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) triggered by shearing motion and sunspot rotation in active region NOAA 12673 on 2017 September 6. A shearing motion between the main sunspots with opposite polarities started on September 5 and even lasted after the second X-class flare on September 6. Moreover, the main sunspot with negative polarity rotated around its umbral center and another main sunspot with positive polarity also exhibited a slow rotation. The sunspot with negative polarity at the northwest of active region also began to rotate counter-clockwise before the onset of the first X-class flare. The successive formation and eruption of two S-shaped structures were closely related to the counter-clockwise rotation of three sunspots. It is also found that the rotation of sunspots is faster during four hours prior to the onset of the flares than the period before. The existence of a flux rope is found prior to the onset of two flares by using non-linear force free field extrapolation based on the vector magnetograms observed by SDO/HMI. These results suggest that shearing motion and sunspot rotation play an important role in the buildup of the free energy and the formation of flux ropes in the corona which produces solar flares and CMEs., Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, ApJ

In this letter, we present a spectacular eruptive flare (X8.2) associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2017 September 10 at the west limb of the Sun. A flux rope eruption is followed by the inflow, the formation of a current sheet and a cusp structure, which were simultaneously observed during the occurrence of this flare. The hierarchical layers of the cusp-shaped structure are well observed in 131 \AA\ observation. The scenario that can be created from these observations is very consistent with the predictions of some eruptive models. Except for the characteristics mentioned above in the process of the flare predicted by classical eruption models, the current sheet separating into several small current sheets is also observed at the final stage of the flux rope eruption. The quantitative calculation of the velocities and accelerations of the inflow, hot cusp structure, and post-flare loops is presented. The width of the current sheet is estimated to be about 3 $\times$ $10^{3}$ km. These observations are very useful to understand the process of solar eruptions., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

We present a clear case study on the occurrence of two successive X-class flares including a decade-class flare (X9.3) and two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) triggered by shearing motion and sunspot rotation in active region NOAA 12673 on 2017 September 6. A shearing motion between the main sunspots with opposite polarities started on September 5 and even lasted after the second X-class flare on September 6. Moreover, the main sunspot with negative polarity rotated around its umbral center and another main sunspot with positive polarity also exhibited a slow rotation. The sunspot with negative polarity at the northwest of active region also began to rotate counter-clockwise before the onset of the first X-class flare. The successive formation and eruption of two S-shaped structures were closely related to the counter-clockwise rotation of three sunspots. It is also found that the rotation of sunspots is faster during four hours prior to the onset of the flares than the period before. The existence of a flux rope is found prior to the onset of two flares by using non-linear force free field extrapolation based on the vector magnetograms observed by SDO/HMI. These results suggest that shearing motion and sunspot rotation play an important role in the buildup of the free energy and the formation of flux ropes in the corona which produces solar flares and CMEs., Comment: 28 pages, 12 figures, ApJ

In this letter, we present a spectacular eruptive flare (X8.2) associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2017 September 10 at the west limb of the Sun. A flux rope eruption is followed by the inflow, the formation of a current sheet and a cusp structure, which were simultaneously observed during the occurrence of this flare. The hierarchical layers of the cusp-shaped structure are well observed in 131 \AA\ observation. The scenario that can be created from these observations is very consistent with the predictions of some eruptive models. Except for the characteristics mentioned above in the process of the flare predicted by classical eruption models, the current sheet separating into several small current sheets is also observed at the final stage of the flux rope eruption. The quantitative calculation of the velocities and accelerations of the inflow, hot cusp structure, and post-flare loops is presented. The width of the current sheet is estimated to be about 3 $\times$ $10^{3}$ km. These observations are very useful to understand the process of solar eruptions., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJL

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most powerful explosions in the Sun. They are major sources of potentially destructive space weather conditions. However, the possible causes of their initiation remain controversial. By using high resolution data observed by NST of BBSO, supplemented by Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observations, we present unusual observations of a small-scale emerging flux rope near a large sunspot, whose eruption produced an M-class flare and a coronal mass ejection. The presence of the small-scale flux rope was indicated by static nonlinear force free field (NLFFF) extrapolation as well as data-driven MHD modeling of the dynamic evolution of the coronal 3D magnetic field. During the emergence of the flux rope, rotation of satellite sunspots at the footpoints of the flux rope was observed. Meanwhile, the Lorentz force, magnetic energy, vertical current, and transverse fields were increasing during this phase. The free energy from the magnetic flux emergence and twisting magnetic fields is sufficient to power the M-class flare. These observations for the first time present the complete process from the emergence of the small-scale flux rope to the production of solar eruptions., Comment: 26 pages,7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are the most powerful explosions in the Sun. They are major sources of potentially destructive space weather conditions. However, the possible causes of their initiation remain controversial. By using high resolution data observed by NST of BBSO, supplemented by Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observations, we present unusual observations of a small-scale emerging flux rope near a large sunspot, whose eruption produced an M-class flare and a coronal mass ejection. The presence of the small-scale flux rope was indicated by static nonlinear force free field (NLFFF) extrapolation as well as data-driven MHD modeling of the dynamic evolution of the coronal 3D magnetic field. During the emergence of the flux rope, rotation of satellite sunspots at the footpoints of the flux rope was observed. Meanwhile, the Lorentz force, magnetic energy, vertical current, and transverse fields were increasing during this phase. The free energy from the magnetic flux emergence and twisting magnetic fields is sufficient to power the M-class flare. These observations for the first time present the complete process from the emergence of the small-scale flux rope to the production of solar eruptions., Comment: 26 pages,7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present a detailed study of the formation of an inverse S-shaped filament prior to its eruption in active region NOAA 11884 from October 31 to November 2, 2013. In the initial stage, clockwise rotation of a small positive sunspot around the main negative trailing sunspot formed a curved filament. Then the small sunspot cancelled with negative magnetic flux to create a longer active-region filament with an inverse S-shape. At the cancellation site a brightening was observed in UV and EUV images and bright material was transferred to the filament. Later the filament erupted after cancellation of two opposite polarities under the upper part of the filament. Nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolation of vector photospheric fields suggests that the filament may have a twisted structure, but this cannot be confirmed from the current observations., Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

We present a detailed study of the formation of an inverse S-shaped filament prior to its eruption in active region NOAA 11884 from October 31 to November 2, 2013. In the initial stage, clockwise rotation of a small positive sunspot around the main negative trailing sunspot formed a curved filament. Then the small sunspot cancelled with negative magnetic flux to create a longer active-region filament with an inverse S-shape. At the cancellation site a brightening was observed in UV and EUV images and bright material was transferred to the filament. Later the filament erupted after cancellation of two opposite polarities under the upper part of the filament. Nonlinear force-free field (NLFFF) extrapolation of vector photospheric fields suggests that the filament may have a twisted structure, but this cannot be confirmed from the current observations., Comment: 26 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Study on the small-scale structures and material flows of solar quiescent filaments is very important for understanding the formation and equilibrium of solar filaments. Using the high resolution H{\alpha} data observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), we present the structures of the barbs and the material flows along the threads across the spine in two quiescent filaments on 2013 September 29 and on 2012 November 2, respectively. During the evolution of the filament barb, several parallel tube-shaped structures formed and the width of the structures ranges from about 2.3 Mm to 3.3 Mm. The parallel tube-shaped structures merged together accompanied with the material flows from the spine to the barb. Moreover, the boundary between the barb and surrounding atmosphere is very neat. The counter-streaming flows were not found to appear alternately in the adjacent threads of the filament. However, the large-scale patchy counter-streaming flows are detected in the filament. The flows in one patch of the filament have the same direction and the flows in the adjacent patch have opposite directions. The patches of two opposite flows with a size of about ten arcseconds exhibited alternately along the spine of the filament. The velocity of these material flows ranges from 5.6 km/s to 15.0 km/s. The material flows along the threads of the filament did not change their direction for about two hours and fourteen minutes during the evolution of the filament. Our results confirm that the large-scale counter-streaming flows with the certain width along the threads of solar filaments exist and are well coaligned with the threads., Comment: 12 pages,5 figures, Accepted for publication in RAA

Study on the small-scale structures and material flows of solar quiescent filaments is very important for understanding the formation and equilibrium of solar filaments. Using the high resolution H{\alpha} data observed by the New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST), we present the structures of the barbs and the material flows along the threads across the spine in two quiescent filaments on 2013 September 29 and on 2012 November 2, respectively. During the evolution of the filament barb, several parallel tube-shaped structures formed and the width of the structures ranges from about 2.3 Mm to 3.3 Mm. The parallel tube-shaped structures merged together accompanied with the material flows from the spine to the barb. Moreover, the boundary between the barb and surrounding atmosphere is very neat. The counter-streaming flows were not found to appear alternately in the adjacent threads of the filament. However, the large-scale patchy counter-streaming flows are detected in the filament. The flows in one patch of the filament have the same direction and the flows in the adjacent patch have opposite directions. The patches of two opposite flows with a size of about ten arcseconds exhibited alternately along the spine of the filament. The velocity of these material flows ranges from 5.6 km/s to 15.0 km/s. The material flows along the threads of the filament did not change their direction for about two hours and fourteen minutes during the evolution of the filament. Our results confirm that the large-scale counter-streaming flows with the certain width along the threads of solar filaments exist and are well coaligned with the threads., Comment: 12 pages,5 figures, Accepted for publication in RAA

To better understand the structures of active-region filaments and the eruption process, we study an active-region filament eruption in active region NOAA 11082 in detail on June 22, 2010. Before the filament eruption, the opposite unidirectional material flows appeared in succession along the spine of the filament. The rising of the filament triggered two B-class flares at the upper part of the filament. As the bright material was injected into the filament from the sites of the flares, the filament exhibited a rapid uplift accompanying the counterclockwise rotation of the filament body. From the expansion of the filament, we can see that the filament is consisted of twisted magnetic field lines. The total twist of the filament is at least 5$\pi$ obtained by using time slice method. According to the morphology change during the filament eruption, it is found that the active-region filament was a twisted flux rope and its unwinding motion was like a solar tornado. We also find that there was a continuous magnetic helicity injection before and during the filament eruption. It is confirmed that magnetic helicity can be transferred from the photosphere to the filament. Using the extrapolated potential fields, the average decay index of the background magnetic fields over the filament is 0.91. Consequently, these findings imply that the mechanism of solar filament eruption could be due to the kink instability and magnetic helicity accumulation., Comment: 26 pages,11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

On 2012 July 11, two solar filaments were observed in the northeast of the solar disk and their eruptions due to the interaction between them are studied by using the data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) and Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). The eastern filament (F1) first erupted toward the northeast. During the eruption of F1, some plasma from F1 fell down and was injected to the North-East part of another filament (F2), and some plasma of F1 fell down to the northern region close to F2 and caused the plasma to brighten. Meanwhile, the North-East part of F2 first started to be active and rise, but did not erupt finally. Then the South-West part of F2 erupted successfully. Therefore, the F2's eruption is a partial filament eruption. Two associated CMEs related to the eruptions were observed by STEREO/COR1. We find two possible reasons that lead to the instability and the eruption of F2. One main reason is that the magnetic loops overlying the two filaments were partially opened by the eruptive F1 and resulted in the instability of F2. The other is that the downflows from F1 might break the stability of F2., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science

To better understand the structures of active-region filaments and the eruption process, we study an active-region filament eruption in active region NOAA 11082 in detail on June 22, 2010. Before the filament eruption, the opposite unidirectional material flows appeared in succession along the spine of the filament. The rising of the filament triggered two B-class flares at the upper part of the filament. As the bright material was injected into the filament from the sites of the flares, the filament exhibited a rapid uplift accompanying the counterclockwise rotation of the filament body. From the expansion of the filament, we can see that the filament is consisted of twisted magnetic field lines. The total twist of the filament is at least 5$\pi$ obtained by using time slice method. According to the morphology change during the filament eruption, it is found that the active-region filament was a twisted flux rope and its unwinding motion was like a solar tornado. We also find that there was a continuous magnetic helicity injection before and during the filament eruption. It is confirmed that magnetic helicity can be transferred from the photosphere to the filament. Using the extrapolated potential fields, the average decay index of the background magnetic fields over the filament is 0.91. Consequently, these findings imply that the mechanism of solar filament eruption could be due to the kink instability and magnetic helicity accumulation., Comment: 26 pages,11 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

On 2012 July 11, two solar filaments were observed in the northeast of the solar disk and their eruptions due to the interaction between them are studied by using the data from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO) and Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). The eastern filament (F1) first erupted toward the northeast. During the eruption of F1, some plasma from F1 fell down and was injected to the North-East part of another filament (F2), and some plasma of F1 fell down to the northern region close to F2 and caused the plasma to brighten. Meanwhile, the North-East part of F2 first started to be active and rise, but did not erupt finally. Then the South-West part of F2 erupted successfully. Therefore, the F2's eruption is a partial filament eruption. Two associated CMEs related to the eruptions were observed by STEREO/COR1. We find two possible reasons that lead to the instability and the eruption of F2. One main reason is that the magnetic loops overlying the two filaments were partially opened by the eruptive F1 and resulted in the instability of F2. The other is that the downflows from F1 might break the stability of F2., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science

Kink instability is a possible mechanism for solar filament eruption. However, the twist of a solar filament is very difficult to directly measure from observation. In this paper, we carried out the measurement of the twist of a solar filament by analyzing its leg rotation. An inverse S-shaped filament in active region NOAA 11485 was observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on 2012 May 22. During its eruption, the leg of the filament exhibited a significant rotation motion. The 304 \AA\ images were used to uncurl along the circles, whose centers are the axis of the filament's leg. The result shows that the leg of the filament rotated up to about 510 degrees (about 2.83$\pi$) around the axis of the filament within twenty-three minutes. The maximal rotation speed reached 100 degrees per minute (about 379.9 km/s at radius 18$^\prime$$^\prime$), which is the fastest rotation speed that has been reported. We also calculated the decay index along the polarity inversion line in this active region and found that the decline of the overlying field with height is not so fast enough to trigger the torus instability. According to the condition of kink instability, it is indicating that the kink instability is the trigger mechanism for the solar filament eruption., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

With the data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we present a magnetic interaction between an isolated coronal hole (CH) and an emerging active region (AR). The AR emerged nearby the CH and interacted with it. Bright loops constantly formed between them, which led to a continuous retreat of the CH boundaries (CHBs). Meanwhile, two coronal dimmings respectively appeared at the negative polarity of the AR and the east boundary of the bright loops, and the AR was partly disturbed. Loop eruptions followed by a flare occurred in the AR. The interaction was also accompanied by many jets and an arc-shaped brightening that appeared to be observational signatures of magnetic reconnection at the CHBs. By comparing the observations with the derived coronal magnetic configuration, it is suggested that the interaction between the CH and the AR excellently fitted in with the model of interchange reconnection. It appears that our observations provide obvious evidences for interchange reconnection., Comment: 10 pages,5 figures, Accepted for pulication in RAA

Kink instability is a possible mechanism for solar filament eruption. However, the twist of a solar filament is very difficult to directly measure from observation. In this paper, we carried out the measurement of the twist of a solar filament by analyzing its leg rotation. An inverse S-shaped filament in active region NOAA 11485 was observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) of Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) on 2012 May 22. During its eruption, the leg of the filament exhibited a significant rotation motion. The 304 \AA\ images were used to uncurl along the circles, whose centers are the axis of the filament's leg. The result shows that the leg of the filament rotated up to about 510 degrees (about 2.83$\pi$) around the axis of the filament within twenty-three minutes. The maximal rotation speed reached 100 degrees per minute (about 379.9 km/s at radius 18$^\prime$$^\prime$), which is the fastest rotation speed that has been reported. We also calculated the decay index along the polarity inversion line in this active region and found that the decline of the overlying field with height is not so fast enough to trigger the torus instability. According to the condition of kink instability, it is indicating that the kink instability is the trigger mechanism for the solar filament eruption., Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

With the data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we present a magnetic interaction between an isolated coronal hole (CH) and an emerging active region (AR). The AR emerged nearby the CH and interacted with it. Bright loops constantly formed between them, which led to a continuous retreat of the CH boundaries (CHBs). Meanwhile, two coronal dimmings respectively appeared at the negative polarity of the AR and the east boundary of the bright loops, and the AR was partly disturbed. Loop eruptions followed by a flare occurred in the AR. The interaction was also accompanied by many jets and an arc-shaped brightening that appeared to be observational signatures of magnetic reconnection at the CHBs. By comparing the observations with the derived coronal magnetic configuration, it is suggested that the interaction between the CH and the AR excellently fitted in with the model of interchange reconnection. It appears that our observations provide obvious evidences for interchange reconnection., Comment: 10 pages,5 figures, Accepted for pulication in RAA