HR: 09:05h
AN: SH11C-05    [Abstracts]
TI: Testing the Predictions of the Catastrophe Model: Comparisons with Measurements of LASCO Flux Rope CMEs
AU: * Vourlidas, A
EM: vourlidas@nrl.navy.mil
AF: Code 7663, Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave, SW, Washington, DC 20375 United States
AU: Lin, J
EM: jlin@cfa.harvard.edu
AF: Harvard-Simthsonian Center for Astrophysics, 60 Camden Str, Cambridge, MA 02138 United States
AB: The search for the initiation mechanism of coronal mass ejections (CMEs)has led to two classes of models. Those that assume a preexisting magnetic flux rope and those that form such a flux rope during the eruption process. Which of these two classes comes closer to reality can only be found by comparing the model predictions to observed CME properties. Here, we concentrate on the predictions of a preexisting flux rope model (catastrophe model) in Lin et al (2004). Specifically, we compare the evolution of mass, speed and magnetic energy of the CME as predicted in the model to similar measurements/estimates of flux rope CMEs seen by the LASCO coronagraphs. We find interesting similarities between predictions and observations and we discuss the implications for improvements to the model. Ref: Lin, J. et al, ApJ, 602, 422, 2004
DE: 7509 Corona
DE: 7513 Coronal mass ejections (2101)
DE: 7524 Magnetic fields
DE: 7526 Magnetic reconnection (2723, 7835)
SC: SPA-Solar and Heliospheric Physics [SH]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005