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Paper: Observed Magnetic Structure of X-Ray Bright Points from TRACE and MDI
Volume: 184, Third Advances in Solar Physics Euroconference: Magnetic Fields and Oscillations
Page: 81
Authors: Brown, D. S.; Parnell, C.; Deluca, E.; McMullen, R.; Golub, L.
Abstract: From 13th-17th June 1998, TRACE and MDI simultaneously observed the same quiet region of the Sun. From these observations the fascinating and complex structure of x-ray bright points, intense small scale brightenings that occur throughout the solar corona, can be seen in great detail. For the first time, it has been possible to study bright points for their entire lifetime with a cadence of 2 minutes and a temporal resolution of 0.5 arcsecs. One particular bright point which lasted two days exhibited dynamic structural behaviour which became increasingly complex and lead to its sudden eruptive demise. With the use of MDI magnetograms, it is possible to extrapolate the magnetic structure using an analytical constant α force-free approximation. This has been used to help us to explain the topology and behaviour of the bright point. By comparing two of TRACE's Fe lines (FeIX and FeXII) the spatial and temporal temperature and density structure of the bright point has been investigated. This analysis indicates that this bright point is made up of a complex system of dense loops. By understanding the magnetic, temperature and density structure of the bright point, it is hoped that the mechanism by which it is heated can be gained.
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