Simulations of Switchback, Fragmentation and Sunspot Pair in δ-Sunspots during Magnetic Flux Emergence

Sensors (Basel). 2021 Jan 15;21(2):586. doi: 10.3390/s21020586.

Abstract

Strong flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), launched from δ-sunspots, are the most catastrophic energy-releasing events in the solar system. The formations of δ-sunspots and relevant polarity inversion lines (PILs) are crucial for the understanding of flare eruptions and CMEs. In this work, the kink-stable, spot-spot-type δ-sunspots induced by flux emergence are simulated, under different subphotospheric initial conditions of magnetic field strength, radius, twist, and depth. The time evolution of various plasma variables of the δ-sunspots are simulated and compared with the observation data, including magnetic bipolar structures, relevant PILs, and temperature. The simulation results show that magnetic polarities display switchbacks at a certain stage and then split into numerous fragments. The simulated fragmentation phenomenon in some δ-sunspots may provide leads for future observations in the field.

Keywords: coronal mass ejection (CME); magnetic flux emergence; polarity inversion line (PIL); solar flare; δ-sunspot.