paper

Back Reaction of the Untwisting Solar Corona Scars Sunspots

arXiv:2607.28089 · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aed5294

Abstract

The evolution of magnetic fields in the tenuous solar corona is predominantly governed by the motions of the underlying dense photosphere. Despite, coronal magnetic restructuring driven by magnetic reconnection between interacting coronal fields can sometimes react backwards to change photospheric magnetic fields. However, the mechanism of reactions remains undetermined. Here, we report the discovery of a back-reaction phenomenon: the untwisting of coronal loops that become twisted during reconnection in an eruption results in enhanced currents at the boundary of their footpoint away from the eruption, manifesting as the growth of a sunspot scar. It is revealed to arise from the Alfvenic reverse transfer of magnetic twist from the corona to the lower atmosphere, thanks to joint space observations and a magnetohydrodynamics simulation. These findings provide a viable and quantitative interpretation for the majority of puzzling photospheric changes associated with coronal mass ejections and/or flares and warn for unexpected magnetic field evolutions in sunspots and starspots.

arXiv comment37 pages, 9 figures; published in Science Advances

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