Three-dimensional Reconstruction and Propagation of an Asymmetric Flux-rope Coronal Mass Ejection

Abstract

We report on the characterization of a coronal mass ejection (CME) observed on 22 October 2003 by the LASCO-C2 and C3 coronagraphs over a time interval of 6 hours. This CME clearly appears as an asymmetric flux-rope in self-similar expansion and in spite of having a single vantage point, this relatively simple morphology and the geometry of the observations allow us to reconstruct its shape and its trajectory. The images are first processed in order to remove most of the background or foreground coronal structures (essentially streamers) which are superimposed on the CME. The analysis is based on forward modeling of an asymmetric structure where the plasma is homogeneously distributed in a thin shell and synthetic images are calculated from Thomson scattering by the electrons. They are best fitted to the images to determine the exact shape of the flux rope, and to track its evolution characterized by a radial propagation in self-similar expansion. The analysis supports the forward propagation (over the backward one) characterized by constant accelerations of 76 and 46 m/sec^2 for the front and rear parts of the CME, respectively. The respective velocities at 20 Rsun reach 2000 and 1100 km/s, and its mass unbiased by projection effects is estimated at 1.7x10^16 g. Altogether, these are quite exceptionally large values among CMEs and imply a very energetic event. No erupting event could be identified at or near the calculated initial location of the CME. It lies 25{\deg} west of the active region NOAA 10484, the site of contemporary, violent, and recurrent solar eruptions (the ``Halloween event'') and a putative connection would require a strong deflection over a very short path. Therefore, the origin of this CME remains unclear.