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Author

M. J. Koomen

Bio: M. J. Koomen is an academic researcher from United States Naval Research Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Coronal mass ejection & Corona. The author has an hindex of 27, co-authored 69 publications receiving 7529 citations.


Papers
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) is a triple coronagraph being jointly developed for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) is a triple coronagraph being jointly developed for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission LASCO comprises three nested coronagraphs (C1, C2, and C3) that image the solar corona for 11 to 30 solar radii (C1: 11 to 3 solar radii, C2: 15 to 6 solar radii, and C3: 3 to 300 solar radii) The inner coronagraph (C1) is a newly developed mirror version of the classic Lyot coronagraph without an external occultor, while the middle coronagraph (C2) and the outer coronagraph (C3) are externally occulted instruments High resolution coronal spectroscopy from 11 to 3 R solar radii can be performed by using a Fabry-Perot interferometer, which is part of C1 High volume memories and a high speed microprocessor enable extensive onboard image processing Image compression by factors of 10 to 20 will result in the transmission of 10 to 20 full images per hour

2,476 citations

Book ChapterDOI
TL;DR: The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) is a three coronagraph package which has been jointly developed for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission by the Naval Research Laboratory (USA), the Laboratoire d'Astronomie Spatiale (France), the Max-Planck-Institut fur Aeronomie (Germany), and the University of Birmingham (UK) as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) is a three coronagraph package which has been jointly developed for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission by the Naval Research Laboratory (USA), the Laboratoire d’Astronomie Spatiale (France), the Max-Planck-Institut fur Aeronomie (Germany), and the University of Birmingham (UK) LASCO comprises three coronagraphs, C1, C2, and C3, that together image the solar corona from 11 to 30 R⊙ (C1: 11–3 R⊙, C2: 15–6 R⊙, and C3: 37 – 30 R⊙) The C1 coronagraph is a newly developed mirror version of the classic internally-occulted Lyot coronagraph, while the C2 and C3 coronagraphs are externally occulted instruments High-resolution imaging spectroscopy of the corona from 11 to 3 R⊙ can be performed with the Fabry-Perot interferometer in C1 High-volume memories and a high-speed microprocessor enable extensive on-board image processing Image compression by a factor of about 10 will result in the transmission of 10 full images per hour

1,756 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors tracked the birth and outflow of 50-100 of the most prominent moving coronal features and found that they originate about 3-4 R☉ from Sun center as radially elongated structures above the cusps of helmet streamers.
Abstract: Time-lapse sequences of white-light images, obtained during sunspot minimum conditions in 1996 by the Large Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, give the impression of a continuous outflow of material in the streamer belt, as if we were observing Thomson scattering from inhomogeneities in the solar wind. Pursuing this idea, we have tracked the birth and outflow of 50-100 of the most prominent moving coronal features and find that: 1. They originate about 3-4 R☉ from Sun center as radially elongated structures above the cusps of helmet streamers. Their initial sizes are about 1 R☉ in the radial direction and 0.1 R☉ in the transverse direction. 2. They move radially outward, maintaining constant angular spans and increasing their lengths in rough accord with their speeds, which typically double from 150 km s-1 near 5 R☉ to 300 km s-1 near 25 R☉. 3. Their individual speed profiles v(r) cluster around a nearly parabolic path characterized by a constant acceleration of about 4 m s-2 through most of the 30 R☉ field of view. This profile is consistent with an isothermal solar wind expansion at a temperature of about 1.1 MK and a sonic point near 5 R☉. Based on their relatively small initial sizes, low intensities, radial motions, slow but increasing speeds, and location in the streamer belt, we conclude that these moving features are passively tracing the outflow of the slow solar wind.

570 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors report the properties of all the 841 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed by the SOHO Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) C2 and C3 white-light coronagraphs from January 1996 through June 1998, and compare those properties to previous observations by other similar instruments.
Abstract: We report the properties of all the 841 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed by the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Large Angle Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO) C2 and C3 white-light coronagraphs from January 1996 through June 1998, and we compare those properties to previous observations by other similar instruments Both the CME rate and the distribution of apparent locations of CMEs varied during this period as expected based on previous solar cycles The distribution of apparent speeds and the fraction of CMEs showing acceleration were also in agreement with earlier reports The pointing stability provided by an L-1 orbit and the use of CCD detectors have resulted in superior brightness sensitivity for LASCO over earlier coronagraphs; however, we have not detected a significant population of fainter (ie, low mass) CMEs The general shape of the distribution of apparent sizes for LASCO CMEs is similar to those of earlier reports, but the average (median) apparent size of 72° (50°) is significantly larger The larger average apparent size is predominantly the result of the detection of a population of partial and complete halo CMEs, at least some of which appear to be events with a significant longitudinal component directed along the Sun-Earth line, either toward or away from the Earth Using full disk solar images obtained by the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) on SOHO, we found that 40 out of 92 of these events might have been directed toward the Earth, and we compared the timing of those with the Kp geomagnetic storm index in the days following the CME Although the “false alarm” rate was high, we found that 15 out of 21 (71%) of the Kp ≥ 6 storms could be accounted for as SOHO LASCO/EIT frontside halo CMEs If we eliminate three Kp storms that occurred following LASCO/EIT data gaps, then the possible association rate was 15 out of 18 (83%)

505 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An overview of observations of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during the interval March 28, 1979 through December 31, 1981 is presented in this paper, where an introduction is provided to the instrument used in the observations, the method of identifying CMEs, the concepts of CME structural classes, CME importance categories, and the distribution of mass ejection among these classes and categories.
Abstract: An overview of observations of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) during the interval March 28, 1979 through December 31, 1981 is presented. An introduction is first provided to the instrument used in the observations, the method of identifying CMEs, the concepts of CME structural classes, CME importance categories, and the distribution of mass ejections among these classes and categories. The properties of CMEs are given for all mass ejections regardless of their structural classes or importance categories, and then for each class and category. After a brief discussion of the instrument duty cycle, the occurrence rate is presented for all CMEs and for major CMEs, for fast CMEs only, and finally for equatorial CMEs only. The results are compared to those obtained previously.

473 citations


Cited by
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) is a five telescope package, which has been developed for the Solar Terrestrial Relation Observatory (STEREO) mission.
Abstract: The Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) is a five telescope package, which has been developed for the Solar Terrestrial Relation Observatory (STEREO) mission by the Naval Research Laboratory (USA), the Lockheed Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (USA), the Goddard Space Flight Center (USA), the University of Birmingham (UK), the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK), the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (Germany), the Centre Spatiale de Leige (Belgium), the Institut d’Optique (France) and the Institut d’Astrophysique Spatiale (France). SECCHI comprises five telescopes, which together image the solar corona from the solar disk to beyond 1 AU. These telescopes are: an extreme ultraviolet imager (EUVI: 1–1.7 R⊙), two traditional Lyot coronagraphs (COR1: 1.5–4 R⊙ and COR2: 2.5–15 R⊙) and two new designs of heliospheric imagers (HI-1: 15–84 R⊙ and HI-2: 66–318 R⊙). All the instruments use 2048×2048 pixel CCD arrays in a backside-in mode. The EUVI backside surface has been specially processed for EUV sensitivity, while the others have an anti-reflection coating applied. A multi-tasking operating system, running on a PowerPC CPU, receives commands from the spacecraft, controls the instrument operations, acquires the images and compresses them for downlink through the main science channel (at compression factors typically up to 20×) and also through a low bandwidth channel to be used for space weather forecasting (at compression factors up to 200×). An image compression factor of about 10× enable the collection of images at the rate of about one every 2–3 minutes. Identical instruments, except for different sizes of occulters, are included on the STEREO-A and STEREO-B spacecraft.

1,781 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The twin STEREO spacecraft were launched on October 26, 2006, at 00:52 UT from Kennedy Space Center aboard a Delta 7925 launch vehicle to understand the causes and mechanisms of coronal mass ejection (CME) initiation and follow the propagation of CMEs through the inner heliosphere to Earth as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The twin STEREO spacecraft were launched on October 26, 2006, at 00:52 UT from Kennedy Space Center aboard a Delta 7925 launch vehicle. After a series of highly eccentric Earth orbits with apogees beyond the moon, each spacecraft used close flybys of the moon to escape into orbits about the Sun near 1 AU. Once in heliospheric orbit, one spacecraft trails Earth while the other leads. As viewed from the Sun, the two spacecraft separate at approximately 44 to 45 degrees per year. The purposes of the STEREO Mission are to understand the causes and mechanisms of coronal mass ejection (CME) initiation and to follow the propagation of CMEs through the inner heliosphere to Earth. Researchers will use STEREO measurements to study the mechanisms and sites of energetic particle acceleration and to develop three-dimensional (3-D) time-dependent models of the magnetic topology, temperature, density and velocity of the solar wind between the Sun and Earth. To accomplish these goals, each STEREO spacecraft is equipped with an almost identical set of optical, radio and in situ particles and fields instruments provided by U.S. and European investigators. The SECCHI suite of instruments includes two white light coronagraphs, an extreme ultraviolet imager and two heliospheric white light imagers which track CMEs out to 1 AU. The IMPACT suite of instruments measures in situ solar wind electrons, energetic electrons, protons and heavier ions. IMPACT also includes a magnetometer to measure the in situ magnetic field strength and direction. The PLASTIC instrument measures the composition of heavy ions in the ambient plasma as well as protons and alpha particles. The S/WAVES instrument uses radio waves to track the location of CME-driven shocks and the 3-D topology of open field lines along which flow particles produced by solar flares. Each of the four instrument packages produce a small real-time stream of selected data for purposes of predicting space weather events at Earth. NOAA forecasters at the Space Environment Center and others will use these data in their space weather forecasting and their resultant products will be widely used throughout the world. In addition to the four instrument teams, there is substantial participation by modeling and theory oriented teams. All STEREO data are freely available through individual Web sites at the four Principal Investigator institutions as well as at the STEREO Science Center located at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

1,579 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a magnetic breakout model for the initiation of a solar coronal mass ejection (CME) was proposed, where reconnection between a sheared arcade and neighboring flux systems triggers the eruption.
Abstract: We propose a new model for the initiation of a solar coronal mass ejection (CME). The model agrees with two properties of CMEs and eruptive flares that have proved to be very difficult to explain with previous models: (1) very low-lying magnetic field lines, down to the photospheric neutral line, can open toward infinity during an eruption; and (2) the eruption is driven solely by magnetic free energy stored in a closed, sheared arcade. Consequently, the magnetic energy of the closed state is well above that of the posteruption open state. The key new feature of our model is that CMEs occur in multipolar topologies in which reconnection between a sheared arcade and neighboring flux systems triggers the eruption. In this "magnetic breakout" model, reconnection removes the unsheared field above the low-lying, sheared core flux near the neutral line, thereby allowing this core flux to burst open. We present numerical simulations that demonstrate our model can account for the energy requirements for CMEs. We discuss the implication of the model for CME/flare prediction.

1,476 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors present a summary of the statistical properties of the CMEs, including the apparent central position angle, the angular width in the sky plane, and the height (heliocentric distance) as a function of time.
Abstract: [1] The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) mission's white light coronagraphs have observed nearly 7000 coronal mass ejections (CMEs) between 1996 and 2002. We have documented the measured properties of all these CMEs in an online catalog. We describe this catalog and present a summary of the statistical properties of the CMEs. The primary measurements made on each CME are the apparent central position angle, the angular width in the sky plane, and the height (heliocentric distance) as a function of time. The height-time measurements are then fitted to first- and second-order polynomials to derive the average apparent speed and acceleration of the CMEs. The statistical properties of CMEs are (1) the average width of normal CMEs (20° 900 km s−1) show deceleration. Solar cycle variation and statistical properties of CMEs are revealed with greater clarity in this study as compared with previous studies. Implications of our findings for CME models are discussed.

1,086 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, spatial oscillations of coronal loops were detected in extreme-ultraviolet wavelengths (171 with the T ransition Region and Coronal Explorer, in the tem- Ae ) perature range of MK.
Abstract: We report here, for the —rst time, on spatial oscillations of coronal loops, which were detected in extreme-ultraviolet wavelengths (171 with the T ransition Region and Coronal Explorer, in the tem- Ae ) perature range of MK. The observed loop oscillations occurred during a —are that began at T e B 1.0¨1.5 1998 July 14, 12:55 UT and are most prominent during the —rst 20 minutes. The oscillating loops connect the penumbra of the leading sunspot to the —are site in the trailing portion. We identi—ed —ve oscillating loops with an average length of L \ 130,000 ^ 30,000 km. The transverse amplitude of the oscillations is A \ 4100 ^ 1300 km, and the mean period is T \ 280 ^ 30 s. The oscillation mode appears to be a standing wave mode (with —xed nodes at the footpoints). We investigate diUerent MHD wave modes and —nd that the fast kink mode with a period q \ 205(L /1010 cm~3)1@2 cm)(n e /109 (B/10 G)~1 s provides the best agreement with the observed period. We propose that the onset of loop oscillations in distant locations is triggered by a signal or disturbance that propagates from the central —are site with a radial speed of B700 km s~1. Because the observed loop oscillation periods are compa- rable to photospheric 5 minute oscillations, a resonant coupling between the two systems is possible. We further —nd evidence for global extreme-UV dimming in the entire active region possibly associated with a coronal mass ejection. Subject headings: Sun: coronaSun: —aresSun: oscillationsSun: UV radiation

927 citations