Brightenings Associated with Falling Filament Material

Abstract:

Solar filaments exhibit a range of eruptive-like dynamic activity, including in some cases the confined or 'failed' ejection of prominence material from the solar atmosphere. In rare cases material that fails to erupt exhibits a strong interaction with the lower corona as the material returns to the solar surface, observed as substantial broadband brightening of EUV emission. We investigate a selection of recent partial prominence eruptions in order to understand the apparent rarity of the brightening phenomenon. Using combined data from SDO/AIA and STEREO, we explore the energetics and kinematics of these events, assessing the likely conditions of both the corona and the prominence material that are required in order to explain these EUV brightenings. We further demonstrate the potential of this phenomenon as diagnostic tool for both prominence material conditions and the coronal magnetic field.