What the study found
The study found that solar prominences, which are cool and dense plasma structures in the hot solar corona, can form self-consistently in three-dimensional simulations. The simulated prominences had properties that qualitatively matched observed prominences.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that dynamics at and below the solar surface are important for the formation and evolution of solar prominences. They suggest that subsurface dynamics should also be considered when studying prominence eruptions, which can be associated with coronal mass ejections.
What the researchers tested
The researchers performed comprehensive fully three-dimensional numerical simulations of prominence formation, including the physics needed to describe all atmospheric layers of the Sun. They used appropriate initial conditions for the magnetic field and followed how prominences developed in the simulations.
What worked and what didn't
With suitable magnetic-field initial conditions, prominences formed in the simulations without being imposed by hand. Formation began with the random ejection of a dense plasma seed from the chromosphere into the corona, and the prominence was then built up by plasma injections from the chromosphere and condensation of inflowing coronal plasma. The abstract does not describe cases that failed or did not form prominences.
What to keep in mind
The summary does not describe detailed limitations, uncertainty estimates, or validation procedures beyond a qualitative match to observed prominences. It also does not say how broadly the results apply beyond the simulated conditions.
Key points
- Three-dimensional simulations produced solar prominences self-consistently.
- Formation started with a random ejection of a dense plasma seed from the chromosphere.
- The prominence grew through chromospheric plasma injections and condensation of coronal plasma.
- The simulated prominences qualitatively matched observations.
- The authors say dynamics at and below the solar surface are important to prominence evolution.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Simulations reproduce solar prominence formation
- Authors:
- Lisa-Marie Zessner, R. H. Cameron, Sami K. Solanki, Damien Przybylski
- Institutions:
- Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research
- Publication date:
- 2026-04-22
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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