Diagnostic of solar eruptive prominences

Zhang, Yong (2026) Diagnostic of solar eruptive prominences. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Solar prominences are fundamental structures in solar and heliospheric physics whose complex thermodynamic states and dynamic evolution pose ongoing diagnostic challenges. The emergence of modern imaging and spectroscopic instruments now permits detailed multi-wavelength analyses of prominences, enabling improved constraints on temperature, density, and velocity and offering pathways to link observable signatures with underlying physical parameters.

This work focuses the diagnosis of eruptive prominences by integrating multi-instrument observations with modelling. We address key questions on plasma properties of eruptive prominences through case studies of two major events, employing novel techniques to explore parameter relationships. Using parameter ranges constrained by observations, we generate parameter maps of key parameters, demonstrating a pathway to more robust, quantitative prominence diagnostics.

In Chapter 1, we summarise prominence morphology, typical thermodynamic properties, and magnetic field structure. We outline theoretical aspects of prominence physics and radiative transfer, including the use of 1D non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) modelling, and provide a detailed description of the principal observatories and imaging/spectroscopic channels exploited in the thesis (Solar Orbiter, STEREO, GONG).

In Chapter 2, we analyse the 2023 April 15 prominence eruption and introduce a novel method to estimate radial velocity from 2D image sequences. The method is demonstrated using coordinated SPICE, EUI, EUVI and ground-based Hα observations.

In Chapter 3, we use parallel coordinate visualisation to explore how plasma parameters, such as surface temperature, column mass and temperature gradient, influence the integrated intensities of the H Lyman β and Lyman γ lines in the 2023 April 15 prominence eruption event. We also combine the correlation coefficient and the elasticity coefficient, which highlights parameter sensitivities, to helps identify the most important parameters.

In Chapter 4, we introduce and apply a methodology to constraint parameter that combines NLTE modelling with observational constraints to produce spatially resolved parameter maps. Using SPICE full-disc mosaic observations from April 15, 2023 as the input of incident radiation, we construct maps of key parameters and then perform a comprehensive analysis of relations among parameters and spectral lines.

In Chapter 5, we perform an observational case study of the 2022 February 15 prominence eruption. Using EUI/FSI 304A and EUVI-A 171/195A imaging, we characterise the morphology and temporal evolution of this prominence during the eruption, and apply filter-ratio techniques to estimate plasma temperatures. We also use parallel coordinate plots to analyse how plasma parameters affect properties of He II 304 A line. We explore how collisional excitation and scattering play roles in the formation of He II 304 A line.

In Chapter 6, we summarise the major results of the thesis and outline prospects for future work, including improvements to inversion strategies and the exploitation of forthcoming instrumentation.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: Q Science > QB Astronomy
• Colleges/Schools: College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy
• Funder's Name: China Scholarship Council
• Supervisor's Name: Labrosse, Professor Nicolas
• Date of Award: 2026
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2026-86209
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 07 Sep 2026 13:06
• Last Modified: 07 Sep 2026 13:06
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.86209
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/86209