Large Doppler Shifts in X-Ray Plasma: An Explosive Start to Coronal Mass Ejection
Schwenn, R.; Curdt, W.; Innes, D. E.; Solanki, S.; Stenborg, G.; McKenzie, D. E.
Germany, United States
Abstract
We report observations, taken with the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation spectrometer, of spatially resolved high red and blue Doppler shifts (up to 650 km s-1) from X-ray-emitting plasma in the corona above a flare. The high Doppler shifts are seen minutes after a fast, faint optical front is seen racing through the same part of the corona in images taken with the Mirror Coronagraph for Argentina. The association of the large-scale fast optical emission front with soft X-ray emission and high Doppler shifts suggests plasma heating and acceleration in the wake of a shock.