Coronal mass ejection dynamics regarding radial and expansion speeds

Abstract

A new technique for the detection of coronal mass ejection (CME) speeds using image processing was applied. This technique permits us to determine the CME dynamics: radial and expansion distances, velocities, and accelerations. The CME dynamics is determined by the selection of a radial direction in a given Large Angle and Spectroscopic Coronagraph image, which starts just before the occulter (close to the center) and extends to the extremity of the image. By taking a series of images and extracting the same radial direction, it is possible to have a time history of any moving feature along this direction. This technique allows us to choose the number of directions that is used in the CME detection to determine its dynamics. This paper presents the results for the dynamical features (radial and expansion) of five CME events observed on 1999 February 5, 2001 February 2, 2002 March 1, 2003 December 2, and 2007 December 31. © 2011. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.