A new explanation for the origin of trans-equatorial loops based on a dynamo model

Abstract

Trans-equatorial loops (TLs) are one of the distinct magnetic structures in the solar corona and have a close relationship to solar activity. We present a systematic study of the origin of TLs linking with the Babcock-Leighton dynamo process based on the model of Chatterjee, Nandy, and Choudhuri (Astron. Astrophys. 427, 1019, 2004). We propose that TLs are visible signatures of poloidal field lines across the equator. The cycle variation of TL lengths obtained by the connectivities of poloidal field lines happens to be roughly in agreement with what one gets by considering the positions of sunspots. This explains why this cycle variation of TL lengths was found to be in conformity with Spörer's law. The active regions always make the poloidal field configuration favorable to form TLs, which causes the conformity. The formation of TLs is a three-dimensional problem, which will require three-dimensional dynamo models for full investigation.