Letter to the Editor

Observations of a rotating macrospicule associated with an X-ray jet

¹ Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (MPS), Max-Planck-Str. 2, 37191 Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany e-mail: skamio@spd.aas.org
² School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi 446-701, Korea

Received: 9 September 2009
Accepted: 8 January 2010

Abstract

Aims. We attempt to understand the driving mechanism of a macrospicule and its relationship with a coronal jet.

Methods. We study the dynamics of a macrospicule and an associated coronal jet captured by multi-spacecraft observations. Doppler velocities in both the macrospicule and the coronal jet are determined by EIS and SUMER spectra. Their temporal evolution is studied using X-ray and λ304 images.

Results. A blueshift of  km s^-1 is detected on one side of the macrospicule, while a redshift of  km s^-1 is found at the base of the other side. The inclination angle of the macrospicule inferred from a stereoscopic analysis with STEREO suggests that the measured Doppler velocities can be attributed to a rotating motion of the macrospicule rather than a radial flow or an expansion.

Conclusions. The macrospicule is driven by the unfolding motion of a twisted magnetic flux rope, while the associated X-ray jet is a radial outflow.