Modeling the Thermodynamic State of a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) Using
Its Kinematics in the Heliosphere
Abstract
In the past, few studies have attempted to determine some of the
internal properties of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), which were limited
to a certain position or a certain time. For understanding the evolution
of internal thermodynamic state of CMEs during their heliospheric
propagation, we improve the self-similar flux rope internal state (FRIS)
model, which is constrained by measured propagation and expansion speed
profiles of a CME. We implement the FRIS model to a CME erupted on 2008
December 12 and probe the internal state of the CME. We find that the
polytropic index of the CME plasma decreased continuously from 1.8 to
1.35 as the CME propagated out from 6 Rs to 14 Rs, implying that the CME
released heat before it reached adiabatic state and then absorbed heat.
We also estimate the entropy changing and heating rate of the CME. Our
results show that the thermal force inside the CME is the internal
driver of CME expansion while Lorentz force prevented the CME from
expanding. It is noted that centrifugal force originated due to poloidal
motion of the plasma inside the flux rope decreased with fastest rate
and Lorentz force decreased slightly faster than thermal pressure force
as the CME moved away from the Sun. We further extrapolate the internal
thermodynamic properties of the CME up to 1 AU and compare with in situ
observations. The limitations of the model and approximations made in
the study would also be discussed.