Study of the magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability in solar quiescent prominences

The launch of the Hinode satellite, with the Solar Optical Telescope, has provided unprecedented images of the fine-scale structure of the solar photosphere and chromosphere. One of the most striking discoveries was that of plumes of hot material that propagate through prominences from large bubbles that form at the prominence base. It has been hypothesized that these observations show the magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability in quiescent prominences and, if this is the case, then the Hinode satellite has observed what is arguably the best example of the magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability that we have in astrophysics.
In this talk I will introduce the observations of these plumes, giving my interpretation of the dynamics observed. Then I will introduce my 3D MHD simulations of the magnetic Rayleigh-Taylor instability in a quiescent prominence model. The results of my simulations highlight the importance of nonlinear interaction of the rising plumes and explain how the dynamics are influenced by the direction of the magnetic field. Finally I will discuss the potential for the observations of these flows to be used to study the internal conditions of the prominence.