Outflows at the edges of active regions: Contribution to solar wind formation?

The formation of the slow solar wind has been debated for many years. In this Letter we show evidence of persistent outflow at the edges of an active region as measured by the EUV Imaging Spectrometer on board Hinode. The Doppler velocity ranged between 20 and 50 km s^-1 and was consistent with a steady flow seen in the X-Ray Telescope. The latter showed steady, pulsing outflowing material and some transverse motions of theloops. We analyze the magnetic field around the active region and produce a coronal magnetic field model. We determine from the latter that the outflow speeds adjusted for line-of-sight effects can reach over 100 km s^-1. We can interpret this outflow as expansion of loops that lie over the active region, which may either reconnect with neighboring large-scale loops or are likely to open to the interplanetary space. This material constitutes atleast part of the slow solar wind. Fil: Harra, L. K.. Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: Sakao, T.. Institute of Space and Astronautical Science; Japón Fil: Mandrini, Cristina Hemilse. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciónes Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio. - Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Astronomía y Física del Espacio; Argentina Fil: Hara, H.. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan; Japón Fil: Imada, S.. National Astronomical Observatory of Japan; Japón Fil: Young, P. R.. Rutherford Appleton Laboratory; Reino Unido Fil: van Driel Gesztelyi, Lidia. Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique. Observatoire de Paris; Francia Fil: Baker, D.. Mullard Space Science Laboratory; Reino Unido