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SDO/AIA Detection of Solar Prominence Formation within a Coronal Cavity

We report the first analyses of SDO/AIA observations of the formation of a quiescent polar crown prominence in a coronal cavity. The He II 304 Å (log T_{max} ~ 4.8 K) data show both the gradual disappearance of the prominence due to vertical drainage and lateral transport of plasma followed by the formation of a new prominence some 12 hours later. The formation of the prominence is preceded by the appearance of a bright emission "cloud" in the central region of the coronal cavity. The peak brightness of the cloud progressively shifts in time from the Fe XIV 211 Å channel, through the Fe XII 193 Å channel, to the Fe IX 171 Å channel (log T_{max} ~ 6.2, 6.1, 5.8 K, respectively) while simultaneously decreasing in altitude. Filter ratio analysis estimates the initial temperature of the cloud in the cavity to be approximately log T \sim 6.25 K with evidence of cooling over time. The subsequent growth of the prominence is accompanied by darkening of the cavity in the 211 Å channel. The observations imply the possibility of prominence formation via in situ condensation of hot plasma from the coronal cavity, in support of the proposed process of magneto-thermal convection in coronal magnetic flux ropes.