Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares

Details Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares

2011-04-18

arxiv.org/abs/1104.3593v1

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Solar and Stellar Astrophysics

24 pages, 6 figures

Scientific paper

n order to better understand the solar genesis of interplanetary magnetic clouds (MCs) we model the magnetic and topological properties of four large eruptive solar flares and relate them to observations. We use the three-dimensional Minimum Current Corona model \cite{Longcope1996d} and observations of pre-flare photospheric magnetic field and flare ribbons to derive values of reconnected magnetic flux, flare energy, flux rope helicity and orientation of the flux rope poloidal field. We compare model predictions of those quantities to flare and MC observations and within the estimated uncertainties of the methods used find the following. The predicted model reconnection fluxes are equal to or lower than the reconnection fluxes inferred from the observed ribbon motions. Both observed and model reconnection fluxes match the MC poloidal fluxes. The predicted flux rope helicities match the MC helicities. The predicted free energies lie between the observed energies and the estimated total flare luminosities. The direction of the leading edge of the MC's poloidal field is aligned with the poloidal field of the flux rope in the AR rather than the global dipole field. These findings compel us to believe that magnetic clouds associated with these four solar flares are formed by low-corona magnetic reconnection during the eruption, rather than eruption of pre-existing structures in the corona or formation in the upper corona with participation of the global magnetic field. We also note that since all four flares occurred in active regions without significant pre-flare flux emergence and cancellation, the energy and helicity we find are stored by shearing and rotating motions, which are sufficient to account for the observed radiative flare energy and MC helicity.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

No associations

Rating

Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Predictions of energy and helicity in four major eruptive solar flares will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-182005