A Solar Magnetic-fan Flaring Arch Heated by Nonthermal Particles and Hot Plasma from an X-Ray Jet Eruption

Abstract

Abstract We have investigated an M1.3 limb flare, which develops as a magnetic loop/arch that fans out from an X-ray jet. Using Hinode/EIS, we found that the temperature increases with height to a value of over 107 K at the loop top during the flare. The measured Doppler velocity (redshifts of 100–500 km s−1) and the nonthermal velocity (≥100 km s−1) from Fe xxiv also increase with loop height. The electron density increases from 0.3 × 109 cm−3 early in the flare rise to 1.3 × 109 cm−3 after the flare peak. The 3D structure of the loop derived with Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory/EUV Imager indicates that the strong redshift in the loop-top region is due to upflowing plasma originating from the jet. Both hard X-ray and soft X-ray emission from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager were only seen as footpoint brightenings during the impulsive phase of the flare, then, soft X-ray emission moved to the loop top in the decay phase. Based on the temperature and density measurements and theoretical cooling models, the temperature evolution of the flare arch is consistent with impulsive heating during the jet eruption followed by conductive cooling via evaporation and minor prolonged heating in the top of the fan loop. Investigating the magnetic field topology and squashing factor map from Solar Dynamics Observatory/HMI, we conclude that the observed magnetic-fan flaring arch is mostly heated from low atmospheric reconnection accompanying the jet ejection, instead of from reconnection above the arch as expected in the standard flare model.