Imaging and Spectroscopic Observations of the Dynamic Processes in Limb Solar Flares

Abstract

We investigate various dynamic processes including magnetic reconnection, chromospheric evaporation, and coronal rain draining in two limb solar flares through imaging and spectroscopic observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory. In the early phase of the flares, a bright and dense loop-top structure with a cusp-like shape can be seen in multiwavelength images, which is cospatial with the hard X-ray 25–50 keV emission. In particular, intermittent magnetic reconnection downflows are detected in the time–space maps of AIA 304 Å. The reconnection downflows are manifested as redshifts on one half of the loops and blueshifts on the other half in the IRIS Si iv 1393.76 Å line due to a projection effect. The Si iv profiles exhibit complex features (say, multipeak) with a relatively larger width at the loop-top region. During the impulsive phase, chromospheric evaporation is observed in both AIA images and the IRIS Fe xxi 1354.08 Å line. Upward motions can be seen from AIA 131 Å images. The Fe xxi line is significantly enhanced and shows a good Gaussian shape. In the gradual phase, warm rains are observed as downward moving plasmas in AIA 304 Å images. Both the Si iv and Fe xxi lines show a relatively symmetric shape with a larger width around the loop top. These results provide observational evidence for various dynamic processes involved in the energy release process of solar flares and are crucial to the understanding of this process.