The helicity, induced electric field and Poynting flux of AR 11158 and their relationship with the X-class flare

Abstract

AbstractWith the photospheric vector magnetic fields provided by SDO/HMI team, the helicity accumulation, induced electric field and Poynting flux is calculated for AR 11158 by using the local correlation tracking technique (LCT). It is found that the helicity accumulation reaches 6000×1040Mx2, the average densities of the induced electric field about 0.15-0.35 V cm−1, and that of the Poynting flux about 50-240 W m−2, within 50 hours. One main flare of X2.2 occurs in the increasing phase of the helicity accumulation, which also corresponds to the decreasing phase of the induced electric field and the gradual change phase of the Poynting flux. Before the flare, all these quantities increase rapidly for about 20 hours firstly, then increase gradually or even decrease for 8-9 hours.