Coronal Mass Ejections Acceleration Research Articles

Investigation on spectral behavior of Solar transients and their interrelationship

We probe the spectral hardening of solar flares emission in view of associated solar proton events (SEPs) at earth and coronal mass ejection (CME) acceleration as a consequence. In this investigation we undertake 60 SEPs of the Solar Cycle 23 along with associated Solar Flares and CMEs. We employ the X-ray emission in Solar flares observed by Reuven Ramaty Higly Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) in order to estimate flare plasma parameters. Further, we employ the observations from Geo-stationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO), for SEPs and CMEs parameter estimation respectively. We report a good association of soft-hard-harder (SHH) spectral behavior of Flares with occurrence of Solar Proton Events for 16 Events (observed by RHESSI associated with protons). In addition, we have found a good correlation (R=0.71) in SEPs spectral hardening and CME velocity. We conclude that the Protons as well as CMEs gets accelerated at the Flare site and travel all the way in interplanetary space and then by re-acceleration in interplanetary space CMEs produce Geomagnetic Storms in geospace. This seems to be a statistically significant mechanism of the SEPs and initial CME acceleration in addition to the standard scenario of SEP acceleration at the shock front of CMEs.

INVESTIGATING TWO SUCCESSIVE FLUX ROPE ERUPTIONS IN A SOLAR ACTIVE REGION

We investigate two successive flux rope (FR1 and FR2) eruptions resulting in two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) on 2012 January 23. Both FRs appeared as an EUV channel structure in the images of high temperature passbands of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly prior to the CME eruption. Through fitting their height evolution with a function consisting of linear and exponential components, we determine the onset time of the FR impulsive acceleration with high temporal accuracy for the first time. Using this onset time, we divide the evolution of the FRs in the low corona into two phases: a slow rise phase and an impulsive acceleration phase. In the slow rise phase of the FR1, the appearance of sporadic EUV and UV brightening and the strong shearing along the polarity inverse line indicates that the quasi-separatrix-layer reconnection likely initiates the slow rise. On the other hand for the FR2, we mainly contribute its slow rise to the FR1 eruption, which partially opened the overlying field and thus decreased the magnetic restriction. At the onset of the impulsive acceleration phase, the FR1 (FR2) reaches the critical height of 84.4$\pm$11.2 Mm (86.2$\pm$13.0 Mm) where the decline of the overlying field with height is fast enough to trigger the torus instability. After a very short interval ($\sim$2 minutes), the flare emission began to enhance. These results reveal the compound activity involving multiple magnetic FRs and further suggest that the ideal torus instability probably plays the essential role of initiating the impulsive acceleration of CMEs.

Coronal Mass Ejections Associated with Slow Long Duration Flares

It is well known that there is temporal relationship between coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated flares. The duration of the acceleration phase is related to the duration of the rise phase of a flare. We investigate CMEs associated with slow long duration events (LDEs), i.e. flares with the long rising phase. We determined the relationships between flares and CMEs and analyzed the CME kinematics in detail. The parameters of the flares (GOES flux, duration of the rising phase) show strong correlations with the CME parameters (velocity, acceleration during main acceleration phase and duration of the CME acceleration phase). These correlations confirm the strong relation between slow LDEs and CMEs. We also analyzed the relation between the parameters of the CMEs, i.e. a velocity, an acceleration during the main acceleration phase, a duration of the acceleration phase, and a height of a CME at the end of the acceleration phase. The CMEs associated with the slow LDEs are characterized by high velocity during the propagation phase, with the median equal 1423 km/s. In half of the analyzed cases, the main acceleration was low (a<300 m/s^2), which suggests that the high velocity is caused by the prolongated acceleration phase (the median for the duration of the acceleration phase is equal 90 minutes). The CMEs were accelerated up to several solar radii (with the median 7 Rsun), which is much higher than in typical impulsive CMEs. Therefore, slow LDEs may potentially precede extremely strong geomagnetic storms. The analysis of slow LDEs and associated CMEs may give important information for developing more accurate space weather forecasts, especially for extreme events.

THE MECHANISMS FOR THE ONSET AND EXPLOSIVE ERUPTION OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS AND ERUPTIVE FLARES

We have investigated the onset and acceleration of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and eruptive flares. To isolate the eruption physics, our study uses the breakout model, which is insensitive to the energy buildup process leading to the eruption. We performed 2.5D simulations with adaptive mesh refinement that achieved the highest overall spatial resolution to date in a CME/eruptive flare simulation. The ultra-high resolution allows us to separate clearly the timing of the various phases of the eruption. Using new computational tools, we have determined the number and evolution of all X- and O-type nulls in the system, thereby tracking both the progress and the products of reconnection throughout the computational domain. Our results show definitively that CME onset is due to the start of fast reconnection at the breakout current sheet. Once this reconnection begins, eruption is inevitable; if this is the only reconnection in the system, however, the eruption will be slow. The explosive CME acceleration is triggered by fast reconnection at the flare current sheet. Our results indicate that the explosive eruption is caused by a resistive instability, not an ideal process. Moreover, both breakout and flare reconnections begin first as a form of weak tearing characterized by a slowly evolving plasmoids, but eventually transition to a fast form with well-defined Alfvenic reconnection jets and rapid flux transfer. This transition to fast reconnection is required for both CME onset and explosive acceleration. We discuss the key implications of our results for CME/flare observations and for theories of magnetic reconnection.

Acceleration and deceleration of coronal mass ejections during propagation and interaction

A major challenge to the space weather forecasting community is accurate prediction of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) induced Shock Arrival Time (SAT) at Earth's environment. In order to improve the current accuracy, one of the steps is to understand the physical processes of the acceleration and deceleration of a CME's propagation in the heliosphere. We employ our previous study of a three‐dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulation for the evolution of two interacting CMEs in a realistic ambient solar wind during the period 28–31 March 2001 event to illustrate these acceleration and deceleration processes. The forces which caused the acceleration and deceleration are analyzed in detail. The forces which caused the acceleration are the magnetic pressure term of Lorentz force and pressure gradient. On the other hand, the forces which caused the deceleration are aerodynamic drag, the Sun's gravity and the tension of magnetic field. In addition the momentum exchange between the solar wind and the moving CMEs can cause acceleration and deceleration of the CME which are now analyzed. In this specific CME event 28–31 March 2001 we have analyzed those forces which cause acceleration and deceleration of CME with and without interaction with another CME. It shows that there are significant momentum changes between these two interacting CMEs to cause the acceleration and deceleration.

RELATION BETWEEN THE CORONAL MASS EJECTION ACCELERATION AND THE NON-THERMAL FLARE CHARACTERISTICS

We investigate the relationship between the main acceleration phase of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and the particle acceleration in the associated flares as evidenced in Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager non-thermal X-rays for a set of 37 impulsive flare-CME events. Both the CME peak velocity and peak acceleration yield distinct correlations with various parameters characterizing the flare-accelerated electron spectra. The highest correlation coefficient is obtained for the relation of the CME peak velocity and the total energy in accelerated electrons (c = 0.85), supporting the idea that the acceleration of the CME and the particle acceleration in the associated flare draw their energy from a common source, probably magnetic reconnection in the current sheet behind the erupting structure. In general, the CME peak velocity shows somewhat higher correlations with the non-thermal flare parameters than the CME peak acceleration, except for the spectral index of the accelerated electron spectrum, which yields a higher correlation with the CME peak acceleration (c ?0.6), indicating that the hardness of the flare-accelerated electron spectrum is tightly coupled to the impulsive acceleration process of the rising CME structure. We also obtained high correlations between the CME initiation height h 0 and the non-thermal flare parameters, with the highest correlation of h 0 to the spectral index ? of flare-accelerated electrons (c 0.8). This means that CMEs erupting at low coronal heights, i.e., in regions of stronger magnetic fields, are accompanied by flares that are more efficient at accelerating electrons to high energies. In the majority of events (~80%), the non-thermal flare emission starts after the CME acceleration, on average delayed by 6 minutes, in line with the standard flare model where the rising flux rope stretches the field lines underneath until magnetic reconnection sets in. We find that the current sheet length at the onset of magnetic reconnection is 21 ? 7?Mm. The flare hard X-ray peaks are well synchronized with the peak of the CME acceleration profile, and in 75% of the cases they occur within ?5?minutes. Our findings provide strong evidence for the tight coupling between the CME dynamics and the particle acceleration in the associated flare in impulsive events, with the total energy in accelerated electrons being closely correlated with the peak velocity (and thus the kinetic energy) of the CME, whereas the number of electrons accelerated to high energies is decisively related to the CME peak acceleration and the height of the pre-eruptive structure.

INITIATION OF CORONAL MASS EJECTION AND ASSOCIATED FLARE CAUSED BY HELICAL KINK INSTABILITY OBSERVED BYSDO/AIA

In this paper, we present multiwavelength observations of helical kink instability as a trigger of a CME which occurred in AR NOAA 11163 on 24 February 2011. The CME was associated with a M3.5 limb flare. High resolution observations from SDO/AIA suggest the development of helical kink instability in the erupting prominence, which implies a flux rope structure of the magnetic field. A brightening starts below the apex of the prominence with its slow rising motion (~100 km/s) during the activation phase. A bright structure, indicative of a helix with ~3-4 turns, was transiently formed at this position. The corresponding twist of ~$6\pi-8\pi$ is sufficient to generate the helical kink instability in a flux rope according to recently developed models. A slowly rising blob structure was subsequently formed at the apex of the prominence, and a flaring loop was observed near the footpoints. Within two minutes, a second blob was formed in the northern prominence leg. The second blob erupts (like a plasmoid ejection) with the detachment of the northern prominence leg, and flare intensity maximizes. The first blob at the prominence apex shows rotational motion in the counterclockwise direction in the plane of sky, interpreted as unwinding motion of a helix, and it also erupts to give the coronal mass ejection (CME). RHESSI hard X-ray sources show the two footpoint sources and a loop-top source during the flare. We found RHESSI hard X-ray flux, soft X-ray flux derivative and CME acceleration in the low corona correlate well, which is in agreement with the standard flare model (CSHKP). We also discuss the possible role of ballooning as well as torus instabilities in driving the CME. We conclude that the CME and flare were triggered by the helical kink instability in a flux rope and accelerated mainly by the torus instability.

Correlations Between CME Parameters and Sunspot Activity

Smoothed monthly mean coronal mass ejection (CME) parameters (speed, acceleration, central position angle, angular width, mass, and kinetic energy) for Cycle 23 are cross-analyzed, showing that there is a high correlation between most of them. The CME acceleration (a) is highly correlated with the reciprocal of its mass (M), with a correlation coefficient r=0.899. The force (Ma) to drive a CME is found to be well anti-correlated with the sunspot number (R z), r=−0.750. The relationships between CME parameters and R z can be well described by an integral response model with a decay time scale of about 11 months. The correlation coefficients of CME parameters with the reconstructed series based on this model ( $\overline{r}_{\mathrm{f1}}=0.886$ ) are higher than the linear correlation coefficients of the parameters with R z ( $\overline{r}_{\mathrm{0}}=0.830$ ). If a double decay integral response model is used (with two decay time scales of about 6 and 60 months), the correlations between CME parameters and R z improve ( $\overline{r}_{\mathrm{f2}}=0.906$ ). The time delays between CME parameters with respect to R z are also well predicted by this model (19/22=86%); the average time delays are 19 months for the reconstructed and 22 months for the original time series. The model implies that CMEs are related to the accumulation of solar magnetic energy. These relationships can help in understanding the mechanisms at work during the solar cycle.

Kinematics and Differential Emission Measure of the Flux Rope during Coronal Mass Ejections

Recent Solar Dynamic Observatory observations reveal that some coronal mass ejections (CMEs) consist of multi-temperature structures: a hot channel and a cool leading edge (LE). The channel first appears as a twisted loop and lies along the polarity inversion line; it then gradually develops into the less twisted semicircular structure during the impulsive phase of CME acceleration. In the meantime, the hot channel compresses the surrounding magnetic field and plasma, which successively stack into the CME leading front. Here, we study two well observed CMEs, which occurred on 2010 November 3 and 2011 March 8, respectively. We find that, the hot channel rises earlier than the first appearance of the CME leading front and the onset of the associated flare, and that the speed of the hot channel is always larger than that of the leading front. Further differential emission measure analysis shows that the channel often has significant emission at high temperatures. We thus conclude that the observed hot channel is likely to be magnetic flux rope that acts as a driver of the CME acceleration in the early phase.

On Some Properties of SEP Effective CMEs

Solar energetic particles (SEP) are believed to originate from two different sources, solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). The large SEP events constitute a serious radiation hazard. The high-energy solar proton data obtained from NOAA Space Environment Services Center are used to investigate some statistical properties such as speed, apparent width, acceleration, latitude, mass, kinetic energy, and occurrence rate of SEP effective CMEs observed during the period 1997–2006 covering the solar cycle 23. It is found that SEP effective CMEs are nearly halo in nature, and they follow solar cycle variation. Such CMEs have higher speeds than those of non-SEP effective CMEs.

Statistical study of coronal mass ejection source locations: 2. Role of active regions in CME production

[1] This is the second paper of the statistical study of coronal mass ejection (CME) source locations, in which the relationship between CMEs and active regions (ARs) is statistically studied on the basis of the information of CME source locations and the ARs automatically extracted from magnetic synoptic charts of Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) during 1997–1998. Totally, 224 CMEs with a known location and 108 MDI ARs are included in our sample. It is found that about 63% of the CMEs are related with ARs, at least about 53% of the ARs produced one or more CMEs, and particularly about 14% of ARs are CME-rich (3 or more CMEs were generated) during one transit across the visible disk. Several issues are then tried to clarify: whether or not the CMEs originating from ARs are distinct from others, whether or not the CME kinematics depend on AR properties, and whether or not the CME productivity depends on AR properties. The statistical results suggest that (1) there is no evident difference between AR-related and non-AR-related CMEs in terms of CME speed, acceleration and width, (2) the size, strength and complexity of ARs do little with the kinematic properties of CMEs, but have significant effects on the CME productivity, and (3) the sunspots in all the most productive ARs at least belong to βγ type, whereas 90% of those in CME-less ARs are α or β type only. A detailed analysis on CME-rich ARs further reveals that (1) the distribution of the waiting time of same-AR CMEs, consists of two parts with a separation at about 15 hours, which implies that the CMEs with a waiting time shorter than 15 hours are probably truly physical related, and (2) an AR tends to produce such related same-AR CMEs at a pace of 8 hours, but cannot produce two or more fast CMEs (>800 km s−1) within a time interval of 15 hours. This interesting phenomenon is particularly discussed.

Coronal Dimmings and the Early Phase of a CME Observed with STEREO and Hinode/EIS

We investigate the early phase of the 13 February 2009 coronal mass ejection (CME). Observations with the twin STEREO spacecraft in quadrature allow us to compare for the first time in one and the same event the temporal evolution of coronal EUV dimmings, observed simultaneously on-disk and above-the-limb. We find that these dimmings are synchronized and appear during the impulsive acceleration phase of the CME, with the highest EUV intensity drop occurring a few minutes after the maximum CME acceleration. During the propagation phase two confined, bipolar dimming regions, appearing near the footpoints of a pre-flare sigmoid structure, show an apparent migration away from the site of the CME-associated flare. Additionally, they rotate around the ‘center’ of the flare site, i.e., the configuration of the dimmings exhibits the same ‘sheared-to-potential’ evolution as the postflare loops. We conclude that the motion pattern of the twin dimmings reflects not only the eruption of the flux rope, but also the ensuing stretching of the overlying arcade. Finally, we find that: i) the global-scale dimmings, expanding from the source region of the eruption, propagate with a speed similar to that of the leaving CME front; ii) the mass loss occurs mainly during the period of strongest CME acceleration. Two hours after the eruption Hinode/EIS observations show no substantial plasma outflow, originating from the ‘open’ field twin dimming regions.

IMPULSIVE ACCELERATION OF CORONAL MASS EJECTIONS. I. STATISTICS AND CORONAL MASS EJECTION SOURCE REGION CHARACTERISTICS

We use high time cadence images acquired by the STEREO EUVI and COR instruments to study the evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) from their initiation through impulsive acceleration to the propagation phase. For a set of 95 CMEs we derived detailed height, velocity, and acceleration profiles and statistically analyzed characteristic CME parameters: peak acceleration, peak velocity, acceleration duration, initiation height, height at peak velocity, height at peak acceleration, and size of the CME source region. The CME peak accelerations we derived range from 20 to 6800 m s−2 and are inversely correlated with the acceleration duration and the height at peak acceleration. Seventy-four percent of the events reach their peak acceleration at heights below 0.5 R☉. CMEs that originate from compact sources low in the corona are more impulsive and reach higher peak accelerations at smaller heights. These findings can be explained by the Lorentz force, which drives the CME accelerations and decreases with height and CME size.

ON THE CAUSES OF PLASMOID ACCELERATION AND CHANGES IN MAGNETIC FLUX IN A RESISTIVE MAGNETOHYDRODYNAMIC PLASMA

Observationally, the change of acceleration of coronal mass ejections is commonly attributed to the change of the reconnection rate. In this study, we use a two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulation with finite resistivity to study: (1) the forces that lead to the acceleration of the plasma and plasmoid and (2) the time evolution of the topological change of the magnetic flux across the current sheet. Our results show that the fast flows are not limited to the direction perpendicular to the local magnetic field. The fast parallel flows are accelerated by the parallel component of the pressure gradient force. The net force perpendicular to the magnetic field can accelerate the plasma and the plasmoid along the current sheet. The acceleration of the plasmoid is also controlled by the mass contained in the plasmoid. We find that the fast ejection of the plasmoid can stretch the current sheet and consequently reduce the magnetic reconnection/reconfiguration rate temporally before a new plasmoid is formed. We show that the topological change of the magnetic flux is due to the non-uniform magnetic annihilation rate along the current sheet. Therefore, the reconnection/reconfiguration site does not necessarily stay at the neutral point. It can move with the Y-line next to the bifurcated current sheets.

THE GENESIS OF AN IMPULSIVE CORONAL MASS EJECTION OBSERVED AT ULTRA-HIGH CADENCE BY AIA ON SDO

The study of fast, eruptive events in the low solar corona is one of the science objectives of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) imagers on the recently launched Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), which take full disk images in ten wavelengths with arcsecond resolution and 12 sec cadence. We study with AIA the formation of an impulsive coronal mass ejection (CME) which occurred on June 13, 2010 and was associated with an M1.0 class flare. Specifically, we analyze the formation of the CME EUV bubble and its initial dynamics and thermal evolution in the low corona using AIA images in three wavelengths (171, 193 and 211 A). We derive the first ultra-high cadence measurements of the temporal evolution of the CME bubble aspect ratio (=bubble-height/bubble-radius). Our main result is that the CME formation undergoes three phases: it starts with a slow self-similar expansion followed by a fast but short-lived (~ 70 sec) period of strong lateral over-expansion which essentially creates the CME. Then the CME undergoes another phase of self-similar expansion until it exits the AIA field of view. During the studied interval, the CME height-time profile shows a strong, short-lived, acceleration followed by deceleration. The lateral overexpansion phase coincides with the deceleration phase. The impulsive flare heating and CME acceleration are closely coupled. However, the lateral overexpansion of the CME occurs during the declining phase and is therefore not linked to flare reconnection. In addition, the multi-thermal analysis of the bubble does not show significant evidence of temperature change.

Some Properties of prominence eruption associated CMEs during 1996-2009

AbstractSolar prominences can be viewed as pre-eruptive states of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Eruptive prominences are the phenomena most related to CMEs observed in the lower layers of the solar atmosphere. We have made a comprehensive statistical study on the CMEs associated with prominence eruptions. We have examined the distribution of CMEs speed and acceleration for prominence eruptions associated CMEs. We also examine the speed-acceleration correlation for these events and there is no correlation between speed and acceleration. The mean angular width is almost similar to normal CMEs. The number variation during solar cycle of prominence activities is similar to the sunspot cycle.

CORONAL MASS EJECTION PROPAGATION AND EXPANSION IN THREE-DIMENSIONAL SPACE IN THE HELIOSPHERE BASED ON STEREO /SECCHI OBSERVATIONS

We report on several new findings regarding the kinematic and morphological evolution of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the inner heliosphere using the unprecedented STEREO/SECCHI observations. The CME tracking is based on the three-dimensional Raytrace model, which is free of the projection effect, resulting in true CME velocities. We also measure the cross section size of the CME and hence its expansion velocity. For the four major CME events investigated, we find that their leading edge (LE) velocity converges from an initial range between 400 km s{sup -1} and 1500 km s{sup -1} at 5-10 R{sub sun} to a narrow range between 500 km s{sup -1} and 750 km s{sup -1} at 50 R{sub sun}. The expansion velocity is also found to converge into a narrow range between 75 km s{sup -1} and 175 km s{sup -1}. Both LE and expansion velocities are nearly constant after 50 R{sub sun}. We further find that the acceleration of CMEs in the inner heliosphere from {approx}10 to 90 R{sub sun} can be described by an exponential function, with an initial value as large as {approx}-80 m s{sup -2} but exponentially decreasing to almost zero (more precisely, less than {+-}5 m s{sup -2} consideringmore » the uncertainty of measurements). These results provide important observational constraints on understanding CME dynamics in interplanetary space.« less

Coronal mass ejection detection using wavelets, curvelets and ridgelets: Applications for space weather monitoring

Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are large-scale eruptions of plasma and magnetic field that can produce adverse space weather at Earth and other locations in the Heliosphere. Due to the intrinsic multiscale nature of features in coronagraph images, wavelet and multiscale image processing techniques are well suited to enhancing the visibility of CMEs and suppressing noise. However, wavelets are better suited to identifying point-like features, such as noise or background stars, than to enhancing the visibility of the curved form of a typical CME front. Higher order multiscale techniques, such as ridgelets and curvelets, were therefore explored to characterise the morphology (width, curvature) and kinematics (position, velocity, acceleration) of CMEs. Curvelets in particular were found to be well suited to characterising CME properties in a self-consistent manner. Curvelets are thus likely to be of benefit to autonomous monitoring of CME properties for space weather applications.

Assessing the Accuracy of CME Speed and Trajectory Estimates from STEREO Observations Through a Comparison of Independent Methods

We have estimated the speed and direction of propagation of a number of Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) using single-spacecraft data from the STEREO Heliospheric Imager (HI) wide-field cameras. In general, these values are in good agreement with those predicted by Thernisien, Vourlidas, and Howard in Solar Phys. 256, 111 – 130 (2009) using a forward modelling method to fit CMEs imaged by the STEREO COR2 coronagraphs. The directions of the CMEs predicted by both techniques are in good agreement despite the fact that many of the CMEs under study travel in directions that cause them to fade rapidly in the HI images. The velocities estimated from both techniques are in general agreement although there are some interesting differences that may provide evidence for the influence of the ambient solar wind on the speed of CMEs. The majority of CMEs with a velocity estimated to be below 400 km s−1 in the COR2 field of view have higher estimated velocities in the HI field of view, while, conversely, those with COR2 velocities estimated to be above 400 km s−1 have lower estimated HI velocities. We interpret this as evidence for the deceleration of fast CMEs and the acceleration of slower CMEs by interaction with the ambient solar wind beyond the COR2 field of view. We also show that the uncertainties in our derived parameters are influenced by the range of elongations over which each CME can be tracked. In order to reduce the uncertainty in the predicted arrival time of a CME at 1 Astronomical Unit (AU) to within six hours, the CME needs to be tracked out to at least 30 degrees elongation. This is in good agreement with predictions of the accuracy of our technique based on Monte Carlo simulations.

RELATING CORONAL MASS EJECTION KINEMATICS AND THERMAL ENERGY RELEASE TO FLARE EMISSIONS USING A MODEL OF SOLAR ERUPTIONS

We use a model of solar eruptions that combines a loss-of-equilibrium coronal mass ejection (CME) model with a multi-threaded flare loop model in order to understand the relationship between the CME kinematics, thermal energy release, and soft X-ray emissions in solar eruptions. We examine the correlation between CME acceleration and the peak soft X-ray flux in many modeled cases with different parameters, and find that the two quantities are well correlated. We also examine the timing of the peak acceleration and the light curve derivative, and find that these quantities tend to peak at similar times for cases where the magnetic field is high and the inflow Alfven Mach number is fast. Finally, we study the relationship between the total thermal energy released in the model and the calculated peak soft X-ray flux of the resulting flare. We find that there is a power-law relationship between these two quantities, with F peak ~ E α, where α is between 2.54 and 1.54, depending on the reconnection rate. This finding has repercussions for the assumptions underlying the Neupert effect, in which the peak soft X-ray flux is assumed to be proportional to the thermal energy release.