Class Flare Research Articles

Evolution of the Active Region NOAA 12443 based on magnetic field extrapolations: preliminary results

AbstractThe behavior of Active Regions (ARs) is directly related to the occurrence of some remarkable phenomena in the Sun such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CME). In this sense, changes in the magnetic field of the region can be used to uncover other relevant features like the evolution of the ARs magnetic structure and the plasma flow related to it. In this work we describe the evolution of the magnetic structure of the active region AR NOAA12443 observed from 2015/10/30 to 2015/11/10, which may be associated with several X-ray flares of classes C and M. The analysis is based on observations of the solar surface and atmosphere provided by HMI and AIA instruments on board of the SDO spacecraft. In order to investigate the magnetic energy buildup and release of the ARs, we shall employ potential and linear force free extrapolations based on the solar surface magnetic field distribution and the photospheric velocity fields.

Initiation and chromospheric effects of a M1.0 class solar flare from high-resolution multi-wavelength observations

AbstractInitiation and development of a M 1.0 class flare of June 12, 2014, was observed by space and ground-based telescopes, including EUV and X-ray imaging spectroscopy by IRIS and RHESSI, and high-resolution optical imaging by 1.6 m New Solar Telescope (NST). Analyzing the NST data, we found small-scale loop-like structures in the region of the magnetic field Polarity Inversion Line (PIL), the emergence and interaction of which caused photospheric brightenings temporarily coinciding with hard X-ray impulses. Detailed studies of the PIL region reveal signatures of photospheric plasma downflows and dissipation of electric currents. The reconstructed magnetic field topology shows a bundle of lines connecting the PIL region with the flare ribbons which were places of chromospheric evaporation observed by IRIS. The observations suggest a scenario with the primary energy release processes located in the low atmospheric layers of the PIL, energizing the overlying large-scale magnetic structure and causing “gentle” chromospheric evaporation.

OBSERVATIONS OF MAGNETIC FLUX-ROPE OSCILLATION DURING THE PRECURSOR PHASE OF A SOLAR ERUPTION

ABSTRACT Based on combined observations from the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) spectrometer with the coronal emission line of Fe xxi at 1354.08 Å and SDO/AIA images in multiple passbands, we report the finding of the precursor activity manifested as the transverse oscillation of a sigmoid, which is likely a pre-existing magnetic flux rope (MFR), that led to the onset of an X class flare and a fast halo coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2014 September 10. The IRIS slit is situated at a fixed position that is almost vertical to the main axis of the sigmoid structure that has a length of about 1.8 × 105 km. This precursor oscillation lasts for about 13 minutes in the MFR and has velocities in the range of [−9, 11] km s−1 and a period of ∼280 s. Our analysis, which is based on the temperature, density, length, and magnetic field strength of the observed sigmoid, indicates that the nature of the oscillation is a standing wave of fast magnetoacoustic kink mode. We further find that the precursor oscillation is excited by the energy released through an external magnetic reconnection between the unstable MFR and the ambient magnetic field. It is proposed that this precursor activity leads to the dynamic formation of a current sheet underneath the MFR that subsequently reconnects to trigger the onset of the main phase of the flare and the CME.

Solar flare forecasting model of combining principal component analysis with support vector machine

Solar flare is an important event in the solar atmosphere. It is a main disturbance resource of space environment and has a dramatic impact on human activities. How to promote the forecast ability of solar flare has a great significance for human beings. To better predict solar flare, this paper used principal component analysis and support vector machine, which are two classic machine learning methods, to predict solar flare. In feature extraction part, principal component analysis is a generally adopted method, and it is a technique for linearly compressing multidimensional data into lower dimensions with minimal loss of information. In flare classification part, support vector machine is a learning machine based on the statistical learning theory. The support vector machine can deal with nonlinear problems in classification and regression easily by using kernel functions, which is necessary to map onto another high dimension linear space. In solar flare forecasting research, the relationship between solar flare and morphological evolution of sunspots plays an important role in daily flare forecasting. And there is evidence that sunspot parameters and 10.7 cm solar radio flux are extremely related with solar flare. With the predictors fully taken into account, a new method of combing principal component analysis with support vector machine is proposed to improve the forecast ability of solar flare. In this paper, the sunspot parameters are area of sunspot group, McIntosh classification, extended longitude, the sunspot number in the solar active region and magnetic classification. Using attribute coding and appropriate transform function, the initial data set of predictors is normalized to form the modeling data set. And based on this data set, principal component analysis and support vector machine are applied to build solar flare forecasting model. In experiment, the forecasting model is compared with other model, which works well in the solar flare short-term forecasting. This shows that the PCA-SVM prediction model has higher precision compared with the other one when either considering positive examples or negative samples. The results indicate that the Solar flare forecasting model of combining principal component analysis with support vector machine is an effective flare prediction model.

Updated analytical solutions of continuity equation for electron beams precipitation – II. Mixed energy losses

In this paper we consider simultaneous analytical solutions of continuity equations for electron beam precipitation (a) in collisional losses and (b) in ohmic losses, or mixed energy losses (MEL) by applying the iterative method to calculate the resulting differential densities at given precipitation depth. The differential densities of precipitating electrons derived from the analytical solutions for MELs reveal increased flattening at energies below 10–30 keV compared to a pure collisional case. This flattening becomes stronger with an increasing precipitation depth turning into a positive slope at greater precipitation depths in the chromosphere resulting in a differential density distribution with maximum that shifts towards higher energies with increase in column depth, while the differential densities combining precipitating and returning electrons are higher at lower energies than those for a pure collisional case. The resulting hard X-ray (HXR) emission produced by the beams with different initial energy fluxes and spectral indices is calculated using the MEL approach for different ratios between the differential densities of precipitating and returning electrons. The number of returning electrons can be even further enhanced by a magnetic mirroring, not considered in the present model, while dominating at lower atmospheric depths where the magnetic convergence and magnitude are the highest. The proposed MEL approach provides an opportunity to account simultaneously for both collisional and ohmic losses in flaring events, which can be used for a quick spectral fitting of HXR spectra and evaluation of a fraction of returning electrons versus precipitating ones. The semi-analytical MEL approach is used for spectral fitting to Reuven High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager observations of nine C, M and X class flares revealing a close fit to the observations and good resemblance to numerical FP solutions.

THERMODYNAMIC SPECTRUM OF SOLAR FLARES BASED ON SDO/EVE OBSERVATIONS: TECHNIQUES AND FIRST RESULTS

ABSTRACT The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO)/EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) provides rich information on the thermodynamic processes of solar activities, particularly on solar flares. Here, we develop a method to construct thermodynamic spectrum (TDS) charts based on the EVE spectral lines. This tool could potentially be useful for extreme ultraviolet (EUV) astronomy to learn about the eruptive activities on distant astronomical objects. Through several cases, we illustrate what we can learn from the TDS charts. Furthermore, we apply the TDS method to 74 flares equal to or greater than the M5.0 class, and reach the following statistical results. First, EUV peaks are always behind the soft X-ray (SXR) peaks and stronger flares tend to have faster cooling rates. There is a power-law correlation between the peak delay times and the cooling rates, suggesting a coherent cooling process of flares from SXR to EUV emissions. Second, there are two distinct temperature drift patterns, called Type I and Type II. For Type I flares, the enhanced emission drifts from high to low temperature like a quadrilateral, whereas for Type II flares the drift pattern looks like a triangle. Statistical analysis suggests that Type II flares are more impulsive than Type I flares. Third, for late-phase flares, the peak intensity ratio of the late phase to the main phase is roughly correlated with the flare class, and the flares with a strong late phase are all confined. We believe that the re-deposition of the energy carried by a flux rope, which unsuccessfully erupts out, into thermal emissions is responsible for the strong late phase found in a confined flare. Furthermore, we show the signatures of the flare thermodynamic process in the chromosphere and transition region in the TDS charts. These results provide new clues to advance our understanding of the thermodynamic processes of solar flares and associated solar eruptions, e.g., coronal mass ejections.

Comparison of 30 THz impulsive burst time development to microwaves, Hα, EUV, and GOES soft X-rays

The recent discovery of impulsive solar burst emission in the 30 THz band is raising new interpretation challenges. One event associated with a GOES M2 class flare has been observed simultaneously in microwaves, H-alpha, EUV, and soft X-ray bands. Although these new observations confirm some features found in the two prior known events, they exhibit time profile structure discrepancies between 30 THz, microwaves, and hard X-rays (as inferred from the Neupert effect). These results suggest a more complex relationship between 30 THz emission and radiation produced at other wavelength ranges. The multiple frequency emissions in the impulsive phase are likely to be produced at a common flaring site lower in the chromosphere. The 30 THz burst emission may be either part of a nonthermal radiation mechanism or due to the rapid thermal response to a beam of high-energy particles bombarding the dense solar atmosphere.

Electron Density and Drift Rate of Solar Burst Type II during 1<sup>st</sup> June 2015

This event allows us to investigate the electron density and drift rate of solar burst type II During 1st June 2015. It is believed that the plasma–magnetic field interactions in the solar corona can produce suprathermal electron populations over periods from tens of minutes to several hours, and the interactions of wave-particle and wave-wave lead to characteristic fine structures of the emission. An intense and broad solar radio burst type II was recorded by CALLISTO spectrometer from 25-80 MHz. Using data from a the Blein observatory, the complex structure of solar burst type III can also be found in the early stage of the formation of type II solar burst type event due to active region AR2358. The drift rate of solar burst type II exceeds 0.03 MHz/s with a density of electron in the solar corona. There are 18 CMEs occurring that day and the distributions of CME speed are between 200 ms-1 to 1100 ms-1 so that the average velocity of the CMEs that occur that day is 1025 m/s. This is one of the largest number of sunspots that have recorded in this year. However, all of these sunspots are quiet and stable and the solar activity remains low. Therefore, it can be observed that only B class of flare from the X-Ray Flux Data.

Electron Density and Drift Rate of Solar Burst Type II during 1<sup>st</sup> June 2015

This event allows us to investigate the electron density and drift rate of solar burst type II During 1stJune 2015. It is believed that the plasma–magnetic field interactions in the solar corona can produce suprathermal electron populations over periods from tens of minutes to several hours, and the interactions of wave-particle and wave-wave lead to characteristic fine structures of the emission. An intense and broad solar radio burst type II was recorded by CALLISTO spectrometer from 25-80 MHz. Using data from a the Blein observatory, the complex structure of solar burst type III can also be found in the early stage of the formation of type II solar burst type event due to active region AR2358. The drift rate of solar burst type II exceeds 0.03 MHz/s with a density of electron in the solar corona. There are 18 CMEs occurring that day and the distributions of CME speed are between 200 ms-1to 1100 ms-1so that the average velocity of the CMEs that occur that day is 1025 m/s. This is one of the largest number of sunspots that have recorded in this year. However, all of these sunspots are quiet and stable and the solar activity remains low. Therefore, it can be observed that only B class of flare from the X-Ray Flux Data.

Relationship between X-class Flares and Geomagnetic Effects

A statistical study has been performed on all the geomagnetic storm events caused by Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) which are associated with flares from January 2010 to December 2012. The following results are obtained. The sources of the CMEs mentioned above are distributed mainly from 45°E to 45°W on the solar surface, accounting 78.95% of the total events, and most of them are distributed in the western hemisphere, thus the sources of CMEs located in the western hemisphere are more likely to cause geomagnetic effects. The X-class flares are more likely to be associated with geomagnetic effects, and geomagnetic storms will be observed in two or three days after the eruption of 60% of X-class flares, while the flares of other classes have a much lower probability to associate with geomagnetic effects, less than 10% for all of them. By analyzing all the X-class flares erupted during this period on the solar disk, it is found that for the X-class flares located from 45°E to 45°W in heliographic longitude, if there are no large-scale disturbances on the solar surface nor the accompanied CMEs during the eruptions, the probability of occurrence of geomagnetic storms after the flares will be very small. Therefore, a new method to forecast the geomagnetic storms by analyzing the observed solar image data has been proposed.

A study of VLF signals variations associated with the changes of ionization level in the D-region in consequence of solar conditions

In this paper we confine our attention to the analysis of amplitude and phase data acquired by monitoring VLF/LF radio signals emitted by four European transmitters during a seven-year period (2008–2014). All the data were recorded at a Belgrade site (44.85°N, 20.38°E) by the Stanford University ELF/VLF receiver AWESOME. Propagation of VLF/LF radio signal takes place in the Earth–ionosphere waveguide and strongly depends on ionization level of the D-region, which means that it is mainly controlled by solar conditions. Some results of amplitude and phase variations on GQD/22.10kHz, DHO/23.40kHz, ICV/20.27kHz and NSC/45.90kHz radio signals measurements at short distances (D<2Mm) over Central Europe and their interpretation are summarized in this paper. Attention is restricted to regular diurnal, seasonal and solar variations including sunrise and sunset effects on propagation characteristics of four VLF/LF radio signals. We study VLF/LF propagation over short path as a superposition of different number of discrete modes which depends on the variations of the path parameters. Although the solar X-ray flare effects on propagation of VLF/LF radio signals are well recognized on all paths, similarities and differences between them are defined under existing conditions over the paths. Statistical results show that the size of amplitude and phase perturbations on VLF/LF radio signal is in correlation with the intensity of X-ray flux. We present the calculations of electron density enhancements in the D-region caused by different classes of solar X-ray flares during the period of ascending phase and maximum of the solar cycle 24.

Estimates of the neutron emission during large solar flares in the rising and maximum period of solar cycle 24

We searched for solar neutrons using the data collected by six detectors from the International Network of Solar Neutron Telescopes and one Neutron Monitor between January 2010 and December 2014. We considered the peak time of the X-ray intensity of thirty five ≥ X1.0 class flares detected by GOES satellite as the most probable production time of solar neutrons. We prepared a light-curve of the solar neutron telescopes and the neutron monitor for each flare, spanning ± 3 h from the peak time of GOES. Based on these light curves, we performed a statistical analysis for each flare. Setting a significance level at greater than 3σ, we report that no statistically significant signals due to solar neutrons were found. Therefore, upper limits are determined by the background level and solar angle of these thirty five solar flares. Our calculation assumed a power-law neutron energy spectrum and an impulsive emission profile at the Sun. The estimated upper limits of the neutron emission are consistent within the order of magnitude of the successful detections of solar neutrons made in solar cycle 23.

GPS as a solar observational instrument: Real‐time estimation of EUV photons flux rate during strong, medium, and weak solar flares

AbstractIn this manuscript, the authors show how the Global Navigation Satellite Systems, GNSS (exemplified in the Global Positioning System, GPS), can be efficiently used for a very different purpose from that for which it was designed as an accurate Solar observational tool, already operational from the open global GPS measurements available in real‐time, and with some advantages regarding dedicated instruments onboard spacecraft. The very high correlation of the solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) photon flux rate in the 26–34 mm spectral band, obtained from the solar EUV monitor instrument onboard the SOHO spacecraft during Solar flares, is shown with the GNSS solar flare activity indicator (GSFLAI). The GSFLAI is defined as the gradient of the ionospheric vertical total electron content rate versus the cosine of the Solar zenith angle in the day hemisphere (which filters out nonsolar over ionization), and it is measured from data collected by a global network of dual frequency GPS receivers (giving in this way continuous coverage). GSFLAI for 60 X class flares, 320 M class flares, and 300 C class flares, occurred since 2001, were directly compared with the EUV solar flux rate data to show existing correlations. It was found that the GSFLAI and EUV flux rate present the same linear relationship for all classes of flares, not only the strong and medium intensity ones, X and M class, as in previous works, but also for the weakest C class solar flares, which is a remarkable result.

TRIGGER OF A BLOWOUT JET IN A SOLAR CORONAL MASS EJECTION ASSOCIATED WITH A FLARE

Using the multi-wavelength images and the photospheric magnetograms from the \emph{Solar Dynamics Observatory}, we study the flare which was associated by the only one coronal mass ejection (CME) in active region (AR) 12192. The eruption of a filament caused a blowout jet, and then an M4.0 class flare occurred. This flare was located at the edge of AR instead of in the core region. The flare was close to the apparently "open" fields, appearing as extreme-ultraviolet structures that fan out rapidly. Due to the interaction between flare materials and "open" fields, the flare became an eruptive flare, leading to the CME. Then at the same site of the first eruption, another small filament erupted. With the high spatial and temporal resolution H$\alpha$ data from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope at the \emph{Fuxian Solar Observatory}, we investigate the interaction between the second filament and the nearby "open" lines. The filament reconnected with the "open" lines, forming a new system. To our knowledge, the detailed process of this kind of interaction is reported for the first time. Then the new system rotated due to the untwisting motion of the filament, implying that the twist was transferred from the closed filament system to the "open" system. In addition, the twist seemed to propagate from the lower atmosphere to the upper layers, and was eventually spread by the CME to the interplanetary space.

Automatic Detection of Magnetic δ $\delta$ in Sunspot Groups

Large and magnetically complex sunspot groups are known to be associated with flares. To date, the Mount Wilson scheme has been used to classify sunspot groups based on their morphological and magnetic properties. The most flare prolific class, the delta sunspot-group, is characterised by opposite polarity umbrae within a common penumbra, separated by less than 2 degrees. In this article, we present a new system, called the Solar Monitor Active Region Tracker - Delta Finder (SMART-DF), that can be used to automatically detect and classify magnetic deltas in near-realtime. Using continuum images and magnetograms from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we first estimate distances between opposite polarity umbrae. Opposite polarity pairs having distances of less that 2 degrees are then identified, and if these pairs are found to share a common penumbra, they are identified as a magnetic delta configuration. The algorithm was compared to manual delta detections reported by the Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC), operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SMART-DF detected 21 out of 23 active regions (ARs) that were marked as delta spots by NOAA during 2011 - 2012 (within +/- 60 degrees longitude). SMART-DF in addition detected five ARs which were not announced as delta spots by NOAA. The near-relatime operation of SMART-DF resulted in many deltas being identified in advance of NOAA's daily notification. SMART-DF will be integrated with SolarMonitor (www.solarmonitor.org) and the near-realtime information will be available to the public.

Magnetic Reconnection Rates and Energy Release in a Confined X-class Flare

We study the energy-release process in the confined X1.6 flare that occurred on 22 October 2014 in AR 12192. Magnetic-reconnection rates and reconnection fluxes are derived from three different data sets: space-based data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) 1600 {\AA} filter onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and ground-based H$\alpha$ and Ca II K filtergrams from Kanzelh\"ohe Observatory. The magnetic-reconnection rates determined from the three data sets all closely resemble the temporal profile of the hard X-rays measured by the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), which are a proxy for the flare energy released into high-energy electrons. The total magnetic-reconnection flux derived lies between $4.1 \times 10^{21}$ Mx (AIA 1600 {\AA}) and $7.9 \times 10^{21}$ Mx (H$\alpha$), which corresponds to about 2 to 4% of the total unsigned flux of the strong source AR. Comparison of the magnetic-reconnection flux dependence on the GOES class for 27 eruptive events collected from previous studies (covering B to $>$X10 class flares) reveals a correlation coefficient of $\approx 0.8$ in double-logarithmic space. The confined X1.6 class flare under study lies well within the distribution of the eruptive flares. The event shows a large initial separation of the flare ribbons and no separation motion during the flare. In addition, we note enhanced emission at flare-ribbon structures and hot loops connecting these structures before the event starts. These observations are consistent with the emerging-flux model, where newly emerging small flux tubes reconnect with pre-existing large coronal loops.

IRIS observations of the Mg ii h and k lines during a solar flare

The bulk of the radiative output of a solar flare is emitted from the chromosphere, which produces enhancements in the optical and UV continuum, and in many lines, both optically thick and thin. We have, until very recently, lacked observations of two of the strongest of these lines: the Mg II h & k resonance lines. We present a detailed study of the response of these lines to a solar flare. The spatial and temporal behaviour of the integrated intensities, k/h line ratios, line of sight velocities, line widths and line asymmetries were investigated during an M class flare (SOL2014-02-13T01:40). Very intense, spatially localised energy input at the outer edge of the ribbon is observed, resulting in redshifts equivalent to velocities of ~15-26km/s, line broadenings, and a blue asymmetry in the most intense sources. The characteristic central reversal feature that is ubiquitous in quiet Sun observations is absent in flaring profiles, indicating that the source function increases with height during the flare. Despite the absence of the central reversal feature, the k/h line ratio indicates that the lines remain optically thick during the flare. Subordinate lines in the Mg II passband are observed to be in emission in flaring sources, brightening and cooling with similar timescales to the resonance lines. This work represents a first analysis of potential diagnostic information of the flaring atmosphere using these lines, and provides observations to which synthetic spectra from advanced radiative transfer codes can be compared.

The curious temporal behavior of the frequency of different class flares

We investigate the frequency of all (X-ray flare events higher than class B1.0), B, C, M and X-class flares, respectively, derived from the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) list of solar flares between May 1983 and September 2014, which corresponds to the two complete solar cycles (SCs) 22 and 23 as well as the rise and maximum phases of SC 24. Analysis shows that the temporal behavior for these various class flares is quite different. The main findings of this study, confirmed by using the Hinode flare catalog where possible, are as follows. (1) The B-class flares are in complete antiphase with all, C, M and X-class flares. (2) While, there is a small decreasing trend in the peak values of the smoothed monthly C-class flare numbers from SC 22 to 24, the occurrence rate of M and X-class flares dropped by almost half and two-thirds, respectively, during SC 23 and remained almost the same during SC 24. This class-dependent temporal behavior provides support for dynamo models that involve the coexistence of a deep global and a superficial local dynamo.

Study of multi-periodic coronal pulsations during an X-class solar flare

We investigate quasi-periodic coronal pulsations during the decay phase of an X 3.2 class flare on 14 May 2013, using soft X-ray data from the RHESSI satellite. Periodogram analyses of soft X-ray light curves show that ∼53s and ∼72s periods co-exist in the 3–6keV, 6–12keV and 12–25keV energy bands. Considering the typical length of the flaring loop system and observed periodicities, we find that they are associated with multiple (first two harmonics) of fast magnetoacoustic sausage waves. The phase relationship of soft X-ray emissions in different energy bands using cross-correlation technique show that these modes are standing in nature as we do not find the phase lag. Considering the period ratio, we diagnose the local plasma conditions of the flaring region by invoking MHD seismology. The period ratio P1/2P2 is found to be ∼0.65, which indicates that such oscillations are most likely excited in longitudinal density stratified loops.

Super-active regions in solar cycle 24

AbstractComparing with solar cycles 21-23, the level of solar activity in the current cycle is very low. So far, there have been only five SARs and 45 X class flares. The monthly smoothed total solar irradiance decreased sharply by 0.09% from the maximum of cycle 23 to the minima between cycles 23 and 24. In this contribution, we present new studies on SARs in Cycle 24. The SARs in the current cycle have relatively smaller flare index (Iflare) and composite vector field index (Icom) comparing with the SARs in cycles 22 and 23. There is a clearly linear relationship between Iflare and Icom. The emphasis of this contribution is put on the similarity and different behaviors of vector magnetic fields of the SARs in the current solar cycle and the previous ones. We try to get a satisfactory account for the general characteristics and relatively lower level of solar flare activity in Cycle 24.