RHESSI Images Research Articles

The Depth and the Vertical Extent of the Energy Deposition Layer in a Medium-class Solar Flare

Abstract We analyze here variations of the position and the vertical extent of the energy deposition layer (EDL) in the C1.6 GOES-class solar flare observed at 10:20 UT on 2012 September 10. The variations of the EDL are contrasted with the variations of the spectra and emission intensities recorded in the Hα line with very high time resolution using the MSDP spectrograph at Białków Observatory. The flare radiated hard X-rays (HXR) detectable up to a energy of 70 keV. A numerical model of the flare used in the analysis assumes that the nonthermal electrons (NTEs) carried the external energy to the flare. The energy flux of the NTEs was derived from a nonthermal component seen in RHESSI spectra. The main geometrical parameters of the flare were derived using restored RHESSI imaging data. We found that the variations of the X-ray fluxes recorded in various energy bands and the variations of the Hα intensities were well-correlated in time during the pre-impulsive and impulsive phases of the flare, and they agreed with the variations of the calculated position and vertical extent of the EDL. The variations of the emission noticed in various parts of the Hα line profile were caused by individual episodes of energy deposition by the beams of NTEs of various energy spectra on various depths in the chromospheric plasma. These results supplement our previous findings for the solar flare on 2013 June 21, having nearly the same GOES class of C1.1 but HXR emission below 34 keV only.

The Coronal Volume of Energetic Particles in Solar Flares as Revealed by Microwave Imaging

Abstract The spectrum of gyrosynchrotron emission from solar flares generally peaks in the microwave range. Its optically thin, high-frequency component, above the spectral peak, is often used for diagnostics of the nonthermal electrons and the magnetic field in the radio source. Under favorable conditions, its low-frequency counterpart brings additional, complementary information about these parameters as well as thermal plasma diagnostics, either through gyrosynchrotron self-absorption, free–free absorption by the thermal plasma, or the suppression of emission through the so-called Razin effect. However, their effect on the low-frequency spectrum is often masked by spatial nonuniformity. To disentangle the various contributions to low-frequency gyrosynchrotron emission, a combination of spectral and imaging data is needed. To this end, we have investigated Owens Valley Solar Array (OVSA) multi-frequency images for 26 solar bursts observed jointly with RHESSI during the first half of 2002. For each, we examined dynamic spectra, time- and frequency-synthesis maps, RHESSI images with overlaid OVSA contours, and a few representative single-frequency snapshot OVSA images. We focus on the frequency dependence of microwave source sizes derived from the OVSA images and their effect on the low-frequency microwave spectral slope. We succeed in categorizing 18 analyzed events into several groups. Four events demonstrate clear evidence of being dominated by gyrosynchrotron self-absorption, with an inferred brightness temperature of ≥108 K. The low-frequency spectra in the remaining events are affected to varying degrees by Razin suppression. We find that many radio sources are rather large at low frequencies, which can have important implications for solar energetic particle production and escape.

Observations of Electron-driven Evaporation in a Flare Precursor

Abstract We investigate the relationship between the blueshifts of a hot emission line and the nonthermal emissions in microwave and hard X-ray (HXR) wavelengths in the precursor of a solar flare on 2014 October 27. The flare precursor is identified as a small but well-developed peak in the soft X-ray and extreme-ultraviolet passbands before the GOES flare onset, which is accompanied by a pronounced burst in microwave 17 and 34 GHz and in HXR 25–50 keV. The slit of the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) stays on one ribbon-like transient during the flare precursor phase, which shows visible nonthermal emissions in Nobeyama Radioheliograph and RHESSI images. The IRIS spectroscopic observations show that the hot line of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å (log T ∼ 7.05) displays blueshifts, while the cool line of Si iv 1402.77 Å (log T ∼ 4.8) exhibits redshifts. The blueshifts and redshifts are well correlated with each other, indicative of an explosive chromospheric evaporation during the flare precursor phase combining a high nonthermal energy flux with a short characteristic timescale. In addition, the blueshifts of Fe xxi 1354.09 Å are well correlated with the microwave and HXR emissions, implying that the explosive chromospheric evaporation during the flare precursor phase is driven by nonthermal electrons.

TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL RELATIONSHIP OF FLARE SIGNATURES AND THE FORCE-FREE CORONAL MAGNETIC FIELD

ABSTRACT We investigate the plasma and magnetic environment of active region NOAA 11261 on 2011 August 2 around a GOES M1.4 flare/CME (SOL2011-08-02T06:19). We compare coronal emission at the (extreme) ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths, using SDO AIA and RHESSI images, in order to identify the relative timing and locations of reconnection-related sources. We trace flare ribbon signatures at ultraviolet wavelengths in order to pin down the intersection of previously reconnected flaring loops in the lower solar atmosphere. These locations are used to calculate field lines from three-dimensional (3D) nonlinear force-free magnetic field models, established on the basis of SDO HMI photospheric vector magnetic field maps. Using this procedure, we analyze the quasi-static time evolution of the coronal model magnetic field previously involved in magnetic reconnection. This allows us, for the first time, to estimate the elevation speed of the current sheet’s lower tip during an on-disk observed flare as a few kilometers per second. A comparison to post-flare loops observed later above the limb in STEREO EUVI images supports this velocity estimate. Furthermore, we provide evidence for an implosion of parts of the flaring coronal model magnetic field, and identify the corresponding coronal sub-volumes associated with the loss of magnetic energy. Finally, we spatially relate the build up of magnetic energy in the 3D models to highly sheared fields, established due to the dynamic relative motions of polarity patches within the active region.

On the fine structure of solar flare X-ray loop top sources

AbstractSolar flare X-ray loop top sources (LTSs) are known since early observations from Skylab.They are always present accompanying long duration events (LDE), but their nature remains unclear. One of the main unknowns is spatial structure of LTSs. Observations indicate that LTSs are large and diffuse, but several authors suggested that there is present a fine, internal structure within them which should be resolved even using present space instrumentation.We present an example for the solar flare well observed by SDO/AIA and RHESSI. The LTS was dynamic with an episode of splitting into two sources. We performed detailed analysis of X-ray sources morphology using restored RHESSI images. Moreover, we conducted a number of simulations taking into account various possible spatial distributions of X-ray emission. We have found that in case of the flare investigated RHESSI should be capable to detect the fine structure if present. However it is not visible on the restored images. Some of our simulations suggest that we can also miss large, diffuse sources in the X-ray observations which may eventually lead to misinterpretation of the observed X-ray features.

Direct observation of the energy release site in a solar flare by SDO/AIA, Hinode/EIS, and RHESSI

We present direct evidence for the detection of the main energy release site in a non-eruptive solar flare, SOL2013-11-09T06:38UT. This GOES C2.7 event was characterised by two flaring ribbons and a compact, bright coronal source located between them, which is the focus of our study. We use imaging from SDO/AIA, and imaging spectroscopy from RHESSI to characterise the thermal and non-thermal emission from the coronal source, and EUV spectroscopy from the Hinode/EIS, which scanned the coronal source during the impulsive peak, to analyse Doppler shifts in Fe XII and Fe XXIV emission lines, and determine the source density. The coronal source exhibited an impulsive emission lightcurve in all AIA filters during the impulsive phase. RHESSI hard X-ray images indicate both thermal and non-thermal emission at the coronal source, and its plasma temperature derived from RHESSI imaging spectroscopy shows an impulsive rise, reaching a maximum at 12-13 MK about 10 seconds prior to the hard X-ray peak. High redshifts associated with this bright source indicate downflows of 40-250 km/s at a broad range of temperatures, interpreted as loop shrinkage and/or outflows along the magnetic field. Outflows from the coronal source towards each ribbon are also observed by AIA images at 171, 193, 211, 304 and 1600 A. The electron density of the source obtained from a Fe XIV line pair is $10^{11.50}$ which is collisionally thick to electrons with energy up to 45-65 keV, responsible for the source's non-thermal X-ray emission. We conclude that the bright coronal source is the location of the main release of magnetic energy in this flare, with a geometry consistent with component reconnection between crossing, current-carrying loops. We argue that the energy that can be released via reconnection, based on observational estimates, can plausibly account for the non-thermal energetics of the flare.

PLASMA HEATING IN SOLAR FLARES AND THEIR SOFT AND HARD X-RAY EMISSIONS

In this paper, the energy budgets of two single-loop-like flares observed in X-ray are analyzed under the assumption that nonthermal electrons (NTEs) are the only source of plasma heating during all phases of both events. The flares were observed by RHESSI and GOES on 2002 February 20 and June 2, respectively. Using a one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic code for both flares, the energy deposited in the chromosphere was derived applying RHESSI observational data. The use of the Fokker–Planck formalism permits the calculation of distributions of the NTEs in flaring loops and thus spatial distributions of the X-ray nonthermal emissions and integral fluxes for the selected energy ranges that were compared with the observed ones. Additionally, a comparative analysis of the spatial distributions of the signals in the RHESSI images was conducted for the footpoints and for all the flare loops in selected energy ranges with these quantities' fluxes obtained from the models. The best compatibility of the model and observations was obtained for the 2002 June 2 event in the 0.5–4 Å GOES range and total fluxes in the 6–12 keV, 12–25 keV, 20–25 keV, and 50–100 keV energy bands. Results of photometry of the individual flaring structures in a high energy range show that the best compliance occurred for the 2002 June 2 flare, where the synthesized emissions were at least 30% higher than the observed emissions. For the 2002 February 20 flare, synthesized emission is about four times lower than the observed one. However, in the low energy range the best conformity was obtained for the 2002 February 20 flare, where emission from the model is about 11% lower than the observed one. The larger inconsistency occurs for the 2002 June 2 solar flare, where synthesized emission is about 12 times greater or even more than the observed emission. Some part of these differences may be caused by inevitable flaws of the applied methodology, like by an assumption that the model of the flare is symmetric and there are no differences in the emissions originating from the feet of the flares loop and by relative simplicity of the applied numerical 1D code and procedures. No doubt a significant refinement of the applied numerical models and more sophisticated implementation of the various physical mechanisms involved are required to achieve a better agreement. Despite these problems, a collation of modeled results with observations shows that soft and hard X-ray emissions observed for analyzed single-loop-like events may be fully explained by electron-beam-driven evaporation only.

HARD X-RAY AND ULTRAVIOLET EMISSION DURING THE 2011 JUNE 7 SOLAR FLARE

The relationship between X-ray and UV emission during flares, particularly in the context of quasi-periodic pulsations, remains unclear. To address this, we study the impulsive X-ray and UV emission during the eruptive flare of 2011 June 7 utilising X-ray imaging from RHESSI and UV 1700A imaging from SDO/AIA. This event is associated with quasi-periodic pulsations in X-ray and possibly UV emission, as well as substantial parallel and perpendicular motion of the hard X-ray footpoints. The motion of the footpoints parallel to the flare ribbons is unusual; it is shown to reverse direction on at least two occasions. However, there is no associated short-timescale motion of the UV bright regions. Additionally, we find that the locations of the brightest X-ray and UV regions are different, particularly during the early portion of the flare impulsive phase, despite their integrated emission being strongly correlated in time. Correlation analysis of measured flare properties, such as the footpoint separation, flare shear, photospheric magnetic field and coronal reconnection rate, reveals that - in the impulsive phase - the 25 - 50 keV hard X-ray flux is only weakly correlated with these properties, in contrast to previous studies. We characterise this event in terms of long-term behaviour, where the X-ray nonthermal, thermal, and UV emission sources appear temporally and spatially consistent, and short-term behaviour, where the emission sources are inconsistent and quasi-periodic pulsations are a dominant feature requiring explanation. We suggest that the short timescale behaviour of hard X-ray footpoints, and the nature of the observed quasi-periodic pulsations, is determined by fundamental, as-yet unobserved properties of the reconnection region and particle acceleration sites. This presents a challenge for current three-dimensional flare reconnection models.

Imaging coronal magnetic-field reconnection in a solar flare

Extreme ultraviolet and X-ray imaging of a solar flare with unprecedented clarity now provide visual evidence that magnetic reconnection plays a fundamental role in generating solar flares. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory is able to observe a ’cold’ plasma moving into the reconnection point and the simultaneous acceleration of a hot-flare-heated plasma away from it. Magnetic-field reconnection is believed to play a fundamental role in magnetized plasma systems throughout the Universe1, including planetary magnetospheres, magnetars and accretion disks around black holes. This letter presents extreme ultraviolet and X-ray observations of a solar flare showing magnetic reconnection with a level of clarity not previously achieved. The multi-wavelength extreme ultraviolet observations from SDO/AIA show inflowing cool loops and newly formed, outflowing hot loops, as predicted. RHESSI X-ray spectra and images simultaneously show the appearance of plasma heated to >10 MK at the expected locations. These two data sets provide solid visual evidence of magnetic reconnection producing a solar flare, validating the basic physical mechanism of popular flare models. However, new features are also observed that need to be included in reconnection and flare studies, such as three-dimensional non-uniform, non-steady and asymmetric evolution.

RHESSIANDSDO/AIA OBSERVATIONS OF THE CHROMOSPHERIC AND CORONAL PLASMA PARAMETERS DURING A SOLAR FLARE

X-ray and EUV observations are an important diagnostic of various plasma parameters of the solar atmosphere during solar flares. Soft X-ray and EUV observations often show coronal sources near the top of flaring loops, while hard X-ray emission is mostly observed from chromospheric footpoints. Combining RHESSI with simultaneous SDO/AIA observations, it is possible for the first time to determine the density, temperature, and emission profile of the solar atmosphere over a wide range of heights during a flare, using two independent methods. Here we analyze a near limb event during the first of three hard X-ray peaks. The emission measure, temperature, and density of the coronal source is found using soft X-ray RHESSI images while the chromospheric density is determined using RHESSI visibility analysis of the hard X-ray footpoints. A regularized inversion technique is applied to AIA images of the flare to find the differential emission measure (DEM). Using DEM maps we determine the emission and temperature structure of the loop, as well as the density, and compare it with RHESSI results. The soft X-ray and hard X-ray sources are spatially coincident with the top and bottom of the EUV loop, but the bulk of the EUV emission originates from a region without co-spatial RHESSI emission. The temperature analysis along the loop indicates that the hottest plasma is found near the coronal loop top source. The EUV observations suggest that the density in the loop legs increases with increasing height while the temperature remains constant within uncertainties.

NUMERICAL SIMULATIONS OF CHROMOSPHERIC HARD X-RAY SOURCE SIZES IN SOLAR FLARES

X-ray observations are a powerful diagnostic tool for transport, acceleration, and heating of electrons in solar flares. Height and size measurements of X-ray footpoints sources can be used to determine the chromospheric density and constrain the parameters of magnetic field convergence and electron pitch-angle evolution. We investigate the influence of the chromospheric density, magnetic mirroring and collisional pitch-angle scattering on the size of X-ray sources. The time-independent Fokker-Planck equation for electron transport is solved numerically and analytically to find the electron distribution as a function of height above the photosphere. From this distribution, the expected X-ray flux as a function of height, its peak height and full width at half maximum are calculated and compared with RHESSI observations. A purely instrumental explanation for the observed source size was ruled out by using simulated RHESSI images. We find that magnetic mirroring and collisional pitch-angle scattering tend to change the electron flux such that electrons are stopped higher in the atmosphere compared with the simple case with collisional energy loss only. However, the resulting X-ray flux is dominated by the density structure in the chromosphere and only marginal increases in source width are found. Very high loop densities (>10^{11} cm^{-3}) could explain the observed sizes at higher energies, but are unrealistic and would result in no footpoint emission below about 40 keV, contrary to observations. We conclude that within a monolithic density model the vertical sizes are given mostly by the density scale-height and are predicted smaller than the RHESSI results show.

Height structure of X-ray, EUV, and white-light emission in a solar flare

The bulk of solar flare emission originates from very compact sources located in the lower solar atmosphere and seen in various wavelength ranges: near optical, UV, EUV, soft and hard X-rays, and gamma-ray emission, yet very few spatially resolved imaging observations to determine the structure of these regions exist. We investigate the above-the-photosphere heights of hard X-ray (HXR), EUV and white-light continuum sources in the low atmosphere and the corresponding densities at these heights. Simultaneous EUV/continuum images from SDO and HXR RHESSI images are compared to study a well observed gamma-ray limb flare. Using RHESSI X-ray visibilities we determine the height of the HXR sources as a function of energy above the photosphere. Co-aligning AIA/SDO and HMI/SDO images with RHESSI we infer, for the first time, the heights and characteristic densities of HXR, EUV and continuum sources in a flaring footpoint. 35-100 keV HXR sources are found at heights between 1.7 and 0.8 Mm above the photosphere, below the white-light continuum emission which appears at heights 1.5-3 Mm, and the peak of EUV emission originating near 3 Mm. The EUV emission locations are consistent with energy deposition from low energy electrons of ~12 keV occurring in the top layers of the fully ionized chromosphere/low corona and not by >20 keV electrons that produce HXR footpoints in the lower neutral chromosphere. The maximum of white-light emission appears between the HXR and EUV emission, presumably in the transition between ionized and neutral atmospheres suggesting free-bound and free-free continuum emission. We note that the energy deposited by low energy electrons is sufficient to explain the energetics of optical and UV emissions.

Hinode/EIS plasma diagnostics in the flaring solar chromosphere

Context: The impulsive phase of solar flares is a time of rapid energy deposition and heating in the lower solar atmosphere, leading to changes in the temperature, density, ionisation and velocity structure of this region. Aims: We aim to study the lower atmosphere during the impulsive phase of a flare using imaging and spectroscopic data from Hinode/EIS, RHESSI and TRACE. We place these observations in context by using a wide range of temperature observations from each instrument. Methods: We analyse sparse raster data from the Hinode/EIS spectrometer to derive the density and line-of-sight velocity in flare footpoints, in a GOES C6.6 flare observed on 05-June-2007. The raster duration was 150s across the centre of a small active region, allowing multiple exposures of the flare ribbons and footpoints. Using RHESSI and Hinode/XRT we test both non-thermal and thermal models for the HXR emission. Results: During the flare impulsive phase, we find evidence from XRT for flare footpoints at temperatures exceeding 7 MK. We measure the electron number density increasing up to a few ×10¹⁰ cm⁻³ in the footpoints, at temperatures of \~1.5-2 MK, accompanied by small downflows at temperatures below Fe XIII and upflows of up to \~140 km s⁻¹ at temperatures above. This is reasonable in the context of HXR diagnostics of the flare electron beam. The electrons inferred have sufficient energy to affect the chromospheric ionisation structure. Conclusions: EIS sparse raster data coupled with RHESSI imaging and spectroscopy prove useful here in studying the lower atmosphere of solar flares, and in this event suggest heat deposition relatively high in the chromosphere drives chromospheric evaporation while increasing the observed electron densities at footpoints. However, from RHESSI spectral fitting it is not possible to say whether the data are more consistent with a model including a non-thermal beam, or purely thermal model.

INVESTIGATION OF CHROMOSPHERIC EVAPORATION IN A NEUPERT-TYPE SOLAR FLARE

The Neupert effect implies a flare model in which the hard X-rays (HXRs) are produced by energetic electrons via electron-ion bremsstrahlung as they lose their energies in the chromosphere, while the soft X-rays (SXRs) are produced by thermal bremsstrahlung from due to plasma being heated by those same electrons. Based on this concept, we investigate the evidence for chromospheric evaporation in a Neupert-type flare on 2004 October 30. First, we demonstrate that this event is consistent with the Neupert effect. Using the RHESSI data, both thermal and nonthermal energies are derived after the onset of this flare. The high correlation between the derivative of the SXRs and HXRs and between the derivative of the thermal energy and nonthermal energy indicates that the 2004 October 30 flare is a Neupert-type event. Second, chromospheric evaporation is necessarily expected during the flare's rising phase. We analyze RHESSI images at different energies and different times around the flare maximum. The HXR emission tends to move the footpoints close to each other, finally merging them into a single source with the same position as the loop-top source. When the projection effect (due to this event being near the disk center) is taken into account, this fact can be regarded as the signature of chromospheric evaporation in the X-ray observations. RHESSI observations show three kinds of evidence that are consistent with the evaporation model. First, at a given instant, the higher energy X-rays originate from the deeper layers of the atmosphere or further away from the loop top. Second, in a given energy band, i.e., at 20-30 keV, the earlier X-rays originate from the deeper layers or further away from the loop top. Third, the X-ray footpoint sources at higher energies disappear at later times. Based on these characteristics, chromospheric evaporation took about 100 s for the 2004 October 30 flare. X-rays at all energy bands do not show evidence of evaporation probably because measurements are the most sensitive only between 12 and 30 keV. After measuring the source scale as a function of time, we roughly estimate the shrinkage velocities at different energies, for instance, 238 km s–1 for 12-15 keV, 285 km s–1 for 15-20 keV, and 846 km s–1 for 20-30 keV. If the evaporation processes primarily contribute to the source shrinkage, these values are considered as the evaporation velocities, indicating that the evaporation flow would be faster during the latter part of flare.

A microflare with hard X-ray-correlated gyroresonance line emission at 314 MHz

Context. Small energy release events in the solar corona can give insights into the flare process which are regularly hidden in the complex morphology of larger events. For one case we find a narrowband radio signal well correlated with the hard X-ray flare. We investigate wether these signals are probes for the flare current sheet. Aims. We aim to establish the relation between narrowband and short-duration features (<1% of the observing frequency in the spectral range 250–340 MHz, and some 5 s until 2 min, respectively) in dynamic radio spectral diagrams and simultaneously occuring HXR bursts. Methods. We use dynamic radio spectra from the Astrophysical Institute Potsdam, HXR images of RHESSI, TRACE coronal and chromospheric images, SOHO-MDI high resolution magnetogram data, and its potential field extrapolation for the analysis of one small flare event in AR10465 on September 26, 2003. We point to similar effects in e.g. the X-class flare on November 03, 2003 to demonstrate that we are not dealing with a singular phenomenon. Results. We confirm the solar origin of the extremely narrowband radio emission. From RHESSI images and the magnetic field data we identify the probable site of the radio source as well as the HXR footpoint and the SXR flare loop emission. The flare loop is included in an ongoing change of magnetic connectivity as confirmed by TRACE images of hot coronal loops. The flare energy is stored in the nonpotential magnetic field substructure around the microflare site which is relaxed to a potential one. Conclusions. We conclude that the correlated HXR footpoint/narrowband radio emission, and the transition to a second energy release in HXR without associated radio emission are direct probes of changing magnetic connectivity during the flare. We suppose that the narrowband radio emission is due to gyroresonance radiation at the second harmonic of the local electron cyclotron frequency. It follows an upper limit of the magnetic field in the radio source volume of less than 50% of the mean potential field in the same height range. This supports the idea that the narrowband radio source is situated in the immediate surroundings of the flare current sheet.

EVIDENCE OF A PLASMOID-LOOPTOP INTERACTION AND MAGNETIC INFLOWS DURING A SOLAR FLARE/CORONAL MASS EJECTION ERUPTIVE EVENT

Observational evidence is presented for the merging of a downward-propagating plasmoid with a looptop kernel during an occulted limb event on 2007 January 25. RHESSI lightcurves in the 9-18 keV energy range, as well as that of the 245 MHz channel of the Learmonth Solar Observatory, show enhanced nonthermal emission in the corona at the time of the merging suggesting that additional particle acceleration took place. This was attributed to a secondary episode of reconnection in the current sheet that formed between the two merging sources. RHESSI images were used to establish a mean downward velocity of the plasmoid of 12 km/s. Complementary observations from the SECCHI suite of instruments onboard STEREO-Behind showed that this process occurred during the acceleration phase of the associated CME. From wavelet-enhanced EUVI, images evidence of inflowing magnetic field lines prior to the CME eruption is also presented. The derived inflow velocity was found to be 1.5 km/s. This combination of observations supports a recent numerical simulation of plasmoid formation, propagation and subsequent particle acceleration due to the tearing mode instability during current sheet formation.

Do solar decimetric spikes originate in coronal X-ray sources?

In the standard solar flare scenario, a large number of particles are accelerated in the corona. Nonthermal electrons emit both X-rays and radio waves. Thus, correlated signatures of the acceleration process are predicted at both wavelengths, coinciding either close to the footpoints of a magnetic loop or near the coronal X-ray source. We attempt to study the spatial connection between coronal X-ray emission and decimetric radio spikes to determine the site and geometry of the acceleration process. The positions of radio-spike sources and coronal X-ray sources are determined and analyzed in a well-observed limb event. Radio spikes are identified in observations from the Phoenix-2 spectrometer. Data from the Nan\c{c}ay radioheliograph are used to determine the position of the radio spikes. RHESSI images in soft and hard X-ray wavelengths are used to determine the X-ray flare geometry. Those observations are complemented by images from GOES/SXI. We find that decimetric spikes do not originate from coronal X-ray flare sources contrary to previous expectations. However, the observations suggest a causal link between the coronal X-ray source, related to the major energy release site, and simultaneous activity in the higher corona.

RHESSIMicroflares with Quiet Microwave Emission

We statistically study RHESSI microflares, or weak events,'' from the first month of 2003. In total, 94 events are selected from the RHESSI flare catalog in the 3-6 and 12-25 keV energy ranges. The sample differs from those of previous studies in that the events are characterized by having quiet microwave emission, based on observations from the Nobeyama Radio Polarimeters. These microflares cluster around GOES class C1.1 and are associated with active regions. Consistent with previous findings, the thermal plasma observed by RHESSI is found to be hot, 10 MK less than or similar to T less than or similar to 15 less than or similar to MK, with low emission measure (10(46) cm(-3) less than or similar to EM less than or similar to 10(47) cm(-3)) and density (1.0; 10(9) cm(-3) less than or similar to n(e) less than or similar to 12; 10(9) cm(-3)). The spectral fitting requires a steep nonthermal power-law component, with median index of 8.1. Further evidence for the presence of nonthermal electrons is that the estimated nonthermal energy is comparable to the thermal energy, having a median value of similar to 4.0; 10(28) ergs for the events studied here. Using the correlation between the time derivative of the light curve at 3-6 keV and the 12-25 keV hard X-ray flux, we investigate the Neupert effect in these microflares. Similar to findings for large flares, roughly half of these microflares (46 of 94) display the Neupert effect. RHESSI imaging shows that each event has a single source at 3-12 keV. Such characteristics indicate that some in situ heating mechanism is at work in the local corona surrounding microflares, with the low microwave emission resulting from a lack of nonthermal electron propagation to the chromosphere.

An intriguing solar microflare observed with RHESSI, Hinode, and TRACE

Investigate particle acceleration and heating in a solar microflare. In a microflare with non-thermal emission to remarkably high energies ($>50$ keV), we investigate the hard X-rays with RHESSI imaging and spectroscopy and the resulting thermal emission seen in soft X-rays with Hinode/XRT and in EUV with TRACE. The non-thermal footpoints observed with RHESSI spatially and temporally match bright footpoint emission in soft X-rays and EUV. There is the possibility that the non-thermal spectrum extends down to 4 keV. The hard X-ray burst clearly does not follow the expected Neupert effect, with the time integrated hard X-rays not matching the soft X-ray time profile. So although this is a simple microflare with good X-ray observation coverage it does not fit the standard flare model.

Spectroscopic analysis of the solar flare event on 2002 August 3 with the use of RHESSI and RESIK data

We use simultaneous observations from RESIK and RHESSI instruments to compare plasma properties of a major solar flare in its rise and gradual phase. This event occurred on 2002 August 3 (peak time at 19:06 UT). The flare had a very good coverage with RESIK data and well-resolved soft and hard X-ray sources were seen in RHESSI images. Spectra of X-ray radiation from RHESSI images are studied and compared with RESIK measurements in different flare phases. Result shows large differences in flare morphology and spectra between flare rise and gradual phase.