On the Temporal Relationship between Hα Filament Eruptions and Soft X-Ray Emissions

A technique for investigating the temporal relationship between Hα filament eruptions and soft X-ray flux is presented. The method is fast, simple, based on statistical measures, and requires no a priori knowledge regarding the location of the filaments on the solar disk. The method is used to study the filament eruption associated with a coronal mass ejection and the M-class flare that originated from NOAA Active Region 9163 on 2000 September 12. The technique provides a quantitative determination of the temporal relationship between changes in the Hα filament and soft X-ray flux. We conclude that the filament eruption begins 2 hr prior to the first detectable enhancement in soft X-ray flux.