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Plasma Heating Induced by Tadpole-Like Downflows in the Flaring Solar Corona

Authors :
Samanta, Tanmoy
Tian, Hui
Chen, Bin
Reeves, Katharine K.
Cheung, Mark C. M.
Vourlidas, Angelos
Banerjee, Dipankar
Source :
The Innovation 2(1), 100083 (2021)
Publication Year :
2021

Abstract

As one of the most spectacular energy release events in the solar system, solar flares are generally powered by magnetic reconnection in the solar corona. As a result of the re-arrangement of magnetic field topology after the reconnection process, a series of new loop-like magnetic structures are often formed and are known as flare loops. A hot diffuse region, consisting of around 5-10 MK plasma, is also observed above the loops and is called a supra-arcade fan. Often, dark, tadpole-like structures are seen to descend through the bright supra-arcade fans. It remains unclear what role these so-called supra-arcade downflows (SADs) play in heating the flaring coronal plasma. Here we show a unique flare observation, where many SADs collide with the flare loops and strongly heat the loops to a temperature of 10-20 MK. Several of these interactions generate clear signatures of quasi-periodic enhancement in the full-Sun-integrated soft X-ray emission, providing an alternative interpretation for quasi-periodic pulsations that are commonly observed during solar and stellar flares.<br />Comment: Published in The Innovation; Animations are available in the Journal's Website

Details

Database :
arXiv
Journal :
The Innovation 2(1), 100083 (2021)
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.2103.14257
Document Type :
Working Paper
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xinn.2021.100083