BUILDUP AND RELEASE OF MAGNETIC TWIST DURING THE X3.4 SOLAR FLARE OF 2006 DECEMBER 13

Journal Article · Tue Nov 20 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Astrophysical Journal

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1088/0004-637X/760/1/17· OSTI ID:22086346

Inoue, S; Pandey, V S; Magara, T; Choe, G S ^[1]; Shiota, D ^[2]

---

1. School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi-do 446-701 (Korea, Republic of)
2. Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN (Institute of Physics and Chemical Research), Wako, Saitama 351-0198 (Japan)

We analyze the temporal evolution of the three-dimensional magnetic structure of the flaring active region (AR) NOAA 10930 by using the nonlinear force-free fields extrapolated from the photospheric vector magnetic fields observed by the Solar Optical Telescope on board Hinode. This AR consisted mainly of two types of twisted magnetic field lines: one has a strong negative (left-handed) twist due to the counterclockwise motion of the positive sunspot and is rooted in the regions of both polarities in the sunspot at a considerable distance from the polarity inversion line (PIL). In the flare phase, dramatic magnetic reconnection occurs in those negatively twisted lines in which the absolute value of the twist is greater than a half-turn. The other type consists of both positively and negatively twisted field lines formed relatively close to the PIL between two sunspots. A strong Ca II image began to brighten in this region of mixed polarity, in which the positively twisted field lines were found to be injected within one day across the pre-existing negatively twisted region, along which strong currents were embedded. Consequently, the central region near the PIL contains a mix of differently twisted field lines and the strong currents may play a prominent role in flare onset.

• OSTI ID: 22086346
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal, Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 760; ISSN ASJOAB; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS
DISTANCE
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC RECONNECTION
NONLINEAR PROBLEMS
PHOTOSPHERE
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR FLARES
STAR EVOLUTION
SUN
SUNSPOTS
TELESCOPES
THREE-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VECTORS