Statistical Study of Hard X-ray Footpoint Motions in Solar Flares
Abstract
Hard X-ray (HXR) source locations in solar flares are thought to be the sites where flare-produced energetic electrons precipitate along reconnected magnetic loops and then lose their energy via collisions with ambient plasma in the lower atmosphere. According to a standard reconnection model, HXR footpoints should separate due to the successive reconnections. However, several previous studies showed that the footpoints move along ribbons or move approach to each other. To understand the characteristics of footpoint motions more systematically, a statistical survey of HXR footpoint motions in M-class and X-class flares is done using RHESSI observations. Such investigation provides a good way to test flare models.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Solar Physics Division Meeting #37
- Pub Date:
- June 2006
- Bibcode:
- 2006SPD....37.1312Y