The Problematic High-Energy Flares of 2012 March 7
Abstract
Two X-class flares occurred on 2012 March 7, an X5.3 and an X1.1. The earlier X5 flare gathered much attention, initiating a powerful and fast CME from the eastern hemisphere. The “forgotten” X1 flare exhibited much smaller CME from the same active region one hour later. However, extended high-energy gamma emission was present for almost the entire day of 2012 March 7. We have resolved the gamma emission into two separate, but overlapping extended occurrences, being from the two sequential X-class flares. We find that the later X1 event was slightly more prolific in gamma emission, mostly due to its duration, despite being much weaker in soft x rays and dynamic coronal activity. We attribute the entirety of the gamma emission from particle precipitation from the footpoints two separate quasi-static large-scale (of order 1 solar radius) coronal loops and not from the associated CMEs. Using constraints from ancillary data, we estimate the bounds in parameter space of the loop sizes and embedded turbulence necessary to accelerate protons and ions to high energies producing the gamma emission.
- Publication:
-
AAS/Solar Physics Division Abstracts #48
- Pub Date:
- August 2017
- Bibcode:
- 2017SPD....4810205R