Spatial Relationship between Twist in Active Region Magnetic Fields and Solar Flares | Zendy

Michael Hahn | Zendy; Stacy Gaard | Zendy; Patricia R. Jibben | Zendy; R. C. Canfield | Zendy; Dibyendu Nandy | Zendy

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Spatial Relationship between Twist in Active Region Magnetic Fields and Solar Flares

Author(s) -

Michael Hahn,

Stacy Gaard,

Patricia R. Jibben,

R. C. Canfield,

Dibyendu Nandy

Publication year - 2005

Publication title -

the astrophysical journal

Language(s) - English

Resource type - Journals

SCImago Journal Rank - 2.376

H-Index - 489

eISSN - 1538-4357

pISSN - 0004-637X

DOI - 10.1086/431893

Subject(s) - physics , solar flare , magnetic reconnection , helicity , twist , astrophysics , magnetic field , flare , nanoflares , coronal mass ejection , magnetic helicity , magnetic flux , chromosphere , astronomy , solar wind , magnetohydrodynamics , geometry , mathematics , particle physics , quantum mechanics

Twisted magnetic field lines in solar active regions constitute stressed flux systems, the reconnection of which can release the stored (excess) magnetic energy in the form of solar flares. Using co-registered photospheric vector magnetograms and chromospheric Himages for 29 flares, we explore the spatial relationship between these flares and the magnetic topology of the active regions in which they occur. We find two dominant trends. First, flares are preferentially initiated in subregions that have a high gradient in twist. Second, flare initiation occurs close to chirality inversion lines (which separate regions with twist of opposite handedness). Our results demonstrate that magnetic helicity, as manifested in the twist parameter, plays an important role in magnetic reconnection and solar flaring activity.

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