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Transient rotation of photospheric vector magnetic fields associated with a solar flare

Author

Listed:
  • Yan Xu

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Wenda Cao

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Kwangsu Ahn

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Ju Jing

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Chang Liu

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Jongchul Chae

    (Seoul National University)

  • Nengyi Huang

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Na Deng

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Dale E. Gary

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology)

  • Haimin Wang

    (New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology
    New Jersey Institute of Technology)

Abstract

As one of the most violent eruptions on the Sun, flares are believed to be powered by magnetic reconnection. The fundamental physics involving the release, transfer, and deposition of energy have been studied extensively. Taking advantage of the unprecedented resolution provided by the 1.6 m Goode Solar Telescope, here, we show a sudden rotation of vector magnetic fields, about 12–20° counterclockwise, associated with a flare. Unlike the permanent changes reported previously, the azimuth-angle change is transient and cospatial/temporal with Hα emission. The measured azimuth angle becomes closer to that in potential fields suggesting untwist of flare loops. The magnetograms were obtained in the near infrared at 1.56 μm, which is minimally affected by flare emission and no intensity profile change was detected. We believe that these transient changes are real and discuss the possible explanations in which the high-energy electron beams or Alfve′n waves play a crucial role.

Suggested Citation

  • Yan Xu & Wenda Cao & Kwangsu Ahn & Ju Jing & Chang Liu & Jongchul Chae & Nengyi Huang & Na Deng & Dale E. Gary & Haimin Wang, 2018. "Transient rotation of photospheric vector magnetic fields associated with a solar flare," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-02509-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-02509-w
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