In this Letter, we study the kinematic properties of ascending hot blobs associated with confined flares. Taking advantage of high-cadence extreme-ultraviolet images provided by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we find that for the 26 events selected here, the hot blobs are first impulsively accelerated outward, but then quickly slow down to motionlessness. Their velocity evolution is basically synchronous with the temporal variation of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite soft X-ray flux of the associated flares, except that the velocity peak precedes the soft X-ray peak by minutes. Moreover, the duration of the acceleration phase of the erupting blobs is moderately correlated with that of the flare rise phase. For nine of the 26 cases, the erupting blobs even appear minutes prior to the onset of the associated flares. Our results show that a fraction of confined flares also involve the eruption of a magnetic flux rope, which sometimes is formed and heated prior to the flare onset. We suggest that the initiation and development of these confined flares are similar to that of eruptive ones, and the main difference may lie in the background field constraint, which is stronger for the former than for the latter.
Magnetic flux ropes (MFRs), sets of coherently twisted magnetic field lines, are believed as core structures of various solar eruptions. Their evolution plays an important role to understand the physical mechanisms of solar eruptions, and can shed light on adverse space weather near the Earth. However, the erupting MFRs are occasionally prevented by strong overlying magnetic fields, and the MFR evolution during the descending phase in the confined cases is lack of attention. Here, we present the deformation of an erupting MFR accompanied by a confined double-peaked solar flare. The first peak …
In this paper, we present observations and analysis of an interesting sigmoid formation, eruption and the associated flare that occurred on 2014 April 18 using multi-wavelength data sets. We discuss the possible role of the sigmoid eruption in triggering the flare, which consists of two different set of ribbons: parallel ribbons as well as a large-scale quasi-circular ribbon. Several observational evidence and nonlinear force-free field extrapolation results show the existence of a large-scale fan-spine type magnetic configuration with a sigmoid lying under a section of the fan dome. The event…
Magnetic flux ropes are the centerpiece of solar eruptions. Direct measurements for the magnetic field of flux ropes are crucial for understanding the triggering and energy release processes, yet they remain heretofore elusive. Here we report microwave imaging spectroscopy observations of an M1.4-class solar flare that occurred on 2017 September 6, using data obtained by the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array. This flare event is associated with a partial eruption of a twisted filament observed in Hα by the Goode Solar Telescope at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. The extreme ultraviolet (EUV) a…
Flares and CMEs are very powerful events in which energetic radiation and particles are ejected within a short time. These events thus can strongly affect planets that orbit these stars. This is particularly relevant for planets of M-stars, because these stars stay active for a long time during their evolution and yet potentially habitable planets orbit at short distance. Unfortunately, not much is known about the relation between flares and CMEs in M-stars as only very few CMEs have so far been observed in M-stars. In order to learn more about flares and CMEs on M-stars we monitored the activ…
Coronal cavities have previously been observed associated with long-lived quiescent filaments and are thought to correspond to the associated magnetic flux rope. Although the standard flare model predicts a coronal cavity corresponding to the erupting flux rope, these have only been observed using broadband imaging data, restricting analysis to the plane-of-sky. We present a unique set of spectroscopic observations of an active region filament seen erupting at the solar limb in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV). The cavity erupted and expanded rapidly, with the change in rise phase contemporaneous…
We report microwave spectral imaging observations of an erupting magnetic flux rope during the early impulsive phase of the X8.2-class limb flare on 2017 September 10, obtained by the Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array. A few days prior to the eruption, when viewed against the disk, the flux rope appeared as a reverse S-shaped dark filament along the magnetic polarity inversion line. During the eruption, the rope exhibited a "hot channel" structure in extreme ultraviolet and soft X-ray passbands sensitive to ~10 MK plasma. The central portion of the flux rope was nearly aligned with the line of…
This paper studies the magnetic topology of successively erupting active regions (ARs) 11429 and 12371. Employing vector magnetic field observations from Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager, the pre-eruptive magnetic structure is reconstructed by a model of non-linear force-free field (NLFFF). For all the five CMEs from these ARs, the pre-eruptive magnetic structure identifies an inverse-S sigmoid consistent with the coronal plasma tracers in EUV observations. In all the eruption cases, the quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) of Large Q values are continuously enclosing core field bipolar regions in w…
Images of an east-limb flare on 3 November 2010 taken in the 131 Å channel of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory provide a convincing example of a long current sheet below an erupting plasmoid, as predicted by the standard magnetic reconnection model of eruptive flares. However, the 171 Å and 193 Å channel images hint at an alternative scenario. These images reveal that large-scale waves with velocity greater than 1000 km/s propagated alongside and ahead of the erupting plasmoid. Just south of the plasmoid, the waves coincided with type-II radio emission, a…
A filament eruption was observed with the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT) on June 23 2012, starting around 06:40 UT, beyond the West limb. The filament could be followed in SSRT images to heights above 1 Rs, and coincided with the core of the CME, seen in LASCO C2 images. We discuss briefly the dynamics of the eruption: the top of the filament showed a smooth acceleration up to an apparent velocity of 1100 km/s. Images behind the limb from STEREO-A show a two ribbon flare and the interaction of the main filament, located along the primary neutral line, with an arch-like structure, orient…
It is well known that solar flares have broad impacts on the low atmosphere, but it is largely unknown how they affect sunspot waves and oscillations. It is also under debate as to whether the flare-induced photospheric changes are due to the momentum conservation with coronal mass ejections or due to magnetic reconnection. To shed light on the so-called "back reaction" of solar eruptions, we investigated how running penumbral waves (RPWs) at one foot of an erupting magnetic flux rope (MFR) responds to the rope buildup and subsequent erosion. During the rope-buildup stage, the western foot of …
We analyze the imaging observations of an M-class eruptive flare of 2015 November, 4. The pre-eruptive H alpha filament was modelled by the non-linear force free field model, which showed that it consisted of two helical systems. Tether-cutting reconnection involving these two systems led to the formation of a hot sigmoidal loop structure rooted in a small hook that formed at the end of the flare ribbon. Subsequently, the hot loops started to slip away form the small hook until it disappeared. The loops continued slipping and the ribbon elongated itself by several tens of arc seconds. A new an…
We present a detailed three-dimensional (3D) view of a prominence eruption, coronal loop expansion, and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) associated with an M4.4 flare that occurred on 2011 March 8 in the active region NOAA 11165. Full-disk H$α$ images of the flare and filament ejection were successfully obtained by the Flare Monitoring Telescope (FMT) following its relocation to Ica University, Peru. Multiwavelength observation around the H$α$ line enabled us to derive the 3D velocity field of the H$α$ prominence eruption. Features in extreme ultraviolet were also obtained by the Atmospheric Imag…
We carry out a three-dimensional magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) simulation to model the initiation of the coronal mass ejection (CME) on 13 December 2006 in the emerging δ-sunspot active region NOAA 10930. The setup of the simulation is similar to a previous simulation by Fan (2011), but with a significantly widened simulation domain to accommodate the wide CME. The simulation shows that the CME can result from the emergence of a east-west oriented twisted flux rope whose positive, following emerging pole corresponds to the observed positive rotating sunspot emerging against the southern edge of t…
During eruptive solar flares and coronal mass ejections, a non-pot{\-}ential magnetic arcade with much excess magnetic energy goes unstable and reconnects. It produces a twisted erupting flux rope and leaves behind a sheared arcade of hot coronal loops. We suggest that: the twist of the erupting flux rope can be determined from conservation of magnetic flux and magnetic helicity and equipartition of magnetic helicity. It depends on the geometry of the initial pre-eruptive structure. Two cases are considered, in the first of which a flux rope is not present initially but is created during the e…
We report on observations of the two newly-identified reconnection geometries involving erupting flux ropes. In 3D, a flux rope can reconnect either with a surrounding coronal arcade (recently named "ar-rf" reconnection) or with itself ("rr-rf" reconnection), and both kinds of reconnection create a new flux rope field line and a flare loop. For the first time, we identify all four constituents of both reconnections in a solar eruptive event, the filament eruption of 2011 June 07 observed by SDO/AIA. The ar-rf reconnection manifests itself as shift of one leg of the filament by more than 25" no…
We investigate the heating of an erupting prominence and loops associated with a coronal mass ejection and X-class flare. The prominence is seen in absorption in EUV at the beginning of its eruption. Later the prominence changes to emission, which indicates heating of the erupting plasma. We find the densities of the erupting prominence using the absorption properties of hydrogen and helium in different passbands. We estimate the temperatures and densities of the erupting prominence and loops seen as emission features using the differential emission measure method, which uses both EUV and X-ra…
It is recently noted that solar eruptions can be associated with the contraction of coronal loops that are not involved in magnetic reconnection processes. In this paper, we investigate five coronal eruptions originating from four sigmoidal active regions, using high-cadence, high-resolution narrowband EUV images obtained by the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO}). The magnitudes of the flares associated with the eruptions range from the GOES-class B to X. Owing to the high-sensitivity and broad temperature coverage of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard SDO, we are able to identify bo…
Electron acceleration in the solar corona is often associated with flares and the eruption of twisted magnetic structures known as flux ropes. However, the locations and mechanisms of such particle acceleration during the flare and eruption are still subject to much investigation. Observing the exact sites of particle acceleration can help confirm how the flare and eruption are initiated and how they evolve. Here we use the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly to analyse a flare and erupting flux rope on 2014-April-18, while observations from the Nancay Radio Astronomy Facility allows us to diagnose t…
Magnetic null has long been recognized as a special structure serving as a preferential site for magnetic reconnection (MR). However, the direct observational study of MR at null-points is largely lacking. Here, we show the observations of MR around a magnetic null associated with an eruption that resulted in an M1.7 flare and a coronal mass ejection. The GOES X- ray profile of the flare exhibited two peaks at 02:23 UT and 02:40 UT on 2012 November 8, respectively. Based on the imaging observations, we find that the first and also primary X- ray peak was originated from MR in the current sheet…
In this paper, we report the multiwavelength observations of an erupting prominence and the associated CME on 13 May 2013. The event occurs behind the western limb in the field of view of SDO/AIA. The prominence is supported by a highly twisted magnetic flux rope and shows rapid rotation in the counterclockwise direction during the rising motion. The rotation of the prominence lasts for $\sim$47 minutes. The average period, angular speed, and linear speed are $\sim$806 s, $\sim$0.46 rad min$^{-1}$, and $\sim$355 km s$^{-1}$, respectively. The total twist angle reaches $\sim$7$π$, which is cons…
We examine 21 solar polar coronal jets that we identify in soft X-ray images obtained from the Hinode/X-ray telescope (XRT). We identify 11 of these jets as blowout jets and four as standard jets (with six uncertain), based on their X-ray-spire widths being respectively wide or narrow (compared to the jet's base) in the XRT images. From corresponding Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory's (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), essentially all (at least 20 of 21) of the jets are made by minifilament eruptions, consistent with other recent studies. Here, we exa…
Sequential chromospheric brightenings (SCBs) are often observed in the immediate vicinity of erupting flares and are associated with coronal mass ejections. Since their initial discovery in 2005, there have been several subsequent investigations of SCBs. These studies have used differing detection and analysis techniques, making it difficult to compare results between studies. This work employs the automated detection algorithm of Kirk et al. (Solar Phys. 283, 97, 2013) to extract the physical characteristics of SCBs in 11 flares of varying size and intensity. We demonstrate that the magnetic …
We investigate the formation times of eruptive magnetic flux ropes relative to the onset of solar eruptions, which is important for constraining models of coronal mass ejection (CME) initiation. We inspected uninterrupted sequences of 131 Å images that spanned more than eight hours and were obtained by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) to identify the formation times of hot flux ropes that erupted in CMEs from locations close to the limb. The appearance of the flux ropes as well as their evolution toward eruptions were determined using morphol…
The background field is assumed to play prime role in the erupting structures like prominences. In the flux rope models, the critical decay index ($n_c$) is a measure of the rate at which background field intensity decreases with height over the flux rope or erupting structure. In the real observations, the critical height of the background field is unknown, so a typical value of $n_{c}=1.5$ is adopted from the numerical studies. In this study, we determined the $n_c$ of 10 prominence eruptions (PEs). The prominence height in 3D is derived from two-perspective observations of \textit{Solar Dyn…
With the aim of understanding the physical mechanisms of confined flares, we selected 18 confined flares during 2011-2017, and classified the confined flares into two types based on their different dynamic properties and magnetic configurations. "Type I" of confined flares are characterized by slipping reconnection, strong shear, and stable filament. "Type II" flares have nearly no slipping reconnection, and have a configuration in potential state after the flare. Filament erupts but is confined by strong strapping field. "Type II" flares could be explained by 2D MHD models while "type I" flar…
We investigate triggering, activation, and ejection of a solar eruptive prominence that occurred in a multi-polar flux system of active region NOAA 11548 on 2012 August 18 by analyzing data from AIA on board SDO, RHESSI, and EUVI/SECCHI on board STEREO. Prior to the prominence activation, we observed striking coronal activities in the form of a blowout jet which is associated with rapid eruption of a cool flux rope. Further, the jet-associated flux rope eruption underwent splitting and rotation during its outward expansion. These coronal activities are followed by the prominence activation dur…
A magnetic flux rope (FR), hosting hot plasma, is thought to be central to the physics of coronal mass ejection. Such FRs are widely observed with passbands of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), that are sensitive to emission from the hot plasma around 10 MK. In contrast, observations of warmer (around 1 MK) counterparts of FRs are sparse. In this study, we report the failed eruption of a multi-thermal FR, hosting both hot and warm plasma. On 2015 May 1, a hot channel appeared in the AIA high temperature passbands out of the southeastern solar …
We study the early evolution of a hot-channel-like magnetic flux rope (MFR) toward eruption. Combining with imaging observation and magnetic field extrapolation, we find that the hot channel possibly originated from a pre-existing seed MFR with a hyperbolic flux tube (HFT). In the precursor phase, three-dimensional tether-cutting reconnection at the HFT is most likely resulting in the heating and buildup of the hot channel. In this process, the forming hot channel was rapidly enlarged at its spatial size and slipped its feet to two remote positions. Afterward, it instantly erupted outwards wit…
We investigate the distinct properties of two types of flares: eruptive flares associated with CMEs and confined flares without CMEs. Our sample of study includes nine M and X-class flares, all from the same active region (AR), six of which are confined and three others are eruptive. The confined flares tend to be more impulsive in the soft X-ray time profiles and show more slender shapes in the EIT 195 A images, while the eruptive ones are of long-duration events and show much more extended brightening regions. The location of the confined flares are closer to the center of the AR, while the …
Coronal dimmings, localized regions of reduced emission in the EUV and soft X-rays, are interpreted as density depletions due to mass loss during the CME expansion. They contain crucial information on the early evolution of CMEs low in the corona. For 62 dimming events, characteristic parameters are derived, statistically analyzed and compared with basic flare quantities. On average, coronal dimmings have a size of $2.15\times10^{10}$ km$^{2}$, contain a total unsigned magnetic flux of $1.75\times10^{21}$ Mx, and show a total brightness decrease of $-1.91\times10^{6}$ DN, which results in a re…
We analyze 152 large confined flares (GOES class $\geq$M1.0 and $\leq$$45^{\circ}$ from disk center) during 2010$-$2019, and classify them into two types according to the criterion taken from the work of Li et al. (2019). "Type I" flares are characterized by slipping motions of flare loops and ribbons and a stable filament underlying the flare loops. "Type II" flares are associated with the failed eruptions of the filaments, which can be explained by the classical 2D flare model. A total of 59 flares are "Type I" flares (about 40\%) and 93 events are "Type II" flares (about 60\%). There are si…
Using the H$α$ observations from the New Vacuum Solar Telescope at Fuxian Solar Observatory, we focus on the fine structures of three confined flares and the issue why all the three flares are confined instead of eruptive. All the three confined flares take place successively at the same location and have similar morphologies, so can be termed homologous confined flares. In the simultaneous images obtained by the Solar Dynamics Observatory, many large-scale coronal loops above the confined flares are clearly observed in multi-wavelengths. At the pre-flare stage, two dipoles emerge near the neg…
A statistical study of the chromospheric ribbon evolution in H$α$ two-ribbon flares is performed. The data set consists of 50 confined ($62\,\%$) and eruptive ($38\,\%$) flares that occurred from June 2000 to June 2015. The flares are selected homogeneously over the H$α$ and $\textit{GOES}$ (Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite) classes, with an emphasis on including powerful confined flares and weak eruptive flares. H$α$ filtergrams from Kanzelhöhe Observatory in combination with $\textit{MDI}$ (Michelson Doppler Imager) and $\textit{HMI}$ (Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager) magne…
The cold-dense plasma is occasionally detected in the solar wind with in situ data, but the source of the cold-dense plasma remains illusive. Interchange reconnections (IRs) between closed fields and nearby open fields are well known to contribute to the formation of solar winds. We present a confined filament eruption associated with a puff-like coronal mass ejection (CME) on 2014 December 24. The filament underwent successive activations and finally erupted, due to continuous magnetic flux cancellations and emergences. The confined erupting filament showed a clear untwist motion, and most of…
With the observations of the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we present the slipping magnetic reconnections with multiple flare ribbons (FRs) during an X1.2 eruptive flare on 2014 January 7. A center negative polarity was surrounded by several positive ones, and there appeared three FRs. The three FRs showed apparent slipping motions, and hook structures formed at their ends. Due to the moving footpoints of the erupting structures, one tight semi-circular hook disappeared after the slippage along its inner and outer edge, and coronal dimmings formed within the hook. The east hook also faded as a r…
In this study, we investigated the energy partition of four confined circular-ribbon flares (CRFs) near the solar disk center, which are observed simultaneously by SDO, GOES, and RHESSI. We calculated different energy components, including the radiative outputs in 1$-$8, 1$-$70, and 70$-$370 Å, total radiative loss, peak thermal energy derived from GOES and RHESSI, nonthermal energy in flare-accelerated electrons, and magnetic free energy before flares. It is found that the energy components increase systematically with the flare class, indicating that more energies are involved in larger flar…
A model for strongly writhing confined solar eruptions suggests an origin in the helical kink instability of a coronal flux rope which remains stable against the torus instability. This model is tested against the well observed filament eruption on 2002 May 27 in a parametric MHD simulation study which comprises all phases of the event. Good agreement with the essential observed properties is obtained. These include the confinement, terminal height, writhing, distortion, and dissolution of the filament, and the flare loops. The agreement is robust against variations in a representative range o…
Magnetic flux ropes (MFRs) are believed to be the core structure in solar eruptions, nevertheless, their formation remains intensely debated. Here we report a rapid buildup process of an MFR-system during a confined X2.2 class flare occurred on 2017 September 6 in NOAA AR 12673, three hours after which the structure erupted to a major coronal mass ejection (CME) accompanied by an X9.3 class flare. For the X2.2 flare, we do not find EUV dimmings, separation of its flare ribbons, or clear CME signatures, suggesting a confined flare. For the X9.3 flare, large-scale dimmings, separation of its fla…
From 2014 October 19 to 27, six X-class flares occurred in super active region (AR) 12192. They were all confined flares and were not followed by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). To examine the structures of the four flares close to the solar disk center from October 22 to 26, we employ firstly composite triple-time images in each flare process to display {the stratified structure} of these flare loops. The loop structures of each flare in both lower (171 Å) and higher (131 Å) temperature channels are complex, e.g., the flare loops rooting at flare ribbons are sheared or twisted (enwound) togeth…
We present the Solar Dynamics Observatory observations of two flux ropes respectively tracked out by material from a surge and a failed filament eruption on 2012 July 29 and August 04. For the first event, the interaction between the erupting surge and a loop-shaped filament in the east seems to "peel off" the filament and add bright mass into the flux rope body. The second event is associated with a C-class flare that occurs several minutes before the filament activation. The two flux ropes are respectively composed of 85$\pm$12 and 102$\pm$15 fine-scale structures, with an average width of a…
We analyze a confined flare that developed a hot cusp-like structure high in the corona (H ~ 66 Mm). A growing cusp-shaped flare arcade is a typical feature in the standard model of eruptive flares, caused by magnetic reconnection at progressively larger coronal heights. In contrast, we observe a static hot cusp during a confined flare. Despite an initial vertical temperature distribution similar to that in eruptive flares, we observe a distinctly different evolution during the late (decay) phase, in the form of prolonged hot emission. The distinct cusp shape, rooted at locations of non-therma…
Atypical flares cannot be naturally explained with standard models. To predict such flares, we need to define their physical characteristics, in particular, their magnetic environment, and identify pairs of reconnected loops. Here, we present in detail a case-study of a confined flare preceded by flux cancellation that leads to the formation of a filament. The slow rise of the non-eruptive filament favours the growth and reconnection of overlying loops. The flare is only of C5.0 class but it is a long duration event. The reason is that it is comprised of three successive stages of reconnection…
A filament eruption, accompanied by a B9.5 flare, coronal dimming and an EUV wave, was observed by the Solar TERrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) on 19 May 2007, beginning at about 13:00 UT. Here, we use observations from the SECCHI/EUVI telescopes and other solar observations to analyze the behavior and geometry of the filament before and during the eruption. At this time, STEREO A and B were separated by about 8.5 degrees, sufficient to determine the three-dimensional structure of the filament using stereoscopy. The filament could be followed in SECCHI/EUVI 304 A stereoscopic data from…
How filaments form and erupt are topics about which solar researchers have wondered since more than a century and that are still open to debate. We present observations of a filament formation, its failed eruption, and the associated flare (SOL2019-05-09T05:51) that occurred in active region (AR) 12740 using data from SDO, STEREO-A, IRIS, and NSO/GONG. AR 12740 was a decaying region formed by a very disperse following polarity and a strong leading spot, surrounded by a highly dynamic zone where moving magnetic features (MMFs) were seen constantly diverging from the spot. Our analysis indicates…
We present for the first time the evolution of the photospheric electric currents during an eruptive X-class flare, accurately predicted by the standard 3D flare model. We analyze this evolution for the February 15, 2011 flare using HMI/SDO magnetic observations and find that localized currents in \J-shaped ribbons increase to double their pre-flare intensity. Our 3D flare model, developed with the OHM code, suggests that these current ribbons, which develop at the location of EUV brightenings seen with AIA imagery, are driven by the collapse of the flare's coronal current layer. These finding…
Solar flares are sudden and violent releases of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere that can be divided in eruptive flares, when plasma is ejected from the solar atmosphere, resulting in a coronal mass ejection (CME), and confined flares when no CME is associated with the flare. We present a case-study showing the evolution of key topological structures, such as spines and fans which may determine the eruptive versus non-eruptive behavior of the series of eruptive flares, followed by confined flares, which are all originating from the same site. To study the connectivity of the different f…
We report a study of a compound solar eruption that was associated with two consecutively erupting magnetic structures and correspondingly two distinct peaks, during impulsive phase, of an M-class flare (M8.5). Simultaneous multi-viewpoint observations from $\textit{SDO}$, $\textit{GOES}$ and $\textit{STEREO-A}$ show that this compound eruption originated from two pre-existing sigmoidal magnetic structures lying along the same polarity inversion line. Observations of the associated pre-existing filaments further show that these magnetic structures are lying one on top of the other, separated b…
Solar flares are often associated with coronal eruptions, but there are confined ones without eruption, even for some X-class flares. How such large flares occurred and why they are confined are still not well understood. Here we studied a confined X2.2 flare in NOAA 12673 on 2017 September 6. It exhibits two episodes of flare brightening with rather complex, atypical ribbons. Based on topology analysis of extrapolated coronal magnetic field, we revealed that there is a two-step magnetic reconnection process during the flare. Prior to the flare, there is a magnetic flux rope (MFR) with one leg…
Using the HMI/SDO vector magnetic field observations, we studied the relation of degree of magnetic non-potentiality with the observed flare/CME in active regions. From a sample of 77 flare/CME cases, we found a general relation that degree of non-potentiality is positively correlated with the flare strength and the associated CME speeds. Since the magnetic flux in the flare-ribbon area is more related to the reconnection, we trace the strong gradient polarity inversion line (SGPIL), Schrijver's R value manually along the flare-ribbon extent. Manually detected SGPIL length and R values show hi…
Using the observations from the Optical and Near-infrared Solar Eruption Tracer and the Solar Dynamics Observatory, we study an M5.7 flare in AR 11476 on 2012 May 10 and a micro-flare in the quiet Sun on 2017 March 23. Before the onset of each flare, there is a reverse S-shaped filament above the polarity inversion line. Then the filaments become unstable and begin to rise. The rising filaments gain the upper hand over the tension force of the dome-like overlying loops and thus successfully erupt outward. The footpoints of the reconnecting overlying loops successively brighten and are observed…
We present evidence that a magnetic flux rope was formed before a coronal mass ejection (CME) and its associated long-duration flare during a pair of preceding confined eruptions and associated impulsive flares in a compound event in NOAA Active Region 12371. Extreme-ultraviolet images and the extrapolated nonlinear force-free field show that the first two, impulsive flares, SOL2015-06-21T01:42, result from the confined eruption of highly sheared low-lying flux, presumably a seed flux rope. The eruption spawns a vertical current sheet, where magnetic reconnection creates flare ribbons and loop…
Solar flares fall into two types with eruptive ones associated with coronal mass ejection (CME) and confined ones without CME. To explore whether there are pre-flare conditions in terms of magnetic energy and helicity that can effectively determine the types of flares, here we analyzed a suite of related parameters of the reconstructed pre-flare coronal magnetic field of major solar flares, either eruptive or confined, from 2011 to 2017 near the solar disk center. The investigated parameters include the extensive-type quantities such as the total magnetic energy $E_T$, the potential energy $E_…
We study the energy release process of a set of 51 flares (32 confined, 19 eruptive) ranging from GOES class B3 to X17. We use H$α$ filtergrams from Kanzelhöhe Observatory together with SDO HMI and SOHO MDI magnetograms to derive magnetic reconnection fluxes and rates. The flare reconnection flux is strongly correlated with the peak of the GOES 1-8 Å soft X-ray flux (c=0.92, in log-log space), both for confined and eruptive flares. Confined flares of a certain GOES class exhibit smaller ribbon areas but larger magnetic flux densities in the flare ribbons (by a factor of 2). In the largest even…
We present an extensive analysis of the X2.0-class confined flare on 2014 October 27 in the great active region AR 12192, observed by the \emph{Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph} and the \emph{Solar Dynamics Observatory}. The slipping motion of the substructures within the negative-polarity flare ribbon (R1) and continual reconnection-induced flows during the confined flare are first presented. The substructures within ribbon R1 were observed to slip in opposite directions at apparent speeds of 10-70 km s$^{-1}$. The slipping motion exhibited the quasi-periodic pattern with a period of 80-…
