Fleishman, G. D., Kleint, L., Motorina, G. G., Nita, G. M. and Kontar, E. P. (2021) Energy budget of plasma motions, heating, and electron acceleration in a three-loop solar flare. Astrophysical Journal, 913(2), 97. (doi: 10.3847/1538-4357/abf495)
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Abstract
Nonpotential magnetic energy promptly released in solar flares is converted to other forms of energy. This may include nonthermal energy of flare-accelerated particles, thermal energy of heated flaring plasma, and kinetic energy of eruptions, jets, upflows/downflows, and stochastic (turbulent) plasma motions. The processes or parameters governing partitioning of the released energy between these components are an open question. How these components are distributed between distinct flaring loops and what controls these spatial distributions are also unclear. Here, based on multiwavelength data and 3D modeling, we quantify the energy partitioning and spatial distribution in the well-observed SOL2014-02-16T064620 solar flare of class C1.5. Nonthermal emission of this flare displayed a simple impulsive single-spike light curve lasting about 20 s. In contrast, the thermal emission demonstrated at least three distinct heating episodes, only one of which was associated with the nonthermal component. The flare was accompanied by upflows and downflows and substantial turbulent velocities. The results of our analysis suggest that (i) the flare occurs in a multiloop system that included at least three distinct flux tubes; (ii) the released magnetic energy is divided unevenly between the thermal and nonthermal components in these loops; (iii) only one of these three flaring loops contains an energetically important amount of nonthermal electrons, while two other loops remain thermal; (iv) the amounts of direct plasma heating and that due to nonthermal electron loss are comparable; and (v) the kinetic energy in the flare footpoints constitutes only a minor fraction compared with the thermal and nonthermal energies.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This work was partly supported by NSF grants AGS-1817277 and AGS-1743321 and NASA grants 80NSSC18K0667, 80NSSC19K0068, 80NSSC18K1128, and 80NSSC20K0627 to the New Jersey Institute of Technology. G.M. (SDO/AIA and RHESSI data analysis) acknowledges support from RSF grant 20-72-10158. E.P.K. was supported by STFC consolidated grant ST/P000533/1. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Kontar, Professor Eduard |
| Authors: | Fleishman, G. D., Kleint, L., Motorina, G. G., Nita, G. M., and Kontar, E. P. |
| College/School: | College of Science and Engineering > School of Physics and Astronomy |
| Journal Name: | Astrophysical Journal |
| Publisher: | IOP Publishing |
| ISSN: | 0004-637X |
| ISSN (Online): | 1538-4357 |
| Published Online: | 28 May 2021 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2021 The American Astronomical Society |
| First Published: | First published in Astrophysical Journal 913(2): 97 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy |
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