Two-Stage Nature of a Solar Flare with Parallel and Semi-Circular Ribbons

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Huang, Ruifei, Ning, Hao, Zhong, Ze, Qiu, Ye, Hou, Zhenyong, Su, Yang, Li, Chuan, Kong, Xiangliang, Chen, Yao
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Huang, Ruifei
Ning, Hao
Zhong, Ze
Qiu, Ye
Hou, Zhenyong
Su, Yang
Li, Chuan
Kong, Xiangliang
Chen, Yao
author_facet Huang, Ruifei
Ning, Hao
Zhong, Ze
Qiu, Ye
Hou, Zhenyong
Su, Yang
Li, Chuan
Kong, Xiangliang
Chen, Yao
contents Flare ribbons with parallel and circular morphologies are typically associated with different magnetic reconnection models, and the simultaneous observation of both types in a single event remains rare. Using multi-wavelength observations from a tandem of instruments, we present an M8.2-class flare that occurred on 2023 September 20, which produced quasi-parallel and semi-circular ribbons. The complex evolution of the flare includes two distinct brightening episodes in the quasi-parallel ribbons, corresponding to the two major peaks in the hard X-ray (HXR) light curve. In contrast, the brightening of semi-circular ribbons temporally coincides with the local minimum between the two peaks. Using potential field extrapolation, we reconstruct an incomplete dome-like magnetic structure with a negative polarity embedded within the northwestern part of the semi-circular positive polarity. Consequently, the magnetic configuration comprises two sets of field lines with distinct magnetic connectivities. We suggest that the standard flare reconnection accounts for the two-stage brightening of quasi-parallel ribbons associated with the two HXR peaks. Between the two stages, this process is constrained by the interaction of eruptive structures with the dome. The interaction drives the quasi-separatrix layer reconnection, leading to the brightening of semi-circular ribbons. It also suppresses the standard flare reconnection, resulting in a delayed second HXR peak.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2510_27162
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Two-Stage Nature of a Solar Flare with Parallel and Semi-Circular Ribbons
Huang, Ruifei
Ning, Hao
Zhong, Ze
Qiu, Ye
Hou, Zhenyong
Su, Yang
Li, Chuan
Kong, Xiangliang
Chen, Yao
Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
Space Physics
Flare ribbons with parallel and circular morphologies are typically associated with different magnetic reconnection models, and the simultaneous observation of both types in a single event remains rare. Using multi-wavelength observations from a tandem of instruments, we present an M8.2-class flare that occurred on 2023 September 20, which produced quasi-parallel and semi-circular ribbons. The complex evolution of the flare includes two distinct brightening episodes in the quasi-parallel ribbons, corresponding to the two major peaks in the hard X-ray (HXR) light curve. In contrast, the brightening of semi-circular ribbons temporally coincides with the local minimum between the two peaks. Using potential field extrapolation, we reconstruct an incomplete dome-like magnetic structure with a negative polarity embedded within the northwestern part of the semi-circular positive polarity. Consequently, the magnetic configuration comprises two sets of field lines with distinct magnetic connectivities. We suggest that the standard flare reconnection accounts for the two-stage brightening of quasi-parallel ribbons associated with the two HXR peaks. Between the two stages, this process is constrained by the interaction of eruptive structures with the dome. The interaction drives the quasi-separatrix layer reconnection, leading to the brightening of semi-circular ribbons. It also suppresses the standard flare reconnection, resulting in a delayed second HXR peak.
title Two-Stage Nature of a Solar Flare with Parallel and Semi-Circular Ribbons
topic Solar and Stellar Astrophysics
Plasma Physics
Space Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.27162