Coherent Lateral Motion of Penumbral Filaments during X-class Flare

TL;DR

This study observes the lateral motion of penumbral filaments and converging patches near the polarity inversion line during an X-class solar flare, revealing dynamic photospheric changes associated with flare activity.

Contribution

It provides high-resolution evidence of coherent lateral motions of penumbral filaments and localized converging motions during an X-class flare, enhancing understanding of photospheric responses.

Findings

Penumbral filaments exhibit lateral motion during the flare.

Two patches show converging motion towards the PIL.

Pre-flare brightening observed along the PIL in Ca II H images.

Abstract

The high-resolution pictures of the solar photosphere from space based 50 cm Solar Optical Telescope (SOT) on-board Hinode spacecraft, are now routinely observed. Such images of a delta-sunspot in NOAA 10930 were obtained by Hinode during 13 December 2006 while a X-class flare occurred in this active region. Two bright ribbons were visible even in white light and G-band images apart from chromospheric Ca II H images. We register the sunspot globally using cross-correlation technique and analyse local effects during flare interval. We find that during flare the penumbral filaments show lateral motion. Also, we locate two patches, one in either polarity, which show converging motion towards the polarity inversion line (PIL). In Ca II H images we find kernel with pre-flare brightening which lie along the PIL.