Dynamics of Electric Currents, Magnetic Field Topology and Helioseismic Response of a Solar Flare

TL;DR

This study investigates the 2011 solar flare's impact on magnetic fields, electric currents, and helioseismic responses, revealing confined energy release and the role of plasma flows in the lower atmosphere.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the magnetic and electric current dynamics and helioseismic effects associated with a confined solar flare, emphasizing plasma flows' importance.

Findings

No significant coronal mass ejection observed

Magnetic restructuring led to rapid sunspot formation

Helioseismic waves linked to electric current dynamics

Abstract

The solar flare on July 30, 2011 was of a modest X-ray class (M9.3), but it made a strong photospheric impact and produced a "sunquake," observed with the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). In addition to the helioseismic waves (also observed with the SDO/AIA instrument), the flare caused a large expanding area of white-light emission and was accompanied by substantial restructuring of magnetic fields, leading to the rapid formation of a sunspot structure in the flare region. The flare produced no significant hard X-ray emission and no coronal mass ejection. This indicates that the flare energy release was mostly confined to the lower atmosphere. The absence of significant coronal mass ejection rules out magnetic rope eruption as a mechanism of helioseismic waves. We discuss the connectivity of the flare energy release with the electric currents dynamics and show the potential importance of high-speed plasma flows in the lower solar atmosphere during the flare energy release.