Rethinking the solar flare paradigm

TL;DR

This paper proposes a new solar flare paradigm emphasizing the role of electromotive force (EMF) and current dynamics, integrating time-dependent electrodynamics to better understand energy release processes.

Contribution

It introduces a novel flare model that explicitly incorporates time-dependent electrodynamics and EMF as central elements in energy release and propagation.

Findings

EMF acts as the driver of solar flares.

Localized EMF regions facilitate energy conversion.

Current linking different flare regions is essential for energy transfer.

Abstract

It is widely accepted that solar flares involve release of magnetic energy stored in the solar corona above an active region, but existing models do not include the explicitly time-dependent electrodynamics needed to describe such energy release. A flare paradigm is discussed that includes the electromotive force (EMF) as the driver of the flare, and the flare-associated current that links different regions where magnetic reconnection, electron acceleration, the acceleration of mass motions and current closure occur. The EMF becomes localized across regions where energy conversion occurs, and is involved in energy propagation between these regions.