Imaging and spectral study on the null point of a fan-spine structure during a solar flare

TL;DR

This study combines imaging and spectral data to analyze the null point in a fan-spine magnetic structure during a solar flare, revealing detailed plasma flows, magnetic topology, and spectral signatures associated with magnetic reconnection.

Contribution

First simultaneous imaging and spectral analysis of a fan-spine null point during a solar flare, providing new insights into plasma flows and magnetic reconnection signatures.

Findings

Fan-spine structure brightens in EUV during reconnection.

Outflow velocities reach up to 144 km/s at flare peak.

Spectral profiles show blueshifted absorption lines indicating cooler material movement.

Abstract

Using the multi-instrument observations, we make the first simultaneous imaging and spectral study on the null point of a fan-spine magnetic topology during a solar flare. When magnetic reconnection occurs at the null point, the fan-spine configuration brightens in the (extreme-)ultraviolet channels. In the H$\alpha$ images, the fan-spine structure is partly filled and outlined by the bi-directional material flows ejected from the reconnection site. The extrapolated coronal magnetic field confirms the existence of the fan-spine topology. Before and after the flare peak, the total velocity of the outflows is estimated to be about 60 km s$^{-1}$. During the flare, the Si IV line profile at the reconnection region is enhanced both in the blue-wing and red-wing. At the flare peak time, the total velocity of the outflows is found to be 144 km s$^{-1}$. Superposed on the Si IV profile, there are several deep absorption lines with the blueshift of several tens of km s$^{-1}$. The reason is inferred to be that the bright reconnection region observed in Si IV channel is located under the cooler material appearing as dark features in the H$\alpha$ line. The blueshifted absorption lines indicate the movement of the cooler material toward the observer. The depth of the absorption lines also depends on the amount of cooler material. These results imply that this kind of spectral profiles can be used as a tool to diagnose the properties of cooler material above reconnection site.