Dynamical modulation of solar flare electron acceleration due to plasmoid-shock interactions in the looptop region

TL;DR

This study uses simulations to explore how plasmoid-shock interactions in solar flare regions dynamically modulate electron acceleration, explaining rapid variations and multiple sources observed in flare emissions.

Contribution

It introduces a combined MHD and particle kinetic model to analyze the impact of plasmoid interactions on electron acceleration and shock dynamics in solar flares.

Findings

Electron populations vary rapidly with plasmoid-shock interactions.

Compression areas correlate with electron energy distributions.

Electron spectra soften over time and multiple sources can form.

Abstract

A fast-mode shock can form in the front of reconnection outflows and has been suggested as a promising site for particle acceleration in solar flares. Recent development of magnetic reconnection has shown that numerous plasmoids can be produced in a large-scale current layer. Here we investigate the dynamical modulation of electron acceleration in the looptop region when plasmoids intermittently arrive at the shock by combining magnetohydrodynamics simulations with a particle kinetic model. As plasmoids interact with the shock, the looptop region exhibits various compressible structures that modulate the production of energetic electrons. The energetic electron population varies rapidly in both time and space. The number of 5$-$10 keV electrons correlates well with the area with compression, while that of $>$50 keV electrons shows good correlation with strong compression area but only moderate correlation with shock parameters. We further examine the impacts of the first plasmoid, which marks the transition from a quasi-steady shock front to a distorted and dynamical shock. The number of energetic electrons is reduced by $\sim 20\%$ at 15$-$25 keV and nearly 40\% for 25$-$50 keV, while the number of 5$-$10 keV electrons increases. In addition, the electron energy spectrum above 10 keV evolves softer with time. We also find double or even multiple distinct sources can develop in the looptop region when the plasmoids move across the shock. Our simulations have strong implications to the interpretation of nonthermal looptop sources, as well as the commonly observed fast temporal variations in flare emissions, including the quasi-periodic pulsations.