NuSTAR observations of a repeatedly microflaring active region

TL;DR

This study analyzes 10 microflares in an active solar region using NuSTAR and SDO data, revealing their energies, temperatures, and evidence of electron acceleration, providing insights into small-scale solar flare phenomena.

Contribution

It presents detailed X-ray and EUV observations of microflares, including the first direct evidence of accelerated electrons in the faintest microflares, and highlights the importance of high-temperature sensitive observations.

Findings

Microflares reach temperatures up to 10 MK.

One microflare shows non-thermal HXR emission indicating electron acceleration.

X-ray profiles match transient EUV sources, emphasizing hot plasma detection needs.

Abstract

We investigate the spatial, temporal, and spectral properties of 10 microflares from AR12721 on 2018 September 9 and 10 observed in X-rays using the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope ARray (NuSTAR) and the Solar Dynamic Observatory's Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (SDO/AIA and HMI). We find GOES sub-A class equivalent microflare energies of 10$^{26}$-10$^{28}$ erg reaching temperatures up to 10 MK with consistent quiescent or hot active region core plasma temperatures of 3-4 MK. One microflare (SOL2018-09-09T10:33), with an equivalent GOES class of A0.1, has non-thermal HXR emission during its impulsive phase (of non-thermal power $\sim$7$\times$10$^{24}$ erg s$^{-1}$) making it one of the faintest X-ray microflares to have direct evidence for accelerated electrons. In 4 of the 10 microflares, we find that the X-ray time profile matches fainter and more transient sources in the EUV, highlighting the need for observations sensitive to only the hottest material that reaches temperatures higher than those of the active region core ($>$5 MK). Evidence for corresponding photospheric magnetic flux cancellation/emergence present at the footpoints of 8 microflares is also observed.