Decimetric type U solar radio bursts and associated EUV phenomena on 2011 February 9

TL;DR

This study analyzes decimetric type U solar radio bursts and associated EUV phenomena during a 2011 solar flare, revealing how magnetic reconnection influences burst generation and plasma density fluctuations, consistent with numerical models.

Contribution

It provides observational evidence linking type U burst generation rates to magnetic reconnection and plasma instability during a solar flare.

Findings

Type U burst generation rate increases fivefold after plasmoid formation.

Frequency range of type U bursts broadens three times post-DPS.

Observations support numerical simulations of turbulence and plasmoid trapping.

Abstract

A GOES M1.9 flare took place in active region AR 11153 on February 9,2011. With the resolution of 200 kHz and a time cadence of 80 ms, the reverse-drifting (RS) type III bursts, intermittent sequence of type U bursts, drifting pulsation structure (DPS), and fine structures were observed by the Yunnan Observatories Solar Radio Spectrometer(YNSRS). Combined information revealed by the multi-wavelength data indicated that after the DPS which observed by YNSRS, the generation rate of type U bursts suddenly increased 5 times than before. In this event, the generation rate of type U bursts may depend on the magnetic reconnection rate. Our observations are consistent with previous numerical simulations results. After the first plasmoid produced (plasma instability occurred), the magnetic reconnection rate increased suddenly 5-8 times than before. Furthermore, after the DPS, the frequency range of turnover frequency of type U bursts is obviously broadened 3 times than before, which indicates the fluctuation amplitude of the density in the loop-top. Our observations also support the numerical simulations during the flare impulsive phase. The turbulence occurs at the top of the flare loop, the plasmoids can trap the non-thermal particles and cause the density fluctuation at the loop-top. The observations are generally consistent with the results of numerical simulations, helping us to better understand the characteristics of the whole physical process of eruption.