Long-Duration Nonthermal Motions in the Supra-Arcade and Loop-Top Region During an Eruptive Solar Flare

TL;DR

This study combines spectroscopic and imaging data to analyze long-duration nonthermal motions in the supra-arcade and loop-top regions during an eruptive solar flare, revealing turbulence and plasma flows linked to magnetic reconnection.

Contribution

It provides detailed observations of nonthermal plasma motions and turbulence in the flare's high-temperature regions during a prolonged phase, enhancing understanding of flare dynamics.

Findings

Detection of weak Doppler blue shifts indicating chromospheric evaporation.

Observation of strong nonthermal velocities suggesting turbulence.

Persistent disorganized plasma motions throughout the flare duration.

Abstract

Solar flares are widely accepted to be powered by magnetic reconnection that involves complex dynamics in various scales. The flare supra-arcade and loop-top region, directly impacted by fast reconnection downflows, contains a wealth of microscopic dynamics, which are, however, difficult to resolve in imaging. We present simultaneous spectroscopic and imaging observations of hot flaring plasma above the loop tops by IRIS and SDO/AIA. IRIS continuously observed high-temperature Fe XXI 1354.08 A spectral emissions throughout the long-duration gradual phase of the X-class flare. We found weak Doppler blue shifts near the loop-top region, indicative of bulk plasma motions from chromospheric evaporation based on the 3D flare loop orientation. Strong nonthermal velocities are detected at the bottom of the flare supra-arcade fan/plasma sheet, suggestive of the presence of turbulence in the flare current sheet region. In addition, disorganized nonthermal plasma motions are constantly detected until the very end of the flare, indicating irregular unresolved plasma flows in the cusp and loop-top region. The spatial and temporal evolution of spectral parameters follow the dynamics resulting from on-going magnetic reconnection during the prolonged gradual phase. The long-lasting nonthermal plasma motions may contribute to the high and steady temperature of flaring plasmas above flare loops.