Deflection of a Filament Eruption with Three Parallel Flare Ribbons via Reconnection at an X-Point

TL;DR

This study investigates a complex filament eruption with three parallel flare ribbons, using magnetohydrodynamic simulations and magnetic topology analysis to understand the formation and deflection mechanisms driven by magnetic reconnection.

Contribution

It presents a data-constrained MHD simulation that reproduces observed features and links flare ribbon morphology to magnetic topology, revealing the role of reconnection at an X-point in filament deflection.

Findings

Simulation reproduces key eruption features.

Reconnection at an X-point drives filament deflection.

Magnetic topology explains the three-ribbon structure.

Abstract

On 2024 May 6, Active Region 13663 produced an X4.5-class flare associated with a filament eruption that exhibited remarkable rotation and deflection dynamics. This study aims to investigate two key aspects of this event: the formation mechanisms of the complex flare ribbon structures and the physical drivers behind the observed filament deflection. We conduct a data-constrained magnetohydrodynamic simulation using the zero-beta approximation to reconstruct the filament's evolution. Through detailed analysis of quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs) and their comparison with observed flare ribbons, we establish crucial connections between magnetic topology and flare morphology. First, our simulation successfully reproduces key observational features of the eruption. Then, we connect the flare ribbon morphology with calculated QSLs. Finally, we find filament deflection resulting from localized reconnection at the X-point, as evidenced by Lorentz force decomposition. We demonstrate that reconnection above two current channels of opposite helicity governs the eruption dynamics, with magnetic pressure gradients driving flux rope deflection while magnetic tension force simultaneously restraining arcade ascent. The event features a "sandwich" magnetic configuration including double parallel polarity inversion lines with strong shear component. We suggest that this particular configuration could serve as a plausible formation mechanism for the observed parallel three-ribbon structure. In addition, the evolution of QSLs and flare ribbons provides clear evidence of reconnection between two flux ropes.