Institute for Space Weather Sciences

Title:  Measurement of Magnetic Field and Relativistic Electrons along a Solar Flare Current Sheet

Abstract:  Solar flares are the largest explosions in the solar system and important drivers for space weather. In the standard model of solar flares, a large-scale reconnection current sheet is postulated to be the central engine for powering the flare energy release and accelerating particles up to relativistic energies. However, where and how the energy release and particle acceleration occur remain unclear owing to, in part, the lack of measurements of the magnetic properties of the current sheet. In this talk, I will present the first measurement of the magnetic field and flare-accelerated relativistic electrons along a current-sheet feature in a solar flare, based on data recorded by NJIT’s Expanded Owens Valley Solar Array. Our results suggest that a “magnetic bottle” structure is present above the top of the bright flare arcade. This structure is likely the primary site for accelerating and confining the relativistic electrons.

Based on recently published paper in Nature Astronomy: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-1147-7.

Open-access link to the article at: https://rdcu.be/b5R3C. 

NJIT press article at: https://news.njit.edu/researchers-offer-unprecedented-look-central-engine-powering-solar-flare.