AbstractWe have performed the analysis of the magnetic topology of active region NOAA 10486 before two large flares occurring on October 26 and 28, 2003. The 3D extrapolation of the photospheric magnetic field shows the existence of magnetic null points when using two different methods. We use TRACE 1600Å and 195Å brightenings as tracers of the energy release due to magnetic reconnections. We conclude on the three following points:The small events observed before the flares are related to low lying null points. They are long lasting and associated with low energy release. They are not triggering the large flares.On October 26, a high altitude null point is found. We look for bright patches that could correspond to the signatures of coronal reconnection at the null point in TRACE 1600Å images. However, such bright patches are not observed before the main flare, they are only observed after it.On October 28, four ribbons are observed in TRACE images before the X17 flare. We interpret them as due to a magnetic breakout reconnection in a quadrupolar configuration. There is no magnetic null point related to these four ribbons, and this reconnection rather occurs at quasi-separatrix layers (QSLs).We conclude that the existence of a null point in the corona is neither a sufficient nor a necessary condition to give rise to large flares.
What is the role of magnetic null points in large flares?
Advances in Space Research ; 39 , 12 ; 1840-1846
2007-03-21
7 pages
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
What is the role of magnetic null points in large flares?
Online Contents | 2007
|Double Null Points and Magnetic Reconnection
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|Solutions of the Hydromagnetic Equation with Magnetic Null Points
British Library Conference Proceedings | 1997
|British Library Conference Proceedings | 2003
|Elsevier | 2003
|