On the magnetic reconnection and its properties during a flare using a magnetohydrodynamics simulation

Abstract

We study the magnetic reconnection during a flare by investigating flare ribbon dynamics using observations and data-constrained magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulation. In particular, we estimate the reconnection flux and the reconnection flux rates using flare ribbons of an M1.1 flare hosted by the active region 12184 utilizing the technique developed by Qiu et al. (2002). The reconnection flux and corresponding flux rates are found to be 1020 Mx and 1018 Mx s‑1 respectively. To understand the flare onset and the origin of flare ribbons, we perform an MHD simulation initiated by the non-force-free-field extrapolation. Importantly, the extrapolated configuration identifies a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic neutral point and a flux rope in the flaring region, which is crucial to the flaring activity. The reconnection initiates at the null point and, subsequently the flux rope rises and appears to reconnect there, which is favorable for the eruption of the filament. The surrounding field lines also seem to take part in the null point reconnection. In later stage, a current sheet is formed below the null point ensuing a secondary reconnection near an X-type topology, further contributing to the energy release process in the flare. We trace the footpoint evolution of the field lines lying over the flare ribbons and find a significant similarity between the observed flare ribbons and the evolution of footpoints computed from the MHD simulation. We estimated induced electric field during the flare and found it to be ≈ 0.52 V cm‑1, a slight less value, as per many past literatures. Additional findings are the enhancement of vertical current density near the flaring ribbons, a signature of successive reconnections near the null point. Overall, the present work contributes to the understanding of the ribbon formation in a flaring process and the involved magnetic reconnection.