Association between the number of flares in an active region and cumulative flux

Abstract

Active region (AR) flux is released in the form of flares and Coronal Mass Ejections and a host of several other energetic events. The development of an AR is an indication of the accumulation of flux which reflects the non-potentiality of the region. Hence, the total flux released by all the flares associated with a given AR may be indicative of the total magnetic energy although not exhaustive. In this context, we report the good association between the number of flares occurring in a given AR and the cumulative flare duration in that AR. Hence, the number of flares occurring in an AR and consequently the cumulative flare duration therein can be regarded as a good measure of the underlying mechanism of that AR.