paper

Observation of kink instability during small B5.0 solar flare on 04 June, 2007

arXiv:1004.1454 · doi:10.1088/0004-637X/715/1/292

Abstract

Using multi-wavelength observations of SoHO/MDI, SOT-Hinode/blue-continuum (4504 Å), G-band (4305 Å), Ca II H (3968 Å) and TRACE 171 Å, we present the observational signature of highly twisted magnetic loop in AR 10960 during the period 04:43 UT-04:52 UT at 4 June, 2007. SOT-Hinode/blue-continuum (4504 Å) observations show that penumbral filaments of positive polarity sunspot have counter-clock wise twist, which may be caused by the clock-wise rotation of the spot umbrae. The coronal loop, whose one footpoint is anchored in this sunspot, shows strong right-handed twist in chromospheric SOT-Hinode/Ca II H (3968 Å) and coronal TRACE 171 Å\, images. The length and the radius of the loop are 80 Mm and 4.0 Mm respectively. The distance between neighboring turns of magnetic field lines (i.e. pitch) is estimated as 10 Mm. The total twist angle, 12 (estimated for the homogeneous distribution of the twist along the loop), is much larger than the Kruskal -Shafranov instability criterion. We detected clear double structure of the loop top during 04:47-04:51 UT on TRACE 171 Å\ images, which is consistent with simulated kink instability in curved coronal loops (T{ö}r{ö}k et al. 2004). We suggest, that the kink instability of this twisted magnetic loop triggered B5.0 class solar flare, which occurred between 04:40 UT and 04:51 UT in this active region.

24 pages, 5 Figures; The Astrophysical Journal

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