Observation of all pre- and post-reconnection structures involved in three-dimensional reconnection geometries in solar eruptions

Abstract

We report on observations of the two newly-identified reconnection geometries involving erupting flux ropes. In 3D, a flux rope can reconnect either with a surrounding coronal arcade (recently named "ar-rf" reconnection) or with itself ("rr-rf" reconnection), and both kinds of reconnection create a new flux rope field line and a flare loop. For the first time, we identify all four constituents of both reconnections in a solar eruptive event, the filament eruption of 2011 June 07 observed by SDO/AIA. The ar-rf reconnection manifests itself as shift of one leg of the filament by more than 25" northward. At its previous location, a flare arcade is formed, while the new location of the filament leg previously corresponded to a footpoint of a coronal loop in 171 A. In addition, the evolution of the flare ribbon hooks is also consistent with the occurrence of ar--rf reconnection as predicted by MHD simulations. Specifically, the growing hook sweeps footpoints of preeruptive coronal arcades, and these locations become inside the hook. Furthermore, the rr-rf reconnection occurs during the peak phase above the flare arcade, in an apparently X-type geometry involving a pair of converging bright filament strands in the erupting filament. A new flare loop forms near the leg of one of the strands, while a bright blob, representing a remnant of the same strand, is seen ascending into the erupting filament. All together, these observations vindicate recent predictions of the 3D standard solar flare model.

arXiv commentThe Astrophysical Journal, accepted

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