The super-hot thermal component in the decay phase of solar flares

Lin, Hua-An ; Lin, R. P. ; Kane, S. R.
Springer
Published 1985
ISSN:
1573-093X
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Solar X-ray observations from balloons and from the SMM and HINOTORI spacecraft have revealed evidence for a super-hot thermal component with a temperature of ≳ 3 × 107 K in many solar flares, in addition to the usual 10–20 × 106 K soft X-ray flare plasma. We have systematically studied the decay phase of 35 solar flare X-ray events observed by ISEE-3 during 1980. Based on fits to the continuum X-ray spectrum in the 4.8–14 keV range and to the intensity of the 1.9 Å feature of iron lines, we find that 15 (about 43%) of the analyzed events have a super-hot thermal component in the decay phase of the flare. In this paper the important properties of the super-hot thermal component in the decay phase are summarized. It is found that an additional input of energy is required to maintain the super-hot thermal components. Finally, it is suggested that the super-hot thermal component in the decay phase is created through the reconnection of the magnetic field during the decay phase of solar flares.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL: