Bulletin of ANPA

Abstract submitted to ANPA Conference July 14–16, 2023

Volume 5, Number 1

Astronomy /Space Science /Cosmo Science/ Atmospheric

Abstract ID: ANPA2023-N00014

Abstract:

ANPA2023-N00014: What Are the Causes of Super Flare Productivity of Solar Active Regions

Authors:

• Suman Dhakal; George Mason University, VA

Solar active regions (ARs) are the main sources of solar flares. Flare productivity varies among ARs, but the physical processes determining the flare activity of an AR are not clear. In this study we compared the evolution of super flare productive and low flare productive ARs. We selected 20 ARs of contrasting flare activities and sunspot sizes. Though the magnetic flux emergence is important, our study shows that it alone is not sufficient to increase the flare productivity of an AR. The new emergence can lead to either the interaction of like or opposite magnetic fluxes of non-conjugate pairs (magnetic poles not emerging together as a conjugate pair, as in a bipolar configuration). In the former case, the overall magnetic configuration remains simple and the flare productivity of AR does not change with emergence. In the latter case, the convergence of opposite magnetic fluxes of non-conjugate pairs results in a complex magnetic configuration with long polarity inversion line (PIL). Our case study of AR 11429 and other ARs shows that the persistent shearing motion and flux cancellation along such PIL results in repetitive homologous solar eruption. Further, our study suggests that length of PIL is the best magnetic-field parameter to reflect the flare productivity.

To cite this abstract, use the following reference: https://anpaglobal.org/conference/2023/ANPA2023-N00014