The standard flare model,which was proposed based on observations and magnetohydrodynamic theory,can successfully explain many observational features of solar flares.However,this model is just a framework,with many details awaiting to be filled in, including how reconnection is triggered.In this paper,we address an unanswered question:where do flare ribbons stop?With the data analysis of the 2003 May 29 flare event,we tentatively confirmed our conjecture that flare ribbons finally stop at the intersection of separatrices(or quasi-separatrix layer in a general case)with the solar surface.Once verified,such a conjecture can be used to predict the final size and even the lifetime of solar flares.
X-ray bright points(XBPs) are small-scale brightenings in the solar corona.Their counterparts in the lower atmosphere,however,are poorly investigated.In this paper,we study the counterparts of XBPs in the upper chromosphere where the Hα line center is formed.The XBPs were observed by the X-ray Telescope(XRT) aboard the Hinode spacecraft during the observing plan(HOP0124) in August 2009,coordinated with the Solar Magnetic Activity Research Telescope(SMART) in the Kwasan and Hida Observatory,Kyoto University.It is found that there are 77 Hα brightenings in the same field of view of XRT,and among 57 XBPs,29 have counterparts in the Hα channel.We found three types of relationship:Types a,b and c,corresponding to XBPs appearing first,Hα brightenings occurring first and no respective correspondence between them.Most of the strong XBPs belong to Type a.The Hα counterparts generally have double-kernel structures associated with magnetic bipoles and are cospatial with the footpoints of the XBP loops.The average lag time is ～3 minutes.This implies that for Type a the heating,presumably through magnetic reconnection,occurs first in the solar upper atmosphere and then goes downwards along the small-scale magnetic loops that comprise the XBPs.In this case,the thermal conduction plays a dominant role over the non-thermal heating.Only a few events belong to Type b,which could happen when magnetic reconnection occurs in the chromosphere and produces an upward jet which heats the upper atmosphere and causes the XBP.About half of the XBPs belong to Type c.Generally they have weak emission in SXR.About 62% Hα brightenings have no corresponding XBPs.Most of them are weak and have single structures.
We performed three dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations to study the magnetic reconnection using an initially shearing magnetic field configuration(force free field with a current sheet in the middle of the computational box).It is shown that there are two types of reconnection jets:the ordinary reconnection jets and fan-shaped jets,which are formed along the guide magnetic field.The fan-shaped jets are significantly different from the ordinary reconnection jets which are ejected by magnetic tension force.There are two driving forces for accelerating the fan-shaped jets.One is the Lorentz force which initially dominates the motion of fluid elements,and then the gas pressure gradient force accelerates the fluid elements in the later stage.The dependence on magnetic reconnection angle and resistivity value has also been studied.The formation and evolution of these jets provide a new understanding of dynamic magnetohydrodynamic jets.
Owing to the largely improved facilities and working conditions,solar physics research in China has recently shown marked development.This paper reports on the recent progress of solar physics research in China's Mainland,mainly focusing on several hot issues,including instrumentations,magnetic field observations and research,solar flares,filaments and their eruptions,coronal mass ejections and related processes,as well as active regions and the corona,small-scale phenomena,solar activity and its predictions.A vision of the future is also described.
Cheng Fang 1 School of Astronomy and Space Science,Nanjing University,Nanjing 210093,China
