Thermodynamic Evolution of Solar Flare Supra-arcade Downflows

• Published in: The Astrophysical journal Vol. 915; no. 2; pp. 124 - 133
• Main Authors: Li, Z. F., Cheng, X., Ding, M. D., Reeves, Katharine K., Kittrell, DeOndre, Weber, Mark, McKenzie, David E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia The American Astronomical Society 01.07.2021; IOP Publishing
• Subjects: Adiabatic equations; Astrophysics; Chromosphere; Corona; Correlation; Differential thermal analysis; Emission analysis; Emission measurements; High temperature; Kinetic energy; Solar coronal heating; Solar energy; Solar flares; Solar magnetic reconnection; Temperature
• ISSN: 0004-637X; 1538-4357
• DOI: 10.3847/1538-4357/ac043e

Abstract Solar flares are rapid energy release phenomena that appear as bright ribbons in the chromosphere and high temperature loops in the corona, respectively. Supra-arcade Downflows (SADs) are plasma voids that first come out above the flare loops and then move quickly toward the flare loop top during the decay phase of the flare. In our work, we study 20 SADs appearing in three flares. By differential emission measure (DEM) analysis, we calculate the DEM weighted average temperature and emission measure of the front region and the main body of SADs. It is found that the temperatures of the SAD front and body tend to increase during the course of SADs flowing downwards. The relationship between the pressure and temperature fits well with the adiabatic equation for both the SAD front and body, suggesting that the heating of SADs is mainly caused by adiabatic compression. Moreover, we also estimate the velocities of SADs via the Fourier Local Correlation Tracking method and find that increase of the temperature of the SAD front presents a correlation with the decrease of the SAD kinetic energy, while the SAD body does not, implying that the viscous process may also heat the SAD front in spite of a limited role.