A Magnetic Bald-Patch Flare in Solar Active Region 11117

Chaowei Jiang, Xueshang Feng, S. T. Wu, Qiang Hu

Published 2017-05-30Version 1

With SDO observations and a data-constrained MHD model, we identify a confined multi-ribbon flare occurred on 2010 October 25 in solar active region 11117 as a magnetic bald patch (BP) flare with strong evidences. From the photospheric magnetic field observed by SDO/HMI, we find there is indeed magnetic BPs on the PILs which match parts of the flare ribbons. From the 3D coronal magnetic field derived from a MHD relaxation model constrained by the vector magnetograms, we find strikingly good agreement of the BP separatrix surface (BPSS) footpoints with the flare ribbons, and the BPSS itself with the hot flaring loop system. Moreover, the triggering of the BP flare can be attributed to a small flux emergence under the lobe of the BPSS, and the relevant change of the coronal magnetic field through the flare is well reproduced by the pre-flare and post-flare MHD solutions, which match the corresponding pre and post-flare AIA observations, respectively. Our work contributes to the study of non-typical flares that constitute the majority of solar flares but cannot be explained by the standard flare model.