Rapid Rotation of an Erupting Prominence and the Associated Coronal Mass Ejection on 13 May 2013

In this paper, we report the multiwavelength observations of an erupting prominence and the associated CME on 13 May 2013. The event occurs behind the western limb in the field of view of SDO/AIA. The prominence is supported by a highly twisted magnetic flux rope and shows rapid rotation in the counterclockwise direction during the rising motion. The rotation of the prominence lasts for $\sim$47 minutes. The average period, angular speed, and linear speed are $\sim$806 s, $\sim$0.46 rad min$^{-1}$, and $\sim$355 km s$^{-1}$, respectively. The total twist angle reaches $\sim$7$\pi$, which is considerably larger than the threshold for kink instability. Writhing motion during 17:42$-$17:46 UT is clearly observed by SWAP in 174 {\AA} and EUVI on board the behind STEREO spacecraft in 304 {\AA} after reaching an apparent height of $\sim$405\,Mm. Therefore, the prominence eruption is most probably triggered by kink instability. A pair of conjugate flare ribbons and post-flare loops are created and observed by STA/EUVI. The onset time of writhing motion is consistent with the commencement of the impulsive phase of the related flare. The 3D morphology and positions of the associated CME are derived using the graduated cylindrical shell (GCS) modeling. The kinetic evolution of the reconstructed CME is divided into a slow-rise phase ($\sim$330 km s$^{-1}$) and a fast-rise phase ($\sim$1005 km s$^{-1}$) by the writhing motion. The edge-on angular width of the CME is a constant (60$^{\circ}$), while the face-on angular width increases from 96$^{\circ}$ to 114$^{\circ}$, indicating a lateral expansion. The latitude of the CME source region decreases slightly from $\sim$18$^{\circ}$ to $\sim$13$^{\circ}$, implying an equatorward deflection during propagation.Comment: 28 pages, 20 figures, accepted for publication in Solar Physics, comments are welcom

Early Abnormal Temperature Structure of X-ray Looptop Source of Solar Flares

This Letter is to investigate the physics of a newly discovered phenomenon -- contracting flare loops in the early phase of solar flares. In classical flare models, which were constructed based on the phenomenon of expansion of flare loops, an energy releasing site is put above flare loops. These models can predict that there is a vertical temperature gradient in the top of flare loops due to heat conduction and cooling effects. Therefore, the centroid of an X-ray looptop source at higher energy bands will be higher in altitude, for which we can define as normal temperature distribution. With observations made by {\it RHESSI}, we analyzed 10 M- or X-class flares (9 limb flares). For all these flares, the movement of looptop sources shows an obvious U-shaped trajectory, which we take as the signature of contraction-to-expansion of flare loops. We find that, for all these flares, normal temperature distribution does exist, but only along the path of expansion. The temperature distribution along the path of contraction is abnormal, showing no spatial order at all. The result suggests that magnetic reconnection processes in the contraction and expansion phases of these solar flares are different.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Sunspot shearing and sudden retraction motion associated with the 2013 August 17 M3.3 Flare

In this Letter, we give a detailed analysis to the M3.3 class flare that occurred on August 17, 2013 (SOL2013-08-17T18:16). It presents a clear picture of mutual magnetic interaction initially from the photosphere to the corona via the abrupt rapid shearing motion of a small sunspot before the flare, and then suddenly from the corona back to the photosphere via the sudden retraction motion of the same sunspot during the flare impulsive phase. About 10 hours before the flare, a small sunspot in the active region NOAA 11818 started to move northeast along a magnetic polarity inversion line (PIL), creating a shearing motion that changed the quasi-static state of the active region. A filament right above the PIL was activated following the movement of the sunspot and then got partially erupted. The eruption eventually led to the M3.3 flare. The sunspot was then suddenly pulled back to the opposite direction upon the flare onset. During the backward motion, the Lorentz force underwent a simultaneous impulsive change both in magnitude and direction. Its directional change is found to be conformable with the retraction motion. The observation provides direct evidence for the role of the shearing motion of the sunspot in powering and triggering the flare. It especially confirms that the abrupt motion of a sunspot during a solar flare is the result of a back reaction caused by the reconfiguration of the coronal magnetic field