Multipoint study of the rapid filament evolution during a confined C2 flare on 28 March 2022, leading to eruption

¹ Institute of Physics, University of Graz, Universitätsplatz 5, 8010 Graz, Austria
² Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research, University of Graz, Kanzelhöhe 19, 9521 Treffen, Austria
³ Institute of Physics and Astronomy, University of Potsdam, Potsdam 14476, Germany
⁴ High Altitude Observatory, 3080 Center Green Dr., Boulder, CO 80301, USA
⁵ NorthWest Research Associates, 3380 Mitchell Ln, Boulder, CO 80301, USA
⁶ Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Bolshoy Boulevard 30, bld. 1, Moscow 121205, Russia
⁷ Institute for Data Science, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland (FHNW), Bahnhofstrasse 6, 5210 Windisch, Switzerland
⁸ Space Sciences Laboratory, University of California, 7 Gauss Way, 94720 Berkeley, USA

Received: 22 March 2024
Accepted: 28 June 2024

Abstract

Aims. This study focuses on the rapid evolution of the solar filament in active region 12975 during a confined C2 flare on 28 March 2022, which finally led to an eruptive M4 flare 1.5 h later. The event is characterized by the apparent breakup of the filament, the disappearance of its southern half, and the flow of the remaining filament plasma into a new, longer channel with a topology very similar to an extreme ultraviolet (EUV) hot channel observed during the flare. In addition, we outline the emergence of the original filament from a sheared arcade and discuss possible drivers for its rise and eruption.

Methods. We took advantage of Solar Orbiter’s favorable position, 0.33 AU from the Sun, and 83.5° west of the Sun-Earth line, to perform a multi-point study using the Spectrometer Telescope for Imaging X-rays (STIX) and the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI) in combination with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and Hα images from the Earth-based Kanzelhöhe Observatory for Solar and Environmental Research (KSO) and the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG). While STIX and EUI observed the flare and the filament’s rise from close up and at the limb, AIA and HMI observations provided highly complementary on-disk observations from which we derived differential emission measure (DEM) maps and nonlinear force-free (NLFF) magnetic field extrapolations.

Results. According to our pre-flare NLFF extrapolation, field lines corresponding to both filament channels existed in close proximity before the flare. We propose a loop-loop reconnection scenario based on field structures associated with the AIA 1600 Å flare ribbons and kernels. It involves field lines surrounding and passing beneath the shorter filament channel, and field lines closely following the southern part of the longer channel. Reconnection occurs in an essentially vertical current sheet at a polarity inversion line (PIL) below the breakup region, which enables the formation of the flare loop arcade and EUV hot channel. This scenario is supported by concentrated currents and free magnetic energy built up by antiparallel flows along the PIL before the flare, and by non-thermal X-ray emission observed from the reconnection region. The reconnection probably propagated to involve the original filament itself, leading to its breakup and new geometry. This reconnection geometry also provides a general mechanism for the formation of the long filament channel and realizes the concept of tether cutting. It was probably active throughout the filament’s continuous rise phase, which lasted from at least 30 min before the C2 flare until the filament eruption. The C2 flare represents a period of fast reconnection during this otherwise more steady period, during which most of the original filament was reconnected and joined the longer channel.

Conclusions. These results demonstrate how rapid changes in solar filament topology can be driven by loop-loop reconnection with nearby field structures, and how this can be part of a long-lasting tether-cutting reconnection process. They also illustrate how a confined precursor flare due to loop-loop reconnection (Type I) can contribute to the evolution towards a full eruption, and that they can produce a flare loop arcade when the contact region between interacting loop systems has a sheet-like geometry similar to a flare current sheet.