[Previous] | [Session 54] | [Next]
E. Chollet, D. Alexander (Rice University), T.R. Metcalf, L. Pollack (Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Lab)
RHESSI observations of a M4.0 solar flare on 17 March, 2002 are presented. This flare exhibits footpoint asymmetries in hard X-ray emission, allowing us to study the energy and time dependence of particle transport in this flare. The data, originally presented in Alexander and Metcalf (2002), is reanalyzed with new calibrations, shorter integration times and better spatial resolution, allowing for more accurate determination of the time and energy dependence of the asymmetries. While the previous work suggested that this was a simple flare with two footpoints, the new analysis suggests a more complex structure with three or more footpoints, confirmed by force free magnetic field extrapolations. The time development of the evolving flare indicates a transition from one flaring structue to another which significantly complicates the interpretation of the measured asymmetry. The implications of this new interpretation for the previously reported energy dependence will be discussed. We gratefully acknowledge support from NASA (NAS5-02048).
[Previous] | [Session 54] | [Next]
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 36 #2
© YEAR. The American Astronomical Soceity.