Formation and Eruption of Hot Channels during an M6.5 Class Solar Flare

Abstract

Abstract We investigate the formation and eruption of hot channels associated with the M6.5 class flare (SOL 2015-06-22T18:23) that occurred in NOAA AR 12371 on 2015 June 22. Two flare precursors are observed before the flare’s main phase. Observations in 94 and 131 Å by SDO/AIA revealed the early morphology of the first hot channel as a group of hot loops, termed the seed hot channel. A few seed hot channels are formed above the polarity inversion line (PIL) and the formation is associated with the parallel motion of the footpoint brightenings along the PIL, which proceeds into the early stage of the flare main phase. During this process, seed hot channels build up and rise slowly, accelerating at the peak of the second precursor. They merge during the process of acceleration, forming a larger hot channel, which then forms an inverted-γ-shape kinking structure. Before the flare peak, the second kinking hot channel with negative crossing appears near the first kinking hot channel that erupted. The eruption of these two hot channels produces two peaks on the main flare's GOES light curve. The propagation of the footpoint brightenings along the PIL indicates that the first kinking hot channel may be formed due to zipper reconnection. The occurrence of merging between seed hot channels observed by AIA is supported by the extrapolated nonlinear force-free field models. The observed writhing motion of the first kinking hot channel may be driven by the Lorentz force.