"Supra-Arcade Downflows: Results from Observational Analysis"

David E. McKenzie, Sabrina Savage, James E. Tolan

Downward motions above post-CME flare arcades are an exciting discovery of the Yohkoh mission, and have subsequently been detected with TRACE, SOHO/LASCO, SOHO/SUMER, and GOES SXI. These supra-arcade downflows have been interpreted as outflows from flux tube reconnection, consistent with a 3D generalization of the standard reconnection model of solar flares. We will present results from our observational analyses of downflows, including some automated schemes for detection, distributions of measured speeds, and other aspects related to 3D patchy reconnection. We will also indicate the limitations of present observations, and motivations for utilizing the Solar-B instruments for measurements of these reconnection signatures.

Correspondence

David McKenzie (mckenzie@mithra.physics.montana.edu), Montana State University-Bozeman

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