Seemingly intersecting flaring loops in microwaves: Possible radio evidence for reconnection

Abstract

We present possible radio evidence of magnetic reconnection in a solar flare - an LDE event of GOES class M3.2 that was observed on 1999 February 16 on the disk. Our evidence is based upon the facts that we observed a bright microwave source-blob at 17 and 34 GHz near the intersection of two seemingly intersecting flaring loops or as a loop-top source above one flaring loop. The bright microwave source is clearly non-thermal and its time profile is similar to those of the flaring footpoint microwave sources; and in the late decay phase of the event the microwave source structure is similar to that of the corresponding SXR source. Copyright © The Society of Geomagnetism and Earth, Planetary and Space Sciences (SGEPSS); The Seismological Society of Japan; The Volcanological Society of Japan; The Geodetic Society of Japan; The Japanese Society for Planetary Sciences.