Quasi-periodic pulsations in a solar flare with an unusual phase shift

Abstract

Two kinds of processes could occur during the flare decay phase: processes of energy release or processes of energy relaxation. Quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) of the broad-band emission are a good tool for the verification of mechanisms. We aim to study the processes during the decay phase of the X-class solar flare SOL2014-03-29T17:48. The observations in X-ray, microwave, and extreme ultraviolet bands are exploited to study the fine temporal, spatial, and spectral structures of the flare. The periods, amplitudes, and phases of both the fluxes and physical parameters [emission measure (EM), temperature] are studied using standard methods of correlation, Fourier, and wavelet analyses. It is found that the source of the QPPs is associated with the uniform post-flare loop. The X-ray source is located at the top of the arcade. QPPs with the similar characteristic time scales of P ≈ 74-80 s are found in the X-ray (3-25 keV) and microwave (15.7 GHz) emissions. Besides, QPPs with the same period are found in the time profiles of both the temperature (T e) and EM. The QPPs in temperature and the QPPs in EM demonstrate antiphase behaviour. The analysis reveals the quasi-periodic process of energy relaxation, without any additional source of energy during the decay phase. The periods of the QPPs are in a good agreement with second harmonic of standing slow magneto-acoustic wave in the arcade that could be triggered by a Moreton wave initiated by the flare in the direct vicinity of the arcade. © 2018 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.