Quasiperiodic pulsations and three-dimensional magnetic reconnection during 2022 March 31 flare observed by IRIS and STIX

Abstract

Apparent slipping motions of flare ribbon kernels and the formation of hard X-ray (HXR) footpoints are important signatures of magnetic reconnection in solar flares. Ultraviolet (UV) and HXR ribbon emission can show quasiperiodic pulsations (QPPs), but the link between HXR QPP sources and slipping reconnection remains poorly understood. In this work, we analyze high-cadence IRIS and STIX observations of the 2022 March 31 M9.6 flare. STIX detected nonthermal QPPs with periods of ≈35 s from two relatively stationary footpoints. The majority of the HXR QPPs were correlated with UV pulsations observed by the IRIS Slit Jaw Imager in ribbon regions encompassing these footpoints. In one such region observed under the IRIS slit, the Si iv 1402.77 Å line exhibited pulsations in intensity, Doppler shift, and width, some of which were coincident with HXR QPPs. Apparent slipping motions of the UV kernels were also observed, but their locations, timing, and UV intensity variability showed lower correlation with the HXR QPPs. The ribbons along which the slipping kernels were found correspond well to footprints of quasi-separatrix layers, regions of high magnetic connectivity gradients, identified using a nonlinear force-free field extrapolation. Our multi-instrument analysis suggests that strong deposition of energy by nonthermal electrons was concentrated in a specific loop system within a large-scale 3D reconnection structure. Slipping kernels were subjected to weaker, if any, energization by nonthermal electrons, offering new constraints on 3D reconnection and flare energy release.