Do the solar flares originating from an individual active region follow a random process or a memory-dependent correlation?. Issue 1 (7th April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lei, W H; Li, C; Chen, F; Zhong, S J; Xu, Z G; Chen, P F
• Is Part Of: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Volume 494:Issue 1(2020)
• Page Start: 975
• Page End: 982
• Publication Date: 2020-04-07
• Subjects: methods: statistical -- Sun: activity -- Sun: flares; Astronomy -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 520.5
• DOI: 10.1093/mnras/staa688
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0035-8711

Abstract

ABSTRACT: We investigate the waiting time statistics of solar flares both in a flare-productive active region (AR 12673) of the solar cycle 24 and in a three-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulated AR. The statistical models of a discrete random process and a continuous memory-dependent process are applied to interpret the waiting time distributions (WTDs) of solar flares. Our results indicate that the occurrence of a solar flare in an individual AR maintains a certain amount of memory, and probably arises from MHD turbulence rather than from intermittent avalanches in a self-organized criticality system. It differs from the occurrence of 'super flares' when treating the star/Sun as a single non-linear system.