Footpoint Motion of the Continuum Emission in the 2002 September 30 White-Light Flare

Abstract

We present observations of the 2002 September 30 white-light flare, in which the optical continuum emission near the Hα line is enhanced by ~10%. The continuum emission exhibits a close temporal and spatial coincidence with the hard X-ray (HXR) footpoint observed by RHESSI. We find a systematic motion of the flare footpoint seen in the continuum emission; the motion history follows roughly that of the HXR source. This gives strong evidence that this white-light flare is powered by heating of nonthermal electrons. We note that the HXR spectrum in 10-50 keV is quite soft with γ~7 and there is no HXR emission above 50 keV. The magnetic configuration of the flaring region implies magnetic reconnection taking place at a relatively low altitude during the flare. Despite a very soft spectrum of the electron beam, its energy content is still sufficient to produce the heating in the lower atmosphere, where the continuum emission originates. This white-light flare highlights the importance of radiative back-warming to transport the energy below when direct heating by beam electrons is obviously impossible.