Coronal energy release by MHD avalanches. III. Identification of a reconnection outflow from a nanoflare

• Published in: Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin) 2025-02
• Main Authors: Cozzo, G., Pagano, P., Reale, F., Testa, P., Petralia, A., Martinez-Sykora, J., Hansteen, V., De Pontieu, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0004-6361; 1432-0746
• DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/202452426

Outflows perpendicular to the guide field are believed to be a possible signature of magnetic reconnection in the solar corona. Specifically, outflows can help detect the occurrence of ubiquitous small-angle magnetic reconnection. The aim of this work is to identify possible diagnostic techniques of such outflows in hot coronal loops with the Atmospheric Image Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the forthcoming MUltislit Solar Explorer (MUSE), in a realistically dynamic coronal loop environment where a magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) avalanche is occurring. We considered a 3D MHD model of two magnetic flux tubes, including a stratified, radiative, and thermal-conducting atmosphere, twisted by footpoint rotation. The faster rotating flux tube becomes kink-unstable and soon involves the other one in the avalanche. The turbulent decay of this magnetic structure on a global scale leads to the formation, fragmentation, and dissipation of current sheets, driving impulsive heating akin to a nanoflare storm. We captured a clear outflow from a reconnection episode soon after the initial avalanche and synthesised its emission as detectable with AIA and MUSE. The outflow has a maximum temperature around 8 total energy of erg $, velocity of a few hundred km/s, and duration of less than 1 min. We show the emission in the AIA 94 Å channel ( line) and in the MUSE 108 Å spectral line. This outflow shares many features with nanojets recently detected at lower temperatures. However, its low emission measure makes its detection difficult with AIA, while Doppler shifts can be measured with MUSE. Conditions become different in the later steady-state phase, when the flux tubes are filled with denser and relatively cooler plasma.