Delayed Soft X-ray Signatures of Reconnection in a Prominence Eruption

A. C. Sterling (JAXA)

Even though magnetic reconnection may occur very early in the energy-release phase
of solar eruptions, soft X-ray emission from the reconnection site may not be
visible until the eruption is well underway in the case of low-energy eruptions. 
This implies that caution is needed when trying to distinguish between eruption
models by comparing timings of soft X-ray flux increases with other eruption
signatures.  Using data from Yohkoh/SXT and SOHO/EIT, we present an example of a
low-energy prominence eruption of 1999 February 8---9, where the soft X-ray flux
from the expected reconnection region becomes detectable about an hour after the
prominence begins its rapid rise.  We argue that this delay in the flux rise does
not rule out the possibility that reconnection began at or before the start of the
prominence's rapid rise.