Paper Title:
Thermal Energy and Light Curves from a Loss of Equilibrium CME Model

Author List:
Reeves, K. K. and Forbes, T. G.

Abstract:
We use a loss of equilibrium CME model to investigate the thermal energy
release in solar eruptions.  For this calculation, we assume that the
Poynting flux in the current sheet is completely thermalized.   We find
that the net thermal energy released in strong field regions is a higher
percentage of the total energy than in weak field regions, and that the
rate of thermal energy release is faster for CMEs originating in strong
field regions.  It is possible to have a CME that is relatively high
speed (~1000 km/s), but with a low thermal energy if the background
field is weak and the density of the ejected mass is low.  Based on this
thermal energy calculation, we calculate TRACE and SXT flare light
curves that can be compared to observations.  These results lead us to
conclude that this model predicts that there would not necessarily be an
observable flare associated with the CME for weak magnetic field
regions.