The magnetic rope structure and associated energetic processes in the 2000 July 14 solar flare

In the reconstructed nonlinear force-free magnetic field of NOAA Active Region 9077 before the X5.7/3B (10:24 UT) flare on 2000 July 14, we reveal for the first time the presence of a magnetic rope from the extrapolation of the three-dimensional magnetic field structure. This magnetic rope is located in a space above the magnetic neutral lines of the filament. The calculated field lines of the rope rotate around its axis for more than three turns. Overlying the rope are multilayer magnetic arcades with different orientations. These arcades are in agreement with the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer observations. The estimated free magnetic energy in this rope system is about 1.6 x 10(32) ergs. Such magnetic field structure provides a favorable model for the interpretation of the energetic flare processes as revealed by H alpha, EUV, and radio observations. In particular, the intermittent cospatial brightening of the rope in EUV 1600 Angstrom image leading to the onset of the flare suggests that the rope instability may have triggered the flare event, and the drifting pulsation structure in the decimetric frequency range is considered to manifest the initial phase of the coronal mass ejection.