Abstract With the aim of studying the relationship between the relative motions of the loop-top (LT) source and footpoints (FPs) during the rising phase of solar flares, we give a detailed analysis of the X7.1 class flare that occurred on 2005 January 20. The flare was clearly observed by RHESSI, showing a distinct X-ray flaring loop with a bright LT source and two well-defined hard X-ray (HXR) FPs. In particular, we correct the projection effect for the positions of the FPs and magnetic polarity inversion line. We find that: (1) The LT source showed an obvious U-shaped trajectory. The source of the higher energy LT shows a faster downward/upward speed. (2) The evolution of FPs was temporally correlated with that of the LT source. The converging/separating motion of FPs corresponds to the downward/upward motion of the LT source. (3) The initial flare shear of this event is found to be nearly 50 degrees, and it has a fluctuating decrease throughout the contraction phase as well as the expansion phase. (4) Four peaks of the time profile of the unshearing rate are found to be temporally correlated with peaks in the HXR emission flux. This flare supports the overall contraction picture of flares: a descending motion of the LT source, in addition to converging and unshearing motion of FPs. All results indicate that the magnetic field was very highly sheared before the onset of the flare.

Keywords Sun: activity — Sun: magnetic fields — Sun: flares

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