Precursors of the solar X flare on march 29, 2014, in the active region NOAA 12017 based on microwave radiation and magnetographic data

Precursors of the strong solar flare X1.0 (according to the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) classification) recorded on March 29, 2014, in the active region (AR) 12017 are investigated. The precursors manifested themselves in the AR microwave radiation and its magnetographic characteristics. This work was carried out as part of the development of an observational database of precursors of large flares (those more powerful than class M5 according to the GOES classification) in different ARs based on an analysis of the microwave radiation and magnetographic characteristics of ARs. Further generalization and systematization of the identified precursors of strong solar flares makes it possible to move on to the development of methods for their forecasting. According to data from Solar Dynamics Observatory Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (SDO/HMI), two days before the X flare a new magnetic flux emerged in the analyzed AR 12017 near the main spot of the group with a magnetic field sign opposite that of main spot field (formation of the δ configuration). The study of the evolution of the magnetic field gradient in the AR showed a sharp increase before the X flare, which reached its peak 8 h before the flare with a subsequent decrease before the flare. Analysis of the AR microwave radiation, which was carried out based on the results of multiwavelength multiazimuth (31 daily observations for 4 h with 8-minute intervals) spectral polarization observations of the Sun by the RATAN-600 in the range 1.65–6.0 cm for a few days before the flare, revealed the emergence and development of a microwave source over the region with the δ configuration two days before the X flare. The parameters of the radio-frequency radiation of this source make it possible to classify it as a “peculiar” microwave source that was discovered earlier by the RATAN-600 in a number of eruptive events 1–2 days before large X flares. It was found for the first time that the time variation of the intensity of the microwave source over the region with the δ configuration occurred similarly to the evolution of the magnetic field gradient in the AR.