Abstract
The formation process and the dynamical properties of a large-scale quasi-circular flare ribbon were investigated using the SDO AIA and HMI data along with data from RHESSI and SOT. Within one hour time interval, two subsequent M-class flares were detected from the NOAA 12371 that had a ${\beta}{\gamma}{\delta}$ configuration with one bipolar sunspot group in the east and one unipolar spot in the west embedded in a decayed magnetic field. Earlier M2.0 flare was associated with a coronal loop eruption, and a two-ribbon structure formed within the bipolar sunspot group. On the other hand, the later M2.6 flare was associated with a halo CME, and a quasi-circular ribbon developed encircling the full active region. The observed quasi-circular ribbon was strikingly large in size spanning 650" in north-south and 500" in east-west direction. It showed the well-known sequential brightening in the clockwise direction during the decay phase of the M2.6 flare at the estimated speed of 160.7 km s-1. The quasi-circular ribbon also showed the radial expansion, especially in the southern part. Interestingly, at the time of the later M2.6 flare, the third flare ribbon parallel to the early two-ribbon structure also developed near the unipolar sunspot, then showed a typical separation in pair with the eastern most ribbon of the early two ribbons. The potential field reconstruction based on the PFSS model showed a fan shaped magnetic configuration including fan-like field lines stemming from the unipolar spot and fanning out toward the background decayed field. This large-scale fan-like field overarched full active region, and the footpoints of fan-like field lines were co-spatial with the observed quasi-circular ribbon. From the NLFF magnetic field reconstruction, we confirmed the existence of a twisted flux rope structure in the bipolar spot group before the first M2.0 flare. Hard X-ray emission signatures were detected at the site of twisted flux rope during the pre-flare phase of the M2.0 flare. Based on the analysis of both two-ribbon structure and quasi-circular ribbon, we suggest that a tether-cutting reconnection between sheared arcade overarching the twisted flux rope embedded in a fan-like magnetic field may have triggered the first M2.0 flare, then secondary M2.6 flare was introduced by the fan-spine reconnection because of the interaction between the expanding field and the nearby quasi-null and formed the observed large-scale quasi-circular flare ribbon.