THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GLOBAL X-RAY LUMINOSITY AND FLARING ON THE SUN

We investigate the relationship between solar global flaring activity and X-ray luminosity, as part of a solar-stellar investigation. In keeping with previous suggestions, we find that the rate of flaring on the Sun is closely related to X-ray luminosity with a positive correlation. This is in contrast to relationships found on dMe stars, and can be interpreted in terms of flare activity both on a microscopic and macroscopic scale varying sympathetically, rather than macroscopic flare energy storage subduing smaller scale energy release. The microscopic activity has significance for outstanding problems such as coronal heating.