Maximum Energy of Solar Flares in the Modern Era

The maximum energy of a solar flare is found using a model of particle acceleration in a magnetic X-singularity. Based on a comparison of this model with observed extreme events, it was determined that flares with the highest possible energy have already been observed. These include events of 1859, 1940, 2003, which had an X-ray class of X40 ± 5 (according to the GOES classification). In this case, the maximum flare energy in the modern era does not exceed 5 × 1032 erg, and such powerful flares occur at intervals of about 70 years.