Authors: Maria D. Kazachenko (CU Boulder / NSO)

What is the difference between confined and eruptive flares in terms of their physical properties at the Sun? We analyze 294 largest flares (154 eruptive and 140 confined) from 2010 until 2017 located within 45 degrees from the disk center observed by the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We compare GOES X-ray thermal flare properties, including temperature and emission measure, active-region and flare-ribbon magnetic field properties, including peak rates of reconnected magnetic flux, between confined and eruptive flare groups. We summarize statistical similarities (e.g. in reconnection fluxes, temperatures etc.) and differences (e.g. in reconnection flux rates, mean photospheric magnetic fields etc.) between these groups. We discuss how these results advance our understanding of the physical mechanisms responsible for eruptive and confined solar flares.