256 research outputs found
COMPTEL gamma-ray observations of the C4 solar flare on 20 January 2000
The “Pre-SMM” (Vestrand and Miller 1998) picture of gamma-ray line (GRL) flares was that they are relatively rare events. This picture was quickly put in question with the launch of the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM). Over 100 GRL flares were seen with sizes ranging from very large GOES class events (X12) down to moderately small events (M2). It was argued by some (Bai 1986) that this was still consistent with the idea that GRL events are rare. Others, however, argued the opposite (Vestrand 1988; Cliver, Crosby and Dennis 1994), stating that the lower end of this distribution was just a function of SMM’s sensitivity. They stated that the launch of the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory (CGRO) would in fact continue this distribution to show even smaller GRL flares. In response to a BACODINE cosmic gamma-ray burst alert, COMPtonTELescope on the CGRO recorded gamma rays above 1 MeV from the C4 flare at 0221 UT 20 January 2000. This event, though at the limits of COMPTEL’s sensitivity, clearly shows a nuclear line excess above the continuum. Using new spectroscopy techniques we were able to resolve individual lines. This has allowed us to make a basic comparison of this event with the GRL flare distribution from SMM and also compare this flare with a well-observed large GRL flare seen by OSSE
X- and gamma-ray observations of the 15 November 1991 Solar Flare
This work expands the current understanding of the 15 November 1991 Solar Flare. The flare was a well observed event in radio to gamma-rays and is the first flare to be extensively studied with the benefit of detailed soft and hard X-ray images. In this work, we add data from all four instruments on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Using these data we determined that the accelerated electron spectrum above 170 keV is best fit with a power law with a spectral index of −4.6, while the accelerated proton spectrum above 0.6 MeV is fit with a power law of spectral index −4.5. From this we computed lower limits for the energy content of these particles of∼1023 ergs (electrons) and ∼1027 ergs (ions above 0.6 MeV). These particles do not have enough energy to produce the white-light emission observed from this event. We computed a time constant of 26+20−15 s for the 2.223 MeV neutron capture line, which is consistent at the 2σ level with the lowest values of ∼70 s found for other flares. The mechanism for this short capture time may be better understood after analyses of high energy EGRET data that show potential evidence for pion emission near ∼100 MeV
COMPTEL gamma ray and neutron measurements of solar flares
COMPTEL on the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory has measured the flux of x‐rays and neutrons from several solar flares. These data have also been used to image the Sun in both forms of radiation. Unusually intense flares occurred during June 1991 yielding data sets that offer some new insight into of how energetic protons and electrons are accelerated and behave in the solar environment. We summarize here some of the essential features in the solar flare data as obtained by COMPTEL during June 1991
Neutron and gamma‐ray measurements of the solar flare of 1991 June 9
The COMPTEL Imaging Compton Telescope on‐board the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory measured significant neutron and γ‐ray fluxes from the solar flare of 9 June 1991. The γ‐ray flux had an integrated intensity (≳1 MeV) of ∼30 cm−2, extending in time from 0136 UT to 0143 UT, while the time of energetic neutron emission extended approximately 10 minutes longer, indicating either extended proton acceleration to high energies or trapping and precipitation of energetic protons. The production of neutrons without accompanying γ‐rays in the proper proportion indicates a significant hardening of the precipitating proton spectrum through either the trapping or extended acceleration process
Observations of Electrons from the Decay of Solar Flare Neutrons
We have found evidence for fluxes of energetic electrons in interplanetary
space on board the ISEE-3 spacecraft which we interpret as the decay products
of neutrons generated in a solar flare on 1980 June 21. The decay electrons
arrived at the s/c shortly before the electrons from the flare and can be
distinguished from the latter by their distinctive energy spectrum. The time
profile of the decay electrons is in good agreement with the results from a
simulation based on a scattering mean free path derived from a fit to the flare
electron data. The comparison with simultaneously observed decay protons and a
published direct measurement of high-energy neutrons places important
constraints on the parent neutron spectrum.Comment: 4 pages (postscript), accepted by Astrophysical Journal Letter
An infinite family of convex Brunnian links in
This paper proves that convex Brunnian links exist for every dimension by constructing explicit examples. These examples are three-component
links which are higher-dimensional generalizations of the Borromean rings.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
Bounding Helly numbers via Betti numbers
We show that very weak topological assumptions are enough to ensure the
existence of a Helly-type theorem. More precisely, we show that for any
non-negative integers and there exists an integer such that
the following holds. If is a finite family of subsets of such that for any
and every
then has Helly number at most . Here
denotes the reduced -Betti numbers (with singular homology). These
topological conditions are sharp: not controlling any of these first Betti numbers allow for families with unbounded Helly number.
Our proofs combine homological non-embeddability results with a Ramsey-based
approach to build, given an arbitrary simplicial complex , some well-behaved
chain map .Comment: 29 pages, 8 figure
Sources of SEP Acceleration during a Flare-CME Event
A high-speed halo-type coronal mass ejection (CME), associated with a GOES
M4.6 soft X-ray flare in NOAA AR 0180 at S12W29 and an EIT wave and dimming,
occurred on 9 November 2002. A complex radio event was observed during the same
period. It included narrow-band fluctuations and frequency-drifting features in
the metric wavelength range, type III burst groups at metric--hectometric
wavelengths, and an interplanetary type II radio burst, which was visible in
the dynamic radio spectrum below 14 MHz. To study the association of the
recorded solar energetic particle (SEP) populations with the propagating CME
and flaring, we perform a multi-wavelength analysis using radio spectral and
imaging observations combined with white-light, EUV, hard X-ray, and
magnetogram data. Velocity dispersion analysis of the particle distributions
(SOHO and Wind in situ observations) provides estimates for the release times
of electrons and protons. Our analysis indicates that proton acceleration was
delayed compared to the electrons. The dynamics of the interplanetary type II
burst identify the burst source as a bow shock created by the fast CME. The
type III burst groups, with start times close to the estimated electron release
times, trace electron beams travelling along open field lines into the
interplanetary space. The type III bursts seem to encounter a steep density
gradient as they overtake the type II shock front, resulting in an abrupt
change in the frequency drift rate of the type III burst emission. Our study
presents evidence in support of a scenario in which electrons are accelerated
low in the corona behind the CME shock front, while protons are accelerated
later, possibly at the CME bow shock high in the corona.Comment: Solar Physics, November 2007, in pres
Acceleration of Relativistic Protons during the 20 January 2005 Flare and CME
The origin of relativistic solar protons during large flare/CME events has
not been uniquely identified so far.We perform a detailed comparative analysis
of the time profiles of relativistic protons detected by the worldwide network
of neutron monitors at Earth with electromagnetic signatures of particle
acceleration in the solar corona during the large particle event of 20 January
2005. The intensity-time profile of the relativistic protons derived from the
neutron monitor data indicates two successive peaks. We show that microwave,
hard X-ray and gamma-ray emissions display several episodes of particle
acceleration within the impulsive flare phase. The first relativistic protons
detected at Earth are accelerated together with relativistic electrons and with
protons that produce pion decay gamma-rays during the second episode. The
second peak in the relativistic proton profile at Earth is accompanied by new
signatures of particle acceleration in the corona within approximatively 1
solar radius above the photosphere, revealed by hard X-ray and microwave
emissions of low intensity, and by the renewed radio emission of electron beams
and of a coronal shock wave. We discuss the observations in terms of different
scenarios of particle acceleration in the corona.Comment: 22 pages, 5 figure
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