449 research outputs found
Electron-cyclotron maser emission during flares: Emission in various modes and temporal variations
Absorption of radiation at the electron-cyclotron frequency, OMEGA sub e, generated by the electron-cyclotron maser instability was proposed as a possible mechanism for transporting energy and heating of the corona during flares. Radiation from the same instability but at harmonics of OMEGA sub e is believed to be the source of solar microwave spike bursts. The actual mode and frequency of the dominant emission from the maser instability is shown to be dependent on: (1) the plasma temperature, (2) the form of the energetic electron distribution, and (3) on the ratio of the plasma frequency omega sub p to OMEGA sub e. As a result, the emission along a flux tube can vary, with emission at harmonics being favored in regions where omega sub p/OMEGA sub e approx. equal to or greater than 1. Changes in the plasma density and temperature in the source region associated with the flare can also cause the characteristics of the emission to change in time
Energetic particles in solar flares. Chapter 4 in the proceedings of the 2nd Skylab Workshop on Solar Flares
The recent direct observational evidence for the acceleration of particles in solar flares, i.e. radio emission, bremsstrahlung X-ray emission, gamma-ray line and continuum emission, as well as direct observations of energetic electrons and ions, are discussed and intercorrelated. At least two distinct phases of acceleration of solar particles exist that can be distinguished in terms of temporal behavior, type and energy of particles accelerated and the acceleration mechanism. Bulk energization seems the likely acceleration mechanism for the first phase while Fermi mechanism is a viable candidate for the second one
Radio astronomy
The following subject areas are covered: (1) scientific opportunities (millimeter and sub-millimeter wavelength astronomy; meter to hectometer astronomy; the Sun, stars, pulsars, interstellar masers, and extrasolar planets; the planets, asteroids, and comets; radio galaxies, quasars, and cosmology; and challenges for radio astronomy in the 1990's); (2) recommendations for new facilities (the millimeter arrays, medium scale instruments, and small-scale projects); (3) continuing activities and maintenance, upgrading of telescopes and instrumentation; (4) long range programs and technology development; and (5) social, political, and organizational considerations
Impulsive phase transport
The transport of nonthermal electrons is explored. The thick-target electron beam model, in which electrons are presumed to be accelerated in the corona and typically thermalized primarily in the chromosphere and photosphere, is supported by observations throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. At the highest energies, the anisotropy of gamma-ray emission above 10 MeV clearly indicates that these photons are emitted by anisotropically-directed particles. The timing of this high-energy gamma-radiation with respect to lower-energy hard X-radiation implies that the energetic particles have short life-times. For collisional energy loss, this means that they are stopped in the chromosphere or below. Stereoscopic (two-spacecraft) observations at hard X-ray energies (up to 350 keV) imply that these lower-energy (but certainly nonthermal) electrons are also stopped deep in the chromosphere. Hard X-ray images show that, in spatially resolved flares whose radiation consists of impulsive bursts, the impulsive phase starts with X-radiation that comes mostly from the foot-points of coronal loops whose coronal component is outlined by microwaves
First-order thermal correction to the quadratic response tensor and rate for second harmonic plasma emission
Three-wave interactions in plasmas are described, in the framework of kinetic
theory, by the quadratic response tensor (QRT). The cold-plasma QRT is a common
approximation for interactions between three fast waves. Here, the first-order
thermal correction (FOTC) to the cold-plasma QRT is derived for interactions
between three fast waves in a warm unmagnetized collisionless plasma, whose
particles have an arbitrary isotropic distribution function. The FOTC to the
cold-plasma QRT is shown to depend on the second moment of the distribution
function, the phase speeds of the waves, and the interaction geometry. Previous
calculations of the rate for second harmonic plasma emission (via Langmuir-wave
coalescence) assume the cold-plasma QRT. The FOTC to the cold-plasma QRT is
used here to calculate the FOTC to the second harmonic emission rate, and its
importance is assessed in various physical situations. The FOTC significantly
increases the rate when the ratio of the Langmuir phase speed to the electron
thermal speed is less than about 3.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, submitted to Physics of Plasma
Cluster Multi-spacecraft Determination of AKR Angular Beaming
Simultaneous observations of AKR emission using the four-spacecraft Cluster
array were used to make the first direct measurements of the angular beaming
patterns of individual bursts. By comparing the spacecraft locations and AKR
burst locations, the angular beaming pattern was found to be narrowly confined
to a plane containing the magnetic field vector at the source and tangent to a
circle of constant latitude. Most rays paths are confined within 15 deg of this
tangent plane, consistent with numerical simulations of AKR k-vector
orientation at maximum growth rate. The emission is also strongly directed
upward in the tangent plane, which we interpret as refraction of the rays as
they leave the auroral cavity. The narrow beaming pattern implies that an
observer located above the polar cap can detect AKR emission only from a small
fraction of the auroral oval at a given location. This has important
consequences for interpreting AKR visibility at a given location. It also helps
re-interpret previously published Cluster VLBI studies of AKR source locations,
which are now seen to be only a subset of all possible source locations. These
observations are inconsistent with either filled or hollow cone beaming models.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures. Geophys. Res. Letters (accepted
CME liftoff with high-frequency fragmented type II burst emission
Aims: Solar radio type II bursts are rarely seen at frequencies higher than a
few hundred MHz. Since metric type II bursts are thought to be signatures of
propagating shock waves, it is of interest to know how these shocks, and the
type II bursts, are formed. In particular, how are high-frequency, fragmented
type II bursts created? Are there differences in shock acceleration or in the
surrounding medium that could explain the differences to the "typical" metric
type IIs? Methods: We analyse one unusual metric type II event in detail, with
comparison to white-light, EUV, and X-ray observations. As the radio event was
associated with a flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME), we investigate their
connection. We then utilize numerical MHD simulations to study the shock
structure induced by an erupting CME in a model corona including dense loops.
Results: Our simulations show that the fragmented part of the type II burst can
be formed when a coronal shock driven by a mass ejection passes through a
system of dense loops overlying the active region.To produce fragmented
emission, the conditions for plasma emission have to be more favourable inside
the loop than in the interloop area. The obvious hypothesis, consistent with
our simulation model, is that the shock strength decreases significantly in the
space between the denser loops. The later, more typical type II burst appears
when the shock exits the dense loop system and finally, outside the active
region, the type II burst dies out when the changing geometry no longer favours
the electron shock-acceleration.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, A&A accepte
Observations of Low Frequency Solar Radio Bursts from the Rosse Solar-Terrestrial Observatory
The Rosse Solar-Terrestrial Observatory (RSTO; www.rosseobservatory.ie) was
established at Birr Castle, Co. Offaly, Ireland (53 05'38.9", 7 55'12.7") in
2010 to study solar radio bursts and the response of the Earth's ionosphere and
geomagnetic field. To date, three Compound Astronomical Low-cost Low-frequency
Instrument for Spectroscopy and Transportable Observatory (CALLISTO)
spectrometers have been installed, with the capability of observing in the
frequency range 10-870 MHz. The receivers are fed simultaneously by biconical
and log-periodic antennas. Nominally, frequency spectra in the range 10-400 MHz
are obtained with 4 sweeps per second over 600 channels. Here, we describe the
RSTO solar radio spectrometer set-up, and present dynamic spectra of a sample
of Type II, III and IV radio bursts. In particular, we describe fine-scale
structure observed in Type II bursts, including band splitting and rapidly
varying herringbone features
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