Hard X-ray imaging and the relative contribution of thermal and nonthermal emission in flares

The question of whether the impulsive 25 to 100 keV X-ray emission from solar flares is thermal or nonthermal has been a long-standing controversy. Both thermal and nonthermal (beam) models have been developed and applied to the hard X-ray data. It now seems likely that both thermal and nonthermal emission have been observed at hard X-ray energies. The Hinotori classification scheme, for example, is an attempt to associate the thermal-nonthermal characteristics of flare hard X-ray emission with other flare properties. From a theoretical point of view, it is difficult to generate energetic, nonthermal electrons without dumping an equal or greater amount of energy into plasma heating. On the other hand, any impulsive heating process will invariably generate at least some nonthermal particles. Hence, strictly speaking, although thermal or nonthermal emission may dominate the hard X-ray emission in a given energy range for a given flare, there is no such thing as a purely thermal or nonthermal flare mechanism

Acceleration of runaway electrons and Joule heating in solar flares

The electric field acceleration of electrons out of a thermal plasma and the simultaneous Joule heating of the plasma are studied. Acceleration and heating timescales are derived and compared, and upper limits are obtained on the acceleration volume and the rate at which electrons can be accelerated. These upper limits, determined by the maximum magnetic field strength observed in flaring regions, place stringent restrictions upon the acceleration process. The role of the plasma resistivity in these processes is examined, and possible sources of anomalous resistivity are summarized. The implications of these results for the microwave and hard X-ray emission from solar flares are examined

Axions and the dark matter of the universe

Spin(10) axion models are constructed which offer the possibility that axions comprise all or a significant part of the dark matter of the Universe

Solar Flare X-ray Source Motion as a Response to Electron Spectral Hardening

Context: Solar flare hard X-rays (HXRs) are thought to be produced by nonthermal coronal electrons stopping in the chromosphere, or remaining trapped in the corona. The collisional thick target model (CTTM) predicts that sources produced by harder power-law injection spectra should appear further down the legs or footpoints of a flare loop. Therefore, hardening of the injected power-law electron spectrum during flare onset should be concurrent with a descending hard X-ray source. Aims: To test this implication of the CTTM by comparing its predicted HXR source locations with those derived from observations of a solar flare which exhibits a nonthermally-dominated spectrum before the peak in HXRs, known as an early impulsive event. Methods: HXR images and spectra of an early impulsive C-class flare were obtained using the Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). Images were reconstructed to produce HXR source height evolutions for three energy bands. Spatially-integrated spectral analysis was performed to isolate nonthermal emission, and to determine the power-law index of the electron injection spectrum. The observed height-time evolutions were then fit with CTTM-based simulated heights for each energy. Results: A good match between model and observed source heights was reached, requiring a density model that agreed well with previous studies of flare loop densities. Conclusions: The CTTM has been used to produce a descent of model HXR source heights that compares well with observations of this event. Based on this interpretation, downward motion of nonthermal sources should indeed occur in any flare where there is spectral hardening in the electron distribution during a flare. However, this would often be masked by thermal emission associated with flare plasma pre-heating.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

Degeneracy in the characterization of non-transiting planets from transit timing variations

The transit timing variation (TTV) method allows the detection of non-transiting planets through their gravitational perturbations. Since TTVs are strongly enhanced in systems close to mean-motion resonances (MMR), even a low mass planet can produce an observable signal. This technique has thus been proposed to detect terrestrial planets. In this letter, we analyse TTV signals for systems in or close to MMR in order to illustrate the difficulties arising in the determination of planetary parameters. TTVs are computed numerically with an n-body integrator for a variety of systems close to MMR. The main features of these TTVs are also derived analytically. Systems deeply inside MMR do not produce particularly strong TTVs, while those close to MMR generate quasiperiodic TTVs characterised by a dominant long period term and a low amplitude remainder. If the remainder is too weak to be detected, then the signal is strongly degenerate and this prevents the determination of the planetary parameters. Even though an Earth mass planet can be detected by the TTV method if it is close to a MMR, it may not be possible to assert that this planet is actually an Earth mass planet. On the other hand, if the system is right in the center of a MMR, the high amplitude oscillation of the TTV signal vanishes and the detection of the perturber becomes as difficult as it is far from MMR.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to MNRA

Role-Taking vs. cultural identity: Defining disability in an able-bodied environment

Are people with physical impairments seen as a minority group or as individuals who take on the role of being disabled only in certain circumstances? While minority group membership has a variety of social, psychological, and legal advantages, it forces people to give up some individuality and gives the disability a more permanent connotation (Berbrier, 2004; Watson, 2002). Alternately, viewing disability as a role, and attaching the label disabled in certain circumstances, allows for a broader spectrum of individual choice. However, the label assumes someone who is disabled to be less than able, thus carrying a strong stigma. Through my personal experience with a temporary disability, I examined the labels placed on people with physical impairments, both by the individual and by society in general. I conclude that the lived experiences of those with disabilities do not demonstrate that people with physical impairments self-identify as a member of the disabled community, but that they take on this label only when the environment fails to meet their needs

The absoption refrigerator as a thermal transformer

The absorption refrigerator can be considered a thermal transformer, i.e. a device that is analogous to the electric transformer. The analogy is based on a correspondence between the extensive quantities entropy and electric charge and that of the intensive variables temperature and electric potential

A low-altitude satellite interaction study

Two computer programs calculate interaction effects of high speed spacecraft on the environment at altitudes from 90 km to 150 km. EXT program determines fluid field in bodies of arbitrary geometries in transient flow regime. INT program uses EXT output and measures flow conditions inside spacecraft body