110 research outputs found
RADIO EVIDENCE OF BREAK-OUT RECONNECTION?
We reconsider the 2003 October 28 X17 flare/coronal mass ejection (CME), studying the five minutes immediately before the impulsive flare phase (not discussed in previous work). To this aim we examine complementary dynamic radio spectrograms, single frequency polarimeter records, radio images, space-based longitudinal field magnetograms, and ultraviolet images. We find widely distributed faint and narrowband meter wave radio sources located outside active regions but associated with the boundaries of magnetic flux connectivity cells, inferred from the potential extrapolation of the observed photospheric longitudinal field as a model for coronal magnetic field structures. The meter wave radio sources occur during the initial decimeter wave effects, which are well known to be associated with filament destabilization in the flaring active region (here NOAA 10486). Antiochos et al. predict in their break-out model for CME initiation that "... huge phenomena ... may be controlled by detailed plasma processes that occur in relatively tiny regions." They suggest that the expected faint energy release "... on long field lines far away from any neutral line ... may be detectable in radio/microwave emission from nonthermal particles..." In this paper, we describe meter wave sources whose properties correctly coincide with the quoted predictions of the break-out reconnection model of the CME initiation
Determination of 3D Trajectories of Knots in Solar Prominences Using MSDP Data
In this paper we present a new method of restoration of the true
thee-dimensional trajectories of the prominence knots based on ground-based
observations taken with a single telescope, which is equipped with a
Multi-Channel Subtractive Double Pass imaging spectrograph. Our method allows
to evaluate true three-dimensional trajectories of the prominence knots without
any assumptions concerning the shape of the trajectories or dynamics of the
motion. The reconstructed trajectories of several knots observed in three
prominences are presented.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Radio Observations of the January 20, 2005 X-Class Event
We present a multi-frequency and multi-instrument study of the 20 January
2005 event. We focus mainly on the complex radio signatures and their
association with the active phenomena taking place: flares, CMEs, particle
acceleration and magnetic restructuring. As a variety of energetic particle
accelerators and sources of radio bursts are present, in the flare-ejecta
combination, we investigate their relative importance in the progress of this
event. The dynamic spectra of {Artemis-IV-Wind/Waves-Hiras with 2000 MHz-20 kHz
frequency coverage, were used to track the evolution of the event from the low
corona to the interplanetary space; these were supplemented with SXR, HXR and
gamma-ray recordings. The observations were compared with the expected radio
signatures and energetic-particle populations envisaged by the {Standard
Flare--CME model and the reconnection outflow termination shock model. A proper
combination of these mechanisms seems to provide an adequate model for the
interpretation of the observational data.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Magnetic Reconnection with Asymmetry in the Outflow Direction
Magnetic reconnection with asymmetry in the outflow direction occurs in the
Earth's magnetotail, coronal mass ejections, flux cancellation events,
astrophysical disks, spheromak merging experiments, and elsewhere in nature and
the laboratory. A control volume analysis is performed for the case of steady
antiparallel magnetic reconnection with asymmetric downstream pressure, which
is used to derive scaling relations for the outflow velocity from each side of
the current sheet and the reconnection rate. Simple relationships for outflow
velocity are presented for the incompressible case and the case of symmetric
downstream pressure but asymmetric downstream density. Asymmetry alone is not
found to greatly affect the reconnection rate. The flow stagnation point and
magnetic field null do not coincide in a steady state unless the pressure
gradient is negligible at the flow stagnation point.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures. Submitted to JGR. Any comments will be
appreciate
High-sensitivity observations of solar flare decimeter radiation
A new acousto-optic radio spectrometer has observed the 1 - 2 GHz radio
emission of solar flares with unprecedented sensitivity. The number of detected
decimeter type III bursts is greatly enhanced compared to observations by
conventional spectrometers observing only one frequency at the time. The
observations indicate a large number of electron beams propagating in dense
plasmas. For the first time, we report weak, reversed drifting type III bursts
at frequencies above simultaneous narrowband decimeter spikes. The type III
bursts are reliable signatures of electron beams propagating downward in the
corona, apparently away from the source of the spikes. The observations
contradict the most popular spike model that places the spike sources at the
footpoints of loops. Conspicuous also was an apparent bidirectional type U
burst forming a fish-like pattern. It occurs simultaneously with an intense
U-burst at 600-370 MHz observed in Tremsdorf. We suggest that it intermodulated
with strong terrestrial interference (cellular phones) causing a spurious
symmetric pattern in the spectrogram at 1.4 GHz. Symmetric features in the 1 -
2 GHz range, some already reported in the literature, therefore must be
considered with utmost caution.Comment: Astronomy and Astrophysics, in pres
On the relationship of shock waves to flares and coronal mass ejections
Context: Metric type II bursts are the most direct diagnostic of shock waves
in the solar corona.
Aims: There are two main competing views about the origin of coronal shocks:
that they originate in either blast waves ignited by the pressure pulse of a
flare or piston-driven shocks due to coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We studied
three well-observed type II bursts in an attempt to place tighter constraints
on their origins.
Methods: The type II bursts were observed by the ARTEMIS radio spectrograph
and imaged by the Nan\c{c}ay Radioheliograph (NRH) at least at two frequencies.
To take advantage of projection effects, we selected events that occurred away
from disk center.
Results: In all events, both flares and CMEs were observed. In the first
event, the speed of the shock was about 4200 km/s, while the speed of the CME
was about 850 km/s. This discrepancy ruled out the CME as the primary shock
driver. The CME may have played a role in the ignition of another shock that
occurred just after the high speed one. A CME driver was excluded from the
second event as well because the CMEs that appeared in the coronagraph data
were not synchronized with the type II burst. In the third event, the
kinematics of the CME which was determined by combining EUV and white light
data was broadly consistent with the kinematics of the type II burst, and,
therefore, the shock was probably CME-driven.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrates the diversity of conditions that may lead
to the generation of coronal shocks.Comment: 13 pages, 14 figures. "Astronomy and Astrophysics", in pres
Probing the Role of Magnetic-Field Variations in NOAA AR 8038 in Producing Solar Flare and CME on 12 May 1997
We carried out a multi-wavelength study of a CME and a medium-size 1B/C1.3
flare occurring on 12 May 1997. We present the investigation of magnetic-field
variations in the NOAA Active Region 8038 which was observed on the Sun during
7--16 May 1997. Analyses of H{\alpha} filtergrams and MDI/SOHO magnetograms
revealed continual but discrete surge activity, and emergence and cancellation
of flux in this active region. The movie of these magnetograms revealed two
important results that the major opposite polarities of pre-existing region as
well as in the emerging flux region (EFR) were approaching towards each other
and moving magnetic features (MMF) were ejecting out from the major north
polarity at a quasi-periodicity of about ten hrs during 10--13 May 1997. These
activities were probably caused by the magnetic reconnection in the lower
atmosphere driven by photospheric convergence motions, which were evident in
magnetograms. The magnetic field variations such as flux, gradient, and sunspot
rotation revealed that free energy was slowly being stored in the corona. The
slow low-layer magnetic reconnection may be responsible for this storage and
the formation of a sigmoidal core field or a flux rope leading to the eventual
eruption. The occurrence of EUV brightenings in the sigmoidal core field prior
to the rise of a flux rope suggests that the eruption was triggered by the
inner tether-cutting reconnection, but not the external breakout reconnection.
An impulsive acceleration revealed from fast separation of the H{\alpha}
ribbons of the first 150 seconds suggests the CME accelerated in the inner
corona, which is consistent with the temporal profile of the reconnection
electric field. In conclusion, we propose a qualitative model in view of
framework of a solar eruption involving, mass ejections, filament eruption,
CME, and subsequent flare.Comment: 8 figures, accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Recent Advances in Understanding Particle Acceleration Processes in Solar Flares
We review basic theoretical concepts in particle acceleration, with
particular emphasis on processes likely to occur in regions of magnetic
reconnection. Several new developments are discussed, including detailed
studies of reconnection in three-dimensional magnetic field configurations
(e.g., current sheets, collapsing traps, separatrix regions) and stochastic
acceleration in a turbulent environment. Fluid, test-particle, and
particle-in-cell approaches are used and results compared. While these studies
show considerable promise in accounting for the various observational
manifestations of solar flares, they are limited by a number of factors, mostly
relating to available computational power. Not the least of these issues is the
need to explicitly incorporate the electrodynamic feedback of the accelerated
particles themselves on the environment in which they are accelerated. A brief
prognosis for future advancement is offered.Comment: This is a chapter in a monograph on the physics of solar flares,
inspired by RHESSI observations. The individual articles are to appear in
Space Science Reviews (2011
Tracking of an electron beam through the solar corona with LOFAR
The Sun's activity leads to bursts of radio emission, among other phenomena. An example is type-III radio bursts. They occur frequently and appear as short-lived structures rapidly drifting from high to low frequencies in dynamic radio spectra. They are usually interpreted as signatures of beams of energetic electrons propagating along coronal magnetic field lines. Here we present novel interferometric LOFAR (LOw Frequency ARray) observations of three solar type-III radio bursts and their reverse bursts with high spectral, spatial, and temporal resolution. They are consistent with a propagation of the radio sources along the coronal magnetic field lines with nonuniform speed. Hence, the type-III radio bursts cannot be generated by a monoenergetic electron beam, but by an ensemble of energetic electrons with a spread distribution in velocity and energy. Additionally, the density profile along the propagation path is derived in the corona. It agrees well with three-fold coronal density model by Newkirk (1961, ApJ, 133, 983).Financial support was provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF in the framework of the
Verbundforschung, D-LOFAR 05A11BAA)
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The first SEPServer event catalogue ~68-MeV solar proton events observed at 1 AU in 1996-2010
SEPServer is a three-year collaborative project funded by the seventh framework programme (FP7-SPACE) of the European Union. The objective of the project is to provide access to state-of-the-art observations and analysis tools for the scientific community on solar energetic particle (SEP) events and related electromagnetic (EM) emissions. The project will eventually lead to better understanding of the particle acceleration and transport processes at the Sun and in the inner heliosphere. These processes lead to SEP events that form one of the key elements of space weather. In this paper we present the first results from the systematic analysis work performed on the following datasets: SOHO/ERNE, SOHO/EPHIN, ACE/EPAM, Wind/WAVES and GOES X-rays. A catalogue of SEP events at 1 AU, with complete coverage over solar cycle 23, based on high-energy (~68-MeV) protons from SOHO/ERNE and electron recordings of the events by SOHO/EPHIN and ACE/EPAM are presented. A total of 115 energetic particle events have been identified and analysed using velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) for protons and time-shifting analysis (TSA) for electrons and protons in order to infer the SEP release times at the Sun. EM observations during the times of the SEP event onset have been gathered and compared to the release time estimates of particles. Data from those events that occurred during the European day-time, i.e., those that also have observations from ground-based observatories included in SEPServer, are listed and a preliminary analysis of their associations is presented. We find that VDA results for protons can be a useful tool for the analysis of proton release times, but if the derived proton path length is out of a range of 1 AU < s a 2 3 AU, the result of the analysis may be compromised, as indicated by the anti-correlation of the derived path length and release time delay from the associated X-ray flare. The average path length derived from VDA is about 1.9 times the nominal length of the spiral magnetic field line. This implies that the path length of first-arriving MeV to deka-MeV protons is affected by interplanetary scattering. TSA of near-relativistic electrons results in a release time that shows significant scatter with respect to the EM emissions but with a trend of being delayed more with increasing distance between the flare and the nominal footpoint of the Earth-connected field line
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