737 research outputs found
Seismic Emissions from a Highly Impulsive M6.7 Solar Flare
On 10 March 2001 the active region NOAA 9368 produced an unusually impulsive
solar flare in close proximity to the solar limb. This flare has previously
been studied in great detail, with observations classifying it as a type 1
white-light flare with a very hard spectrum in hard X-rays. The flare was also
associated with a type II radio burst and coronal mass ejection. The flare
emission characteristics appeared to closely correspond with previous instances
of seismic emission from acoustically active flares. Using standard local
helioseismic methods, we identified the seismic signatures produced by the
flare that, to date, is the least energetic (in soft X-rays) of the flares
known to have generated a detectable acoustic transient. Holographic analysis
of the flare shows a compact acoustic source strongly correlated with the
impulsive hard X-ray, visible continuum, and radio emission. Time-distance
diagrams of the seismic waves emanating from the flare region also show faint
signatures, mainly in the eastern sector of the active region. The strong
spatial coincidence between the seismic source and the impulsive visible
continuum emission reinforces the theory that a substantial component of the
seismic emission seen is a result of sudden heating of the low photosphere
associated with the observed visible continuum emission. Furthermore, the
low-altitude magnetic loop structure inferred from potential--field
extrapolations in the flaring region suggests that there is a significant
inverse correlation between the seismicity of a flare and the height of the
magnetic loops that conduct the particle beams from the corona.Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, Solar Physics Topical Issue: SOHO 19/GONG 2007
"Seismology of Magnetic Activity", Accepte
Magneto--Acoustic Energetics Study of the Seismically Active Flare of 15 February 2011
Multi--wavelength studies of energetic solar flares with seismic emissions
have revealed interesting common features between them. We studied the first
GOES X--class flare of the 24th solar cycle, as detected by the Solar Dynamics
Observatory (SDO). For context, seismic activity from this flare
(SOL2011-02-15T01:55-X2.2, in NOAA AR 11158) has been reported in the
literature (Kosovichev, 2011; Zharkov et al., 2011). Based on Dopplergram data
from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), we applied standard methods of
local helioseismology in order to identify the seismic sources in this event.
RHESSI hard X-ray data are used to check the correlation between the location
of the seismic sources and the particle precipitation sites in during the
flare. Using HMI magnetogram data, the temporal profile of fluctuations in the
photospheric line-of-sight magnetic field is used to estimate the magnetic
field change in the region where the seismic signal was observed. This leads to
an estimate of the work done by the Lorentz-force transient on the photosphere
of the source region. In this instance this is found to be a significant
fraction of the acoustic energy in the attendant seismic emission, suggesting
that Lorentz forces can contribute significantly to the generation of
sunquakes. However, there are regions in which the signature of the
Lorentz-force is much stronger, but from which no significant acoustic emission
emanates.Comment: Submitted to Solar Physic
A statistical correlation of sunquakes based on their seismic and white-light emission
Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the transient seismic emission, i.e. “sunquakes,” from some solar flares. Some theories associate high-energy electrons and/or white-light emission with sunquakes. High-energy charged particles and their subsequent heating of the photosphere and/or chromosphere could induce acoustic waves in the solar interior. We carried out a correlative study of solar flares with emission in hard X-rays, enhanced continuum emission at 6173 Å, and transient seismic emission. We selected those flares observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) with a considerable flux above 50 keV between 1 January 2010 and 26 June 2014. We then used data from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager onboard the Solar Dynamic Observatory to search for excess visible-continuum emission and new sunquakes not previously reported. We found a total of 18 sunquakes out of 75 flares investigated. All of the sunquakes were associated with an enhancement of the visible continuum during the flare. Finally, we calculated a coefficient of correlation for a set of dichotomic variables related to these observations. We found a strong correlation between two of the standard helioseismic detection techniques, and between sunquakes and visible-continuum enhancements. We discuss the phenomenological connectivity between these physical quantities and the observational difficulties of detecting seismic signals and excess continuum radiation
Conjugate Hard X-ray Footpoints in the 2003 October 29 X10 Flare: Unshearing Motions, Correlations, and Asymmetries
We present a detailed imaging and spectroscopic study of the conjugate hard
X-ray (HXR) footpoints (FPs) observed with RHESSI in the 2003 October 29 X10
flare. The double FPs first move toward and then away from each other, mainly
parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic neutral line, respectively. The
transition of these two phases of FP unshearing motions coincides with the
direction reversal of the motion of the loop-top (LT) source, and with the
minima of the estimated loop length and LT height. The FPs show temporal
correlations between HXR flux, spectral index, and magnetic field strength. The
HXR flux exponentially correlates with the magnetic field strength, which also
anti-correlates with the spectral index before the second HXR peak's maximum,
suggesting that particle acceleration sensitively depends on the magnetic field
strength and/or reconnection rate. Asymmetries are observed between the FPs: on
average, the eastern FP is 2.2 times brighter in HXR flux and 1.8 times weaker
in magnetic field strength, and moves 2.8 times faster away from the neutral
line than the western FP; the estimated coronal column density to the eastern
FP from the LT source is 1.7 times smaller. The two FPs have marginally
different spectral indexes. The eastern-to-western FP HXR flux ratio and
magnetic field strength ratio are anti-correlated only before the second HXR
peak's maximum. Neither magnetic mirroring nor column density alone can explain
the totality of these observations, but their combination, together with other
transport effects, might provide a full explanation. We have also developed
novel techniques to remove particle contamination from HXR counts and to
estimate effects of pulse pileup in imaging spectroscopy, which can be applied
to other RHESSI flares in similar circumstances.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, 4 tables; ApJ 2009, in pres
The use of big data in interdisciplinary research on example of the Greater Mediterranean macroregion
Big data collection and analysis technologies are being intensively introduced into the social, economic and political spheres in countries and macroregions, including the Mediterranean region. This fact actualises the prospects of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of sociology, political science and regional studies. The article examines the benefits and risks of using these technologies in listed areas, taking Spain and the Middle East as examples. Among the main problems and threats, the authors consider the following: personal data confidentiality breach, and increased data manipulation for political purposes, the emergence of illegitimate forms of citizens self-organisation, the transition of Internet users to anonymous accounts due to the practice of “privatization” of personal data by non-state and terrorist groups in regional spaces, preventing the qualitative collection of data. The need to solve these problems at the international level was noted. The range of possibilities offered by working with big data to provide pragmatic and effective socio-political forecasting and operational regional studies is shown
Particle interactions with single or multiple 3D solar reconnecting current sheets
The acceleration of charged particles (electrons and protons) in flaring
solar active regions is analyzed by numerical experiments. The acceleration is
modelled as a stochastic process taking place by the interaction of the
particles with local magnetic reconnection sites via multiple steps. Two types
of local reconnecting topologies are studied: the Harris-type and the X-point.
A formula for the maximum kinetic energy gain in a Harris-type current sheet,
found in a previous work of ours, fits well the numerical data for a single
step of the process. A generalization is then given approximating the kinetic
energy gain through an X-point. In the case of the multiple step process, in
both topologies the particles' kinetic energy distribution is found to acquire
a practically invariant form after a small number of steps. This tendency is
interpreted theoretically. Other characteristics of the acceleration process
are given, such as the mean acceleration time and the pitch angle distributions
of the particles.Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, Solar Physics, in pres
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
Assessment of the Quality of Drug Therapy in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease in the Second Stage of the ALIGN Study
Aim. To assess adjusted pharmacotherapy for prescribing drugs of the main classes, according to clinical guidelines, and achieving target levels of lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with stable coronary heart disease (CHD).Material and methods. Of the 73 patients included in the ALIGN study, 64 patients (53 males and 11 females; mean age 68,2±9,4 years) with stable coronary artery disease attended a second visit (3 months after the initial treatment adjustment). Prescribed drug therapy, its compliance with clinical guidelines, achievement of lipid profile and blood pressure (BP) targets were studied in all patients.Results. An increase in the frequency of taking beta-blockers (p=0.002), lipid-lowering drugs (p=0.008) by patients was found during the second visit. The proportion of patients taking all 4 groups of drugs according to clinical guidelines (statins, antiplatelet agents, beta-blockers, angiotensinconverting enzyme inhibitors / angiotensin II receptor blockers) increased from 44% to 65.5% (p<0.001) after correction of therapy, as well as an increase in the proportion of patients taking 1 antianginal drug in the presence of exertional angina from 75% to 89% (p<0.001) was found. About 90% of hypertensive patients achieved the target level of systolic blood pressure (p<0.001). Achievement of the target level of cholesterol low density lipoprotein (<1.8 mmol/l) during the second visit was found in half of the patients (p=0.004).Conclusion. Despite the initial correction of drug therapy by the staff of the cardiology department, the prescribed treatment for patients with stable coronary artery disease did not in all cases comply with clinical guidelines due to insufficient adherence of doctors and insufficient adherence of patients to prescribed medical recommendations.Working group of the register PROFILE: Voronina V. P., Dmitrieva N. A., Komkova N. A., Zagrebelny A.V., Kutishenko N.P., Lerman O.V., Lukina Yu. V., Tolpygina S.N., Martsevich S.Yu
Study of flare energy release using events with numerous type III-like bursts in microwaves
The analysis of narrowband drifting of type III-like structures in radio
bursts dynamic spectra allows to obtain unique information about primary energy
release mechanisms in solar flares. The SSRT spatially resolved images and a
high spectral and temporal resolution allow direct determination not only the
positions of its sources but also the exciter velocities along the flare loop.
Practically, such measurements are possible during some special time intervals
when the SSRT (about 5.7 GHz) is observing the flare region in two high-order
fringes; thus, two 1D scans are recorded simultaneously at two frequency bands.
The analysis of type III-like bursts recorded during the flare 14 Apr 2002 is
presented. Using-muliwavelength radio observations recorded by SSRT, SBRS,
NoRP, RSTN we study an event with series of several tens of drifting microwave
pulses with drift rates in the range from -7 to 13 GHz/s. The sources of the
fast-drifting bursts were located near the top of the flare loop in a volume of
a few Mm in size. The slow drift of the exciters along the flare loop suggests
a high pitch-anisotropy of the emitting electrons.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, Solar Physics, in press, 201
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