The Radio Observatory on the Lunar Surface for Solar studies

The Radio Observatory on the Lunar Surface for Solar studies (ROLSS) is a concept for a near-side low radio frequency imaging interferometric array designed to study particle acceleration at the Sun and in the inner heliosphere. The prime science mission is to image the radio emission generated by Type II and III solar radio burst processes with the aim of determining the sites at and mechanisms by which the radiating particles are accelerated. Specific questions to be addressed include the following: (1) Isolating the sites of electron acceleration responsible for Type II and III solar radio bursts during coronal mass ejections (CMEs); and (2) Determining if and the mechanism(s) by which multiple, successive CMEs produce unusually efficient particle acceleration and intense radio emission. Secondary science goals include constraining the density of the lunar ionosphere by searching for a low radio frequency cutoff to solar radio emission and constraining the low energy electron population in astrophysical sources. Key design requirements on ROLSS include the operational frequency and angular resolution. The electron densities in the solar corona and inner heliosphere are such that the relevant emission occurs at frequencies below 10 MHz. Second, resolving the potential sites of particle acceleration requires an instrument with an angular resolution of at least 2°, equivalent to a linear array size of approximately 1000 m. Operations would consist of data acquisition during the lunar day, with regular data downlinks. No operations would occur during lunar night.     

An experiment to study solar flare effects on radio-communication signals

The occurrence of radio signal fading events caused by ionospheric absorption plays an important role in the performance of radio-communication systems. It is necessary to know the magnitude and time-scale of such events in order to specify technical parameters of the communication system to be used. Generally, fading events are associated with solar flares, which are characterized by sudden increase in the solar X-ray flux that causes an increase in the ionization in the lower ionosphere. The abrupt increase of ionization causes the absorption of radio waves propagating in the Earth–ionosphere wave-guide and is reported as radio signal fading events. A simple experiment to monitor the behavior of lower ionosphere has been carried out at the Southern Space Observatory-SSO/INPE (29.43°S, 53.8°W), located in southern Brazil. The experiment is basically a computer controlled radio receiver that records the received signal strength of Amplitude Modulated (AM) radio signals in the HF (High Frequencies) range. We analyzed data of the 6 MHz beacon signal that has been transmitted by a broadcasting radio station located about 400 km from the observation site. In this work we present initial results of daily variation of the received signal strength and fading events associated with solar flares observed in the 6 MHz signal monitored by the experiment during 2001. X-ray solar flux data from the GOES-8 satellite were used to identify X-ray solar bursts associated with solar flares. Based on the one-year data collected by the experiment, a statistical summary of fading occurrences and their correlation with solar flares, as well as the distributions of time-scales and magnitudes of such events are presented.     

On the early phase of relativistic solar particle events: Are there signatures of acceleration mechanism?

Many physical processes precede and accompany the solar energetic particles (SEP) occurrence on the Earth’s orbit. Explosive energy release on the Sun gives rise to a flare and a coronal mass ejection (CME). X-ray and gamma emissions are believed to be connected with flares. Radio emission is signature of disturbances traveling through the corona and interplanetary space. Particles can gain energy both in the flare and the accompanying wave processes. The beginning of the SEP events has the advantage of being the phase most close to the time of acceleration. Influence of interplanetary transport is minimal in the case of first arriving relativistic solar protons recorded by ground based neutron monitors in so called ground-level enhancements (GLE). The early phase of the SEP events attracts attention of many scientists searching for the understanding of particle acceleration. However, they come to the opposite conclusions. While some authors find arguments for coronal mass ejections as a sole accelerator of SEPs, others prove a flare to be the SEP origin. Here, the circumstances of SEP generation for several GLEs of the 23rd solar cycle are considered. Timing of X-ray, CME, and radio emissions shows a great variety from event to event. However, the time of particle ejection from the Sun is closer to maximum of X-ray emission than to any other phenomena considered. No correlation is found between the particle fluxes and the CME characteristics.     

Hard X-ray and metric/decimetric spatially resolvedobservations of the 10 April 2002 solar flare

The GOES M8.2 flare on 10 April 2002 at 1230 UT was observed at X-ray wavelengths by RHESSI and atmetric/decimetric wavelengths by the Nançay Radioheliograph (NRH). We discuss the temporal evolution of X-ray sources together with the evolution of the radio emission sites observed at different coronal heights by the NRH. While the first strong HXR peak at energies above 50 keV arises from energy release in compact magnetic structures (with spatial scales of a few 10⁴ km) and is not associated with strong radio emission, the second one leads to energy release in magnetic structures with scales larger than 10⁵ km and is associated with intense decimetric/metric and dekametric emissions. We discuss these observations in the context of the acceleration sites of energetic electrons interacting at the Sun and of escaping ones.     

Cut-off features in interplanetary solar radio type IV emission

Solar radio type IV bursts can sometimes show directivity, so that no burst is observed when the source region in located far from the solar disk center. This has recently been verified also from space observations, at decameter wavelengths, using a 3D-view to the Sun with STEREO and Wind satellites. It is unclear whether the directivity is caused by the emission mechanism, by reduced radio wave formation toward certain directions, or by absorption/blocking of radio waves along the line of sight. We present here observations of three type IV burst events that occurred on 23, 25, and 29 July 2004, and originated from the same active region. The source location of the first event was near the solar disk center and in the third event near the west limb. Our analysis shows that in the last two events the type IV bursts experienced partial cut-offs in their emission, that coincided with the appearance of shock-related type II bursts. The type II bursts were formed at the flanks and leading fronts of propagating coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These events support the suggestion of absorption toward directions where the type II shock regions are located.     

Modulations of broad-band radio continua and X-ray emissions in the large X-ray flare on 03 November 2003

The GOES X3.9 flare on 03 November 2003 at ∼09:45 UT was observed from metric to millimetric wavelengths by the Nançay Radioheliograph (NRH), the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) and by radio instruments operated by the Institute of Applied Physics (University of Bern). This flare was simultaneously observed and imaged up to several 100 keV by the RHESSI experiment. The time profile of the X-ray emission above 100 keV and of the radio emissions shows two main parts, impulsive emission lasting about 3 min and long duration emission (partially observed by RHESSI) separated in time by 4 min. We shall focus here on the modulations of the broad-band radio continua and of the X-ray emissions observed in the second part of the flare. The observations suggest that gyrosynchrotron emission is the prevailing emission mechanism even at decimetric wavelengths for the broad-band radio emission. Following this interpretation, we deduce the density and the magnetic field of the decimetric sources and briefly comment on possible interpretations of the modulations.     

An all-sky survey at 230 GHz by MLS on Aura

The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument is a small satellite-borne radio telescope. Its purpose is to make limb-scanning measurements of atmospheric composition. One of the gases to which it is sensitive is carbon monoxide (CO), detected via the J = 2 → 1 rotational transition at 230 GHz. CO is present in molecular gas clouds in the Milky Way. Although it was not designed for the purpose, MLS can detect emissions from galactic CO, allowing a map of the 230 GHz radio sky to be constructed. We report the MLS measurements of galactic radio emission and discuss their effect on the atmospheric mission of MLS. The region of the Milky Way with emissions strong enough to significantly affect MLS observations of atmospheric CO is identified. Ground-based radio astronomers have been mapping the sky using CO emission for many years. However, the MLS data are the first such survey to be carried out from space. The MLS survey covers a larger area of the sky than any other 230 GHz survey, but no previously unknown gas clouds are observed.     

Radio observations of total solar eclipse of November 3, 1994 at Chapecó (Brzil)

Radio observations of the eclipse on November 3, 1994, were carried out at Chapecó, Brazil by using a decimetric spectrograph having high spectral and time resolution. The light curve shows that: (1) Time variation of the radio flux before the totality was more compared to that after. (2) During the totality radio emission at 1.5 GHz was observed. Advantage of high spatial resolution ( 3.2 arc sec) possible during solar eclipse enabled us to determine the height of radio emission at 1.5 GHz. (3) Microwave bursts were observed associated with metric Type III-RS bursts. The source size of one of the microwave bursts was 7 arc sec and its physical parameters have been estimated. (4) The time difference between radio and optical contacts suggested for the first time asymmetrical limb brightening at 1.5 GHz.     

KuaFu Mission

The KuaFu mission-Space Storms, Aurora and Space Weather Explorer-is an "L1+Polar" triple satellite project composed of three spacecraft: KuaFu-A will be located at L1 and have instruments to observe solar EUV and FUV emissions, and white-light Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs), and to measure radio waves, the local plasma and magnetic field,and high-energy particles. KuaFuB1 and KuaFu- B2 will bein polar orbits chosen to facilitate continuous 24 hours a day observation of the north polar Aurora Oval. The KuaFu mission is designed to observe the complete chain of disturbances from the solar atmosphere to geospace, including solar flares, CMEs, interplanetary clouds, shock waves, and their geo-effects, such as magnetospheric sub-storms and magnetic storms, and auroral activities. The mission may start at the next solar maximum (launch in about 2012), and with an initial mission lifetime of two to three years. KuaFu data will be used for the scientific study of space weather phenomena, and will be used for space weather monitoring and forecast purposes. The overall mission design, instrument complement, and incorporation of recent technologies will target new fundamental science, advance our understanding of the physical processes underlying space weather, and raise the standard of end-to-end monitoring of the Sun-Earth system.     

Radio emissions from Uranus

The Voyager Planetary Radio Astronomy Experiment detected strong 40 kHz to 850 kHz radio emissions from Uranus after closest approach and somewhat weaker emissions, but none above 100 kHz before closest approach, on the dayside of Uranus. The time variations of these emissions closely match Uranus' rotation, in a period of 17.24 h, and are evidently controlled by the strength and shape of its magnetic field. Throughout the entire encounter the polarization of the emission was approximately lefthand, corresponding to extraordinary mode. The emission associated with the nightside pole was a relatively smooth continuum (free of bursts) with a Gaussian-shaped rise and fall at low frequencies, 200 kHz for example, but a Gaussian with a central dip nearly to zero lasting a little less than two hours at frequencies above 400 kHz. Half a rotation later, when Voyager was near the magnetic equator of Uranus and farthest from the nightside dipole tip, the continuum emission was absent, but very strong, narrowband impulsive bursts appeared. Voyager successfully acquired one brief (24 seconds long) record of high time resolution radio observations in the range 500 to 700 kHz. This record, which was made near closest approach, shows a hierarchy of fast variations. Several days after closest approach, at the times of bowshock crossings outbound, the continuum emissions were modulated strongly in a manner suggestive of the presence of waves in the bowshock regions.

The instrument also recorded possible Uranian electrostatic discharges, vertex early arcs occurring in sequences of more than a dozen events with approximately ten-minute period, and, as early as several days before closest approach in the frequency range below 100 kHz, very intense isolated bursts lasting tens of minutes.     

2006年12月13日太阳射电暴对GPS观测的影响

日地空间环境不仅影响航天器运行和安全, 也是导航、定位和通信等无线 电应用系统主要的误差源. 其中来自太阳L波段的射电暴被认为是全球导航卫星 系统(GNSS)稳定和性能的潜在威胁因素, 当L波段射电爆发达到一定阈值时, 将给用户带来不同程度的射电噪声干扰, 严重时会引起接收机失锁和定位服务 中断. 本文对2006年12月13日太阳射电暴对GPS造成的影响进行了研究, 利用太阳射电 观测数据、L波段闪烁观测数据和向阳面不同区域的GPS观测网数据, 分析 GPS观测对射电暴的响应. 结果表明, 此次事件对GPS观测产生了明显的影响, 射 电暴期间GPS发生幅度闪烁事件和明显失锁现象, 多个台站上空的多颗GPS 卫星 信号完全中断长达6min左右, 且多个台站上空锁定的卫星数目小于4颗, 使 得GPS定位完全失效. 相对而言, 射电暴期间日下点附近的GPS台站受到的影响 比远离日下点的大.      

Gyrosynchrotron Radiation of Interplanetary CMEs

CMEs (Coronal Mass Ejections) are an important means of energy release in the solar corona. Solar Polar Orbit Radio Telescope (SPORT) is a mission being proposed for observing the propagation of interplanetary CMEs from solar polar orbit. The main payload onboard SPORT is a synthetic aperture interferometric radiometer, which receives radio emission of interplanetary CMEs. It is identified that there are mainly three radio emission mechanisms of CMEs, i.e., bremsstrahlung, gyrosynchrotron emission and plasma emission. Among these emission types, bremsstrahlung emission is the main emission mechanism of the high-density plasma clouds of interplanetary CMEs. Gyrosynchrotron emission is the continuous emission generated by high-energy electrons from CMEs, while plasma emission is the main mechanism of transient radio bursts from CMEs. In this paper, the gyrosynchrotron emission of interplanetary CMEs is focused on. Firstly, the mechanism of gyrosynchrotron emission is reviewed. Secondly, a review of the physical parameter models of background solar wind and interplanetary CMEs is presented. After these, the brightness temperature and polarization of gyrosynchrotron emission of interplanetary CMEs are calculated and analyzed. Finally, the detectability of gyrosynchrotron emission of interplanetary CMEs by radio meters is discussed briefly.      

Distinctive spatial configuration of a class ofmicrowave flaring sources

We discuss a class of microwave flares whose source regions exhibit a distinctive spatial configuration; the primaryenergy release in these flares results from the interaction between emerging magnetic flux and an existing overlying region. Such events typically exhibit radio, X-ray and EUV emission at the main flare site (the site of interaction) and in addition radio emission at a remote site up to 1 × 10⁵ km away in another active region. We have identified and studied more than a dozen microwave flares in this class, in order to arrive at some general conclusions on reconnection and energy release in such solar flares. Typically, these flares show a gradual rise showing many subsidiary peaks in both radio and hard X-ray light curves with a quasi-oscillatory nature with periods of 5–6 seconds, a bright compact X-ray & EUV emitting loop in the main flare source, a delay of the radio emission from the remote source relative to the main X-ray-emitting source. The magnetic field in the main flare site changes sharply at the time of the flare, and the remote site appears to be magnetically connected to the main flare site.     

PPS-87: a new event oriented solar proton prediction model.

A new event-oriented solar proton prediction model has been developed and implemented at the USAF Space Environment forecast facility. This new model generates predicted solar proton time-intensity profiles for a number of user adjustable energy ranges and is also capable of making predictions for the heavy ion flux. The computer program is designed so a forecaster can select inputs based on the data available in near real-time at the forecast center as the solar flare is occurring. The predicted event amplitude is based on the electromagnetic emission parameters of the solar flare (either microwave or soft X-ray emission) and the solar flare position on the sun. The model also has an update capability where the forecaster can normalize the prediction to actual spacecraft observations of spectral slope and particle flux as the event is occurring in order to more accurately predict the future time-intensity profile of the solar particle flux. Besides containing improvements in the accuracy of the predicted energetic particle event onset time and magnitude, the new model converts the predicted solar particle flux into an expected radiation dose that might be experienced by an astronaut during EVA activities or inside the space shuttle.     

Evidence of the radio-quiet hard X-ray precursor of the 13 December 2006 solar flare

We report multi-wavelength investigation of the pre-impulsive phase of the 13 December 2006 X-class solar flare. We use hard X-ray data from the anticoincidence system of spectrometer onboard INTEGRAL (ACS) jointly with soft X-ray data from the GOES-12 and Hinode satellites. Radio data are from Nobeyama and Learmonth solar observatories and from the Culgoora Solar Radio Spectrograph. The main finding of our analysis is a spiky increase of the ACS count rate accompanied by surprisingly gradual and weak growth of microwave emission and without detectable radio emission at meter and decimeter wavelengths about 10 min prior to the impulsive phase of the solar flare. At the time of this pre-flare hard X-ray burst the onset of the GOES soft X-ray event has been reported, positive derivative of the GOES soft X-ray flux started to rise and a bright spot has appeared in the images of the Hinode X-ray telescope (XRT) between the flare ribbons near the magnetic inversion line close to the sources of thermal and non-thermal hard X-ray emission observed by Reuven Ramaty High-Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) during the flare. These facts we consider as evidences of solar origin of the increased pre-flare ACS count rate. We briefly discuss a possible cause of the pre-flare emission peculiarities.     

Hard X-ray and radio investigations prior to or during the impulsive phase of solar flares

The comparative study of radiation in the different spectral ranges, including X-ray and radio observations, can establish constraints for the electron acceleration/injection mechanisms. This paper will focus on the activity prior and during the impulsive phase of solar flares. Observations give evidence for electron acceleration prior the impulsive phase. The association between type III groups and hard X-ray bursts becomes closer with increasing starting frequency of the former observed during the impulsive phase. It is shown that pure type III burst groups, when they are X-ray associated, do not correspond to an intense X-ray emission. At the opposite, the type III/V events can be associated with strong X-ray emission. Radioheliograph observations bring constraints on the geometry of the injection/acceleration site.     

Particle acceleration by coronal and interplanetary shock waves

Utilizing many years of observation from deep space and near-earth spacecraft a theoretical understanding has evolved on how ions and electrons are accelerated in interplanetary shock waves. This understanding is now being applied to solar flare-induced shock waves propagating through the solar atmosphere. Such solar flare phenomena as γ-ray line and neutron emissions, interplanetary energetic electron and ion events, and Type II and moving Type IV radio bursts appear understandable in terms of particle accleration in shock waves.     

Lower ionosphere response to external forcing: A brief review

There are two ways of external forcing of the lower ionosphere, the region below an altitude of about 100 km: (1) From above, which is directly or indirectly of solar origin. (2) From below, which is directly or indirectly of atmospheric origin. The external forcing of solar origin consists of two general factors – solar ionizing radiation variability and space weather. The solar ionization variability consist mainly from the 11-year solar cycle, the 27-day solar rotation and solar flares, strong flares being very important phenomenon in the daytime lower ionosphere due to the enormous increase of the solar X-ray flux resulting in temporal terminating of MF and partly LF and HF radio wave propagation due to heavy absorption of radio waves. Monitoring of the sudden ionospheric disturbances (SIDs – effects of solar flares in the lower ionosphere) served in the past as an important tool of monitoring the solar activity and its impacts on the ionosphere. Space weather effects on the lower ionosphere consist of many different but often inter-related phenomena, which govern the lower ionosphere variability at high latitudes, particularly at night. The most important space weather phenomenon for the lower ionosphere is strong geomagnetic storms, which affect substantially both the high- and mid-latitude lower ionosphere. As for forcing from below, it is caused mainly by waves in the neutral atmosphere, i.e. planetary, tidal, gravity and infrasonic waves. The most important and most studied waves are planetary and gravity waves. Another channel of the troposphere coupling to the lower ionosphere is through lightning-related processes leading to sprites, blue jets etc. and their ionospheric counterparts. These phenomena occur on very short time scales. The external forcing of the lower ionosphere has observationally been studied using predominantly ground-based methods exploiting in various ways the radio wave propagation, and by sporadic rocket soundings. All the above phenomena are briefly mentioned and some of them are treated in more detail.     

Morphology of OI 8446 Å dayglow emission

A comprehensive model is developed to study the atomic oxygen OI 8446 Å dayglow emission. The emission rate profiles and intensities are obtained using the recently developed Solar2000 EUV (Extreme Ultra Violet) flux model. These emission profiles are used to construct the morphology of the 8446 Å emission between equator and 45°N in the northern hemisphere. The longitudinal variation of 8446 Å dayglow emission is found about 5% and is not included in the presentation of morphology. A span of five years is chosen to study the effect of varying solar activity on the morphology of the OI 8446 Å dayglow emission. The morphology is studied on April 3 which lies under the equinox conditions. In year 2001 the solar F10.7 index on the chosen date was as high as 223.1 which is the case of solar maximum. From the present calculations it is found that the intensity does not vary linearly with the F10.7 solar index. The morphology shows that the region of maximum emission rate expands towards the higher latitudes as F10.7 solar index increases. The similar effects have also been found in the morphology of 7320 Å dayglow emission (Sunil Krishna and Singh, 2009). The similarities in the morphology of 7320 Å and 8446 Å dayglow emissions further suggest that the photoelectron flux has strong bearing on the production of these emissions.     

Variations of mid-term periodicities in solar activity physical phenomena

In this work we make an analysis of significant periodicities shown by phenomena linked to solar activity such as coronal hole area, radio emission in the 10.7 cm band and sunspots. We use the wavelet method that gives information in the frequency and time domains. Of particular interest are the mid-term periodicities (1–2 yrs). Over the whole period, coronal holes and radio variations show an important annual variation and a quasi-biannual periodicity. The increase in these variations is most important around the years of maximum solar activity. When the time series are separated in low and high frequencies, the latter are modulated by the general solar cycle. Although somewhat shifted in frequency, these periodicities might well correspond with those found in cosmic ray intensity, solar magnetic flux and other terrestrial and interplanetary phenomena as a wavelet coherence analysis of these series with the solar magnetic flux reveals.