Where is the base of the Transition Region? Evidence from TRACE,SDO, IRIS and ALMA observations

Classic solar atmospheric models put the Chromosphere-Corona Transition Region (CCTR) at $～2$ Mm above the ${\tau }_{5000}=1$ level, whereas radiative MHD (rMHD) models place the CCTR in a wider range of heights. However, observational verification is scarce. In this work we review and discuss recent results from various instruments and spectral domains. In SDO and TRACE images spicules appear in emission in the 1600, 1700 and 304 Å bands and in absorption in the EUV bands; the latter is due to photo-ionization of H i and He i, which increases with wavelength. At the shortest available AIA wavelength and taking into account that the photospheric limb is $～0.34$ Mm above the ${\tau }_{5000}=1$ level, we found that CCTR emission starts at $～3.7$ Mm; extrapolating to $\lambda =0$, where there is no chromospheric absorption, we deduced a height of $3.0\pm 0.5$ Mm, which is above the value of 2.14 Mm of the Avrett and Loeser model. Another indicator of the extent of the chromosphere is the height of the network structures. Height differences produce a limbward shift of features with respect to the position of their counterparts in magnetograms. Using this approach, we measured heights of $0.14\pm 0.04$ Mm (at 1700 Å), $0.31\pm 0.09$ Mm (at 1600 Å) and $3.31\pm 0.18$ Mm (at 304 Å) for the center of the solar disk. A previously reported possible solar cycle variation is not confirmed. A third indicator is the position of the limb in the UV, where IRIS observations of the Mg ii triplet lines show that they extend up to $～2.1$ Mm above the 2832 Å limb, while AIA/SDO images give a limb height of $1.4\pm 0.2$ Mm (1600 Å) and $5.7\pm 0.2$ Mm (304 Å). Finally, ALMA mm-$\lambda$ full-disk images provide useful diagnostics, though not very accurate, due to their relatively low resolution; values of $2.4\pm 0.7$ Mm at 1.26 mm and $4.2\pm 2.5$ Mm at 3 mm were obtained. Putting everything together, we conclude that the average chromosphere extends higher than homogeneous models predict, but within the range of rMHD models..     

Evolution of an electron beam pulse influenced by coulomb collision effects in the solar corona

Electrons accelerated in the corona during solar activity give rise to radio emission events that can be observed over a wide range of frequencies. Among different finer-scale structures in the dynamic spectra observed in the radio range, fast transients with extents of some milliseconds known as solar radio spikes are observed accompaning the background continuum emission. Fundamental to the generation of radio spikes is a propagating electron beam and following its evolution allows us to understand the physical processes occurring in the solar corona. With the use of a numerical Fokker–Planck code we follow a previous numerical study to simulate the propagation of an electron beam pulse injected in a small region at the top of a magnetic field and outwards the solar corona under typical flare conditions. It was found that in large ambient densities of ${10}^{10}$ cm⁻³ at the injection point, Coulomb collision effects have an important effect on the propagation of the electrons, causing that the injected electrons thermalize faster in a time of $0.1$ and $0.4$ s for an electron distribution with a low-energy cut off of 16 and 7 keV respectively and a spectral index of 3. For a tenous ambient medium of density ${10}^9$ cm⁻³ thermalization occurs only for an electron distribution with smaller low-energy cut off (7 keV) with a duration of $\approx$1.5 s, while for a larger low-energy cut off (16 keV) the loss of accelerated electrons is very slow, regardles of the spectral index ($3,7$). The electron loss time by Coulomb collisions, which depends on the low boundary ambient density, might be an important parameter that influences the generation of radio spikes due to the formation of instabilities in the corona.     

1-D dusty photo-ionization models of WR planetary nebulae NGC 2452 and IC 2003

We report dusty photo-ionization models for two Planetary Nebulae NGC 2452 and IC 2003, which have [WR] type central stars, using 1D photo-ionization code Cloudy17.02. We used the medium resolution optical spectra and archival IRAS photometry to constrain our models. The physical size of the ionized nebula derived using accurate distance measurements and absolute H$\beta$ flux available in the literature were used as additional constrains. We examine the importance of photo-electric heating and found that models with and without considering photo-electric heating do not make significant difference for both PNe for the MRN grain size distribution considered in this study. We derive the nebular elemental abundances of these PNe by the empirical method as well as by making dusty photo-ionization models. The values of N/O ratios for both PNe obtained from our models are lower than their respective values arrived using empirical methods. The central stars are assumed to be black bodies and the photospheric temperatures derived respectively for NGC 2452 and IC 2003 from their best fit models are 182 kK and 155 kK and their respective luminosities are 630$L_{\odot }$ and 1015$L_{\odot }$. We propose that both the PNe were resulted from low-mass progenitors of mass $?$2.8 M_⊙.     

Spacecraft survivability in the natural debris environment near the stable Earth-Moon Lagrange points

The theoretical analysis of the motion of natural space debris near the stable Earth-Moon Lagrange Points, $L_4$ and $L_5$, is presented with a focus on the potential debris risks to spacecraft operating near these points. Specifically, the research formulates a debris propagation model using four-body dynamics, then applies candidate probabilistic survivability models to a notional spacecraft operating at the $L_4$ and $L_5$ Lagrange points to quantify the collision risks to the spacecraft from natural debris particles. Of the survivability models implemented, the natural debris collision risks to spacecraft survivability are found to be incredibly low, but mitigation strategies to reduce the risk further are identified in this study. Overall, research into stable Lagrange point natural debris propagation improves understanding of the collision risks posed by the naturally occurring Kordylewski clouds and enhances operational planning for Lagrange point space missions.