Multi-wavelength study of a strong impulsive solar limb flare on 2002 August 3

We made a detailed study of the impulsive solar flare of GOES class X1.0 which occurred near the west limb on 2002 August 3, peak time 19:07 UT. There is particularly good data coverage of this event, with simultaneous observations in EUV, soft and hard X-rays available. We used TRACE 171 Å images to study the morphology and evolution of this event. Soft X-ray spectra in the wavelength range 3.34–6.05 Å measured by the RESIK Bragg crystal spectrometer on CORONAS-F were used for determination of the evolution of the flare plasma temperature. Data from the RHESSI instrument were used to investigate properties of the higher-temperature plasma during the flare.     

The radio signature of a kink unstable loop

Based upon multi-wavelength observations outlined by Huang et al. [Solar Phys. 213 (2003) 341], especially the dynamic spectrum at 4.5–7.5 GHz, we study the physical nature of the radio fine structures (FS) during the flare on August 25, 1999 in AR 8674 (S28E21). The main results are: (1) the helical loop of the event related to the FS is unstable for m = 1 kink mode; (2) the time interval between the beginning of reconnection and relaxation of the unstable loop, inferred from the observation, is quantitatively consistent with the results of the numerical simulations on kink unstable loop; (3) the magnetic field strength estimated from the fast kink standing wave is basically of the same order as that estimated from the photospheric magnetic field, which provides strong support to our analysis.     

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.     

The temperature map of the loop and coronal sources of an occulted solar flare

An occulted solar flare occurred at about 06:07 UT on 2002, November 2. The RHESSI X-ray images show two separate parts. The lower part consists of a complete loop and the upper part a coronal source which well extends above the solar limb. The loop source shrank for about 3 min with a speed of ∼24 km s⁻¹ during the early impulsive phase and then expanded at ∼7 km s⁻¹, while the coronal source presented an upward motion at about 6 km s⁻¹. We obtained the temperature map of the loop source from RHESSI image spectrum. The temperature of the loop increases with altitude, indicating that the reconnection X-point of this flare is located above the loop source. However, the apparent coronal source is the top of another independent large-scale loop.     

Relationship of solar flare accelerated particles to solar energetic particles (SEPs) observed in the interplanetary medium

Observations of hard X-ray (HXR)/γ-ray continuum and γ-ray lines produced by energetic electrons and ions, respectively, colliding with the solar atmosphere, have shown that large solar flares can accelerate ions up to many GeV and electrons up to hundreds of MeV. Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are observed by spacecraft near 1 AU and by ground-based instrumentation to extend up to similar energies as in large SEP events, but it appears that a different acceleration process, one associated with fast coronal mass ejections is responsible. Much weaker SEP events are observed that are generally rich in electrons, ³He, and heavy elements. The energetic particles in these events appear to be similar to those accelerated in flares. The Ramaty high energy solar spectroscopic imager (RHESSI) mission provides high-resolution spectroscopy and imaging of flare HXRs and γ-rays. Such observations can provide information on the location, energy spectra, and composition of the flare accelerated energetic particles at the Sun. Here, preliminary comparisons of the RHESSI observations with observations of both energetic electron and ion near 1 AU are reviewed, and the implications for the particle acceleration and escape processes are discussed.     

On the production of highest energy solar protons at 20 January 2005

On January 20, 2005, 7:02–7:05 UT the Aragats Multidirectional Muon Monitor (AMMM) located at 3200 m a.s.l. registered enhancement of the high energy secondary muon flux (threshold ∼5 GeV). The enhancement, lasting for 3 min, has statistical significance of ∼4σ and is related to the X7.1 flare seen by the GOES, and very fast (>2500 km/s) CME seen by SOHO, and the Ground Level Enhancements (GLE) #69 detected by the world-wide network of neutron monitors and muon detectors. The energetic and temporal characteristics of the muon signal from the AMMM are compared with the characteristics of other monitors located at the Aragats Space-Environmental Center (ASEC) and with other neutron and muon detectors. Since secondary muons with energies >5 GeV are corresponding to solar proton primaries with energies 20–30 GeV we conclude that in the episode of the particle acceleration at 7:02–7:05 UT 20 January 2005 solar protons were accelerated up to energies in excess of 20 GeV.     

The evolution of a complex solar radio burst corresponding to special configuration of microwave sources

A complex radio burst associated with periodic (∼1 and 6 min) pulsations and several kinds fine structures, e.g., normal- and reverse-drifting type III bursts, zebra patterns, and slowly drifting structure was observed with the radio spectrometers (1.0–2.0, 2.6–3.8, 5.2–7.6, and 0.65–1.5 GHz) at the National Astronomical Observatories of China (NAOC) in Beijing and Yunnan on 19 October 2001. In combination with the images of 17 and 34 GHz from NoRH and the magnetograms from MDI we reveal the existence and evolution of preexisting and new emerging sources, and find the horseshoe-shaped structure of microwave sources intensity during the late phase of the burst. Through the detailed comparison of the evolution of each source with the time profiles of radio bursts corresponding to these sources we indicate that the intimate correlation between the microwave sources evolution and the generation of the radio burst associated fine structures. Some fine structures can be considered as the MHD turbulence and plasma emission mechanism, based on the anisotropic beam instability and hybrid waves generations. From the characteristics of observations we may presume that the coronal magnetic structures should contain an extended coronal loop system and multiple discrete electrons acceleration/injection sites. The mechanisms of this complex radio burst are deal with the incoherent gyrosynchrotron emission from the trapped electrons and the coherent plasma emission from the non trapped electrons.     

Signatures of magnetic reconnection in solar radio observations?

Magnetic reconnection occurs during eruptive processes (flares, CMEs) in the solar corona. This leads to a change of magnetic connectivity. Nonthermal electrons propagate along the coronal magnetic field thereby exciting dm- and m-wave radio burst emission after acceleration during reconnection or other energy release processes in heights of some Mm to ⩾700 Mm. We summarize the results of some case studies which can be interpreted as radio evidence of magnetic reconnection: under certain conditions, simple spectral structures (pulsation pulses, reverse drift bursts) are formed by simultaneously acting but widely spaced radio sources. Narrowband spikes are emitted as a side-effect during large-scale coronal loop collisions. In dynamic radio spectra, the lower fast mode shock formed in the reconnection outflow appears as type II burst-like but nondrifting emission lane. It has been several times observed at the harmonic mode of the local plasma frequency between 250 and 500 MHz and at heights of ≈200 Mm.     

Giant radio pulses from the Crab pulsar

Individual giant radio pulses (GRPs) from the Crab pulsar last only a few microseconds. However, during that time they rank among the brightest objects in the radio sky reaching peak flux densities of up to 1500 Jy even at high radio frequencies. Our observations show that GRPs can be found in all phases of ordinary radio emission including the two high frequency components (HFCs) visible only between 5 and 9 GHz [Moffett, D.A., Hankins, T.H. Multifrequency radio observations of the Crab pulsar. Astrophys. J. 468, 779–783, 1996]. This leads us to believe that there is no difference in the emission mechanism of the main pulse (MP), inter pulse (IP) and HFCs. High resolution dynamic spectra from our recent observations of giant pulses with the Effelsberg telescope at a center frequency of 8.35 GHz show distinct spectral maxima within our observational bandwidth of 500 MHz for individual pulses. Their narrow band components appear to be brighter at higher frequencies (8.6 GHz) than at lower ones (8.1 GHz). Moreover, there is an evidence for spectral evolution within and between those structures. High frequency features occur earlier than low frequency ones. Strong plasma turbulence might be a feasible mechanism for the creation of the high energy densities of ∼6.7 × 10⁴ erg cm⁻³ and brightness temperatures of ∼10³¹ K.     

A search for radio emission from the young 16-ms X-ray pulsar PSR J0537−6910

PSR J0537−6910 is a young, energetic, rotation-powered X-ray pulsar with a spin period of 16 ms located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We have searched for previously undetected radio pulsations (both giant and standard) from this pulsar in a 12-h observation taken at 1400 MHz with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope. The very large value of the magnetic field at the light cylinder radius suggests that this pulsar might be emitting giant radio pulses like those seen in other pulsars with similar field strengths. No radio emission of either kind was detected from the pulsar, and we have established an upper limit of ∼25 mJy kpc² for the average 1400-MHz radio luminosity of PSR J0537−6910. The 5σ single-pulse detection threshold was ∼750 mJy for a single 80-μs sample. These limits are likely to be the best obtainable until searches with greatly improved sensitivity can be made with next-generation radio instruments.     

Observed flux density enhancement at submillimeter wavelengths during an X-class flare

We analyse the 30 October, 2004, X1.2/SF solar event that occurred in AR 10691 (N13 W18) at around 11:44 UT. Observations at 212 and 405 GHz of the Solar Submillimeter Telescope (SST), with high time resolution (5 ms), show an intense impulsive burst followed by a long-lasting thermal phase. EUV images from the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (SOHO/EIT) are used to identify the possible emitting sources. Data from the Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) complement our spectral observations below 15 GHz. During the impulsive phase the turnover frequency is above 15.4 GHz. The long-lasting phase is analysed in terms of thermal emission and compared with GOES observations. From the ratio between the two GOES soft X-ray bands, we derive the temperature and emission measure, which is used to estimate the free-free submillimeter flux density. Good temporal agreement is found between the estimated and observed profiles, however the former is larger than the latter.     

Evidence for a solar coronal thick-target hard X-ray source observed by RHESSI

We study a solar flare hard X-ray (HXR) source observed by the Reuven Ramaty high energy solar spectroscopic imager (RHESSI) in which the HXR emission is almost entirely in a coronal loop so dense as to be collisionally thick at electron energies up to ∼45−60 keV. This contrasts with most events previously reported in which the HXR emission is primarily from the loop footpoints in the collisionally dense chromosphere. In particular, we show that the high loop column densities inferred from the GOES and RHESSI soft X-ray emission measure and the volume of the flare loop are consistent with the coronal thick-target interpretation of the HXR images and spectra. The high column densities observed already at the very beginning of the impulsive phase are explained by chromospheric evaporation during a preflare which, as Nobeyama 17 GHz radio images reveal, took place in the same set of nested loops as the main flare.     

Hard X-ray footpoint motions in solar flares: Comparing magnetic reconnection models with observations

Hard X-ray observations from the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) of the October 29, 2003 GOES X10 two-ribbon flare are used together with magnetic field observations from the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) onboard SoHO to compare footpoint motions with predictions from magnetic reconnection models. The temporal variations of the velocity v of the hard X-ray footpoint motions and the photospheric magnetic field strength B in footpoints are investigated. The underlying photospheric magnetic field strength is generally higher (B ∼ 700–1200 G) in the slower moving (v ∼ 20–50 km s⁻¹) western footpoint than in the faster (v ∼ 20–100 km s⁻¹) moving eastern source (∼100–600 G). Furthermore, a rough temporal correlation between the HXR flux and the product vB² is observed.     

The multi-wavelength study of the effect of energetic particle beams on the chromospheric emission in the 25th July 2004 solar flare

We present the multi-wavelength study of short-term variations of Hα line emission located in multiple kernels on the both sides from magnetic neutral line in the 25th July 2004 solar flare observed by VTT (Tenerife). The HXR and Hα emission in the kernels 1 and 3 is close spatially and temporally while in kernels 4 and 7 there is only delayed Hα emission observed tens seconds after HXR in the kernels 1 and 3. The locations of Hα kernels 1, 3, 4 and 7 are on the opposite sides from the magnetic neutral line. The temporal variations of Hα emission in kernels 1 and 3 coincide within 5 s with the HXR photon emission. The latter is found to have double power law photon spectra, which were corrected to a single power law with the turning point technique accounting for Ohmic losses and collisions. The Hα emission is fit by full non-LTE simulations in an atmosphere heated by an electron beam with the parameters derived from the HXR emission. The combination of radiative, thermal and non-thermal mechanisms of excitation and ionization of hydrogen atoms is considered. The temporal evolution of simulated Hα emission in the kernel 3 fits rather well the two observed intensity increases: the first at the flare onset (13:38:39–13:39:30 UT) caused by pure non-thermal excitation by beam electrons and the second one appearing after 13:40:00 UT because of a hydrodynamic heating. The observed close temporal correlation or delay of Hα emission with HXR emission points out to the precipitation either of electron (kernels 1 and 3) or protons (4 and 7).     

The magnetic field topology associated with two M flares

On 27 October, 2003, two GOES M-class flares occurred in an interval of 3 h in active region NOAA 10486. The two flares were confined and their associated brightenings appeared at the same location, displaying a very similar shape both at the chromospheric and coronal levels. We focus on the analysis of magnetic field (SOHO/MDI), chromospheric (HASTA, Kanzelhöhe Solar Observatory, TRACE) and coronal (TRACE) observations. By combining our data analysis with a model of the coronal magnetic field, we compute the magnetic field topology associated with the two M flares. We find that both events can be explained in terms of a localized magnetic reconnection process occurring at a coronal magnetic null point. This null point is also present at the same location one day later, on 28 October, 2003. Magnetic energy release at this null point was proposed as the origin of a localized event that occurred independently with a large X17 flare on 28 October, 2003 [Mandrini, C.H., Démoulin, P., Schmieder, B., Deluca, E., Pariat, E., Uddin, W. Companion event and precursor of the X17 flare on 28 October, 2003. Solar Physics, 238, 293–312, 2006], at 11:01 UT. The three events, those on 27 October and the one on 28 October, are homologous. Our results show that coronal null points can be stable topological structures where energy release via magnetic reconnection can happen, as proposed by classical magnetic reconnection models.     

The nature of nonthermal X-ray filaments near the galactic center

Recent Chandra and XMM-Newton observations reported evidence of two X-ray filaments G359.88−0.08 (SgrA-E) and G359.54+0.18 (the ripple filament) near the Galactic center. The X-ray emission from these filaments has a nonthermal spectrum and coincides with synchrotron emitting radio sources. Here, we report the detection of a new X-ray feature coincident with a radio filament G359.90−0.06 (SgrA-F) and show more detailed VLA, Chandra and BIMA observations of the radio and X-ray filaments. In particular, we show that radio emission from the nonthermal filaments G359.90−0.06 (SgrA-F) and G359.54+0.18 (the ripple) has a steep spectrum whereas G359.88−0.08 (SgrA-E) has a flat spectrum. The X-ray emission from both these sources could be due to synchrotron radiation. However, given that the 20 km s⁻¹ molecular cloud, with its intense 1.2 mm dust emission, lies in the vicinity of SgrA-F, it is possible that the X-rays could be produced by inverse Compton scattering of far-infrared photons from dust by the relativistic electrons responsible for the radio synchrotron emission. The production of X-ray emission from ICS allows an estimate of the magnetic field strength of 0.08 mG within the nonthermal filament. This should be an important parameter for any models of the Galactic center nonthermal filaments.     

Brazilian Decimetre Array (Phase-1): Initial solar observations

An East–West one-dimensional radio interferometer array consisting of 5 parabolic dish antennas has been set-up at Cachoeira Paulista, Brazil (Longitude: 45°0′20″W, Latitude: 22°41′19″S) for observations of Sun and some of the strong sidereal sources by the Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE), Brazil. This is Phase-1 of the proposed Brazilian Decimetre Array (BDA) and can be operated at any frequency in the range 1.2–1.7 GHz. The instrument is functional since November 2004 onwards at 1.6 GHz. The angular and temporal resolution at the above frequency range are ∼3′ and 100 ms, respectively. We present here the initial solar observations carried out with this array.     

On some large solar energetic particle events: Direct impulsive component and broad associated coronal mass ejections

Using the proton intensity and X-ray flux data from the GOES, combined with the observations of the associated solar eruptions by the Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph Experiment (LASCO) on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), 14 large SEP events occurring in the period 2000 January–2002 April have been studied. It is found that: (1) events with the SEPs increasing shortly after the maximum of their parent flares (<1 h; hereafter prompt events) have rapid and great (up to four orders of magnitude) SEP increments in high-energy channels (> ∼100 MeV); however, for events whose onset of the SEP injection lags the flare maximum for a long time (>3 h; hereafter delayed events), the high-energy SEPs show no obvious enhancements (within one order of magnitude); (2) peak intensity of the prompt events is distinctly larger than that of the delayed events; (3) CMEs associated with the poorly magnetically connected events (source region <W30°) in our survey are all halo CMEs. From these observational differences, we propose a special scenario of the production of the largest SEP events: both CMEs and flares are induced in the same coronal process; high-energy particles accelerated in the reconnection region can escape easily from the open field lines and/or be transported by fast CMEs into interplanetary space, indicating a direct impulsive component in large gradual SEP events. Meanwhile, the broad width of the associated CMEs implies that the CME width is more important in SEP events production than previously considered.     

Spectral analysis of a two-ribbon microflare

Using high-resolution Hα, CaII 8542 Å and FeI 6302.5 Å Stokes spectral data obtained simultaneously with THEMIS in 2002 September, we have analyzed the spectra and the characteristics of a two-ribbon microflare (MF). The hard X-ray emission provides evidence of non-thermal particle acceleration in the microflare. The two-ribbons are located on either sides of the magnetic polarity inversion line. The non-thermal characteristics mainly appeared at the outer edges of the flare ribbons. It indicates that the instantaneous magnetic reconnection and the particle acceleration mainly took place at the outer edges of the flare ribbons. Using the Hα and CaII 8542 Å line profiles and the non-LTE calculation, we obtain the semi-empirical atmospheric model for the bright kernel of the MF. The result indicates that the temperature enhancement in the chromosphere is about 2000–2500 K.     

A spectroscopic measurement of high velocity spray plasma from an M-class flare and coronal mass ejection

The M1.5-class flare and associated coronal mass ejection (CME) of 16 February 2011 was observed with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer on board the Hinode spacecraft. Spray plasma associated with the CME is found to exhibit a Doppler blue-shift of 850 km s^?1 – one of the largest values reported from spectroscopy of the solar disk and inner corona. The observation is unusual in that the emission line (Fe xii 193.51 Å) is not observed directly, but the Doppler shift is so large that the blue-shifted component appears in a wavelength window at 192.82 Å, intended to observe lines of O v, Fe xi and Ca xvii. The Fe xii 195.12 Å emission line is used as a proxy for the rest component of 193.51 Å. The observation highlights the risks of using narrow wavelength windows for spectrometer observations when observing highly-dynamic solar phenomena. The consequences of large Doppler shifts for ultraviolet solar spectrometers, including the upcoming Multi-slit Solar Explorer (MUSE) mission, are discussed.