Elemental Abundances in Coronal Structures

A great deal of evidence for elemental abundance variations among different structures in the solar corona has accumulated over the years. Many of the observations show changes in the relative abundances of high- and low-First Ionization Potential elements, but relatively few show the absolute elemental abundances. Recent observations from the SOHO satellite give absolute abundances in coronal streamers. Along the streamer edges, and at low heights in the streamer, they show roughly photospheric abundances for the low-FIP elements, and a factor of 3 depletion of high-FIP elements. In the streamer core at 1.5 R·, both high- and low-FIP elements are depleted by an additional factor of 3, which appears to result from gravitational settling. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Soho Observations of Density Fluctuations in Coronal Holes

In recent UVCS/SOHO White Light Channel (WLC) observations we found quasi-periodic variations in the polarized brightness (pB) in the polar coronal holes at heliocentric distances of 1.9 to 2.45 solar radii. The motivation for the observation is the 2.5D MHD model of solar wind acceleration by nonlinear waves, that predicts compressive fluctuations in coronal holes. In February 1998 we performed new observations using the UVCS/WLC in the coronal hole and obtained additional data. The new data corroborate our earlier findings with higher statistical significance. The new longer observations show that the power spectrum peaks in the 10–12 minute range. These timescales agree with EIT observations of brightness fluctuations in polar plumes. We performed preliminary LASCO/C2 observations in an effort to further establish the coronal origin of the fluctuations. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

UVCS/SOHO Observations of Spectral Line Profiles in Polar Coronal Holes

Ultraviolet emission line profiles have been measured on 15-29 September 1997 for H I 1216 Å, O VI 1032, 1037 Å and Mg X 625 Å in a polar coronal hole, at heliographic heights ? (in solar radii) between 1.34 and 2.0. Observations of H I 1216 Å and the O VI doublet from January 1997 for ? = 1.5 to 3.0 are provided for comparison. Mg X 625 Å is observed to have a narrow component at ? = 1.34 which accounts for only a small fraction of the observed spectral radiance, and a broad component that exists at all observed heights. The widths of O VI broad components are only slightly larger than those for H I at ? = 1.34, but are significantly larger at ? = 1.5 and much larger for ? > 1.75. In contrast, the Mg X values are less than those of H I up to 1.75 and then increase rapidly up to at least ? = 2.0, but never reach the values of O VI.     

Spectroscopic Constraints on Models of Ion-cyclotron Resonance Heating in the Polar Solar Corona

Using empirical velocity distributions derived from UVCS and SUMER ultraviolet spectroscopy, we construct theoretical models of anisotropic ion temperatures in the polar solar corona. The primary energy deposition mechanism we investigate is the dissipation of high frequency (10-10000 Hz) ion-cyclotron resonant Alfvén waves which can heat and accelerate ions differently depending on their charge and mass. We find that it is possible to explain the observed high perpendicular temperatures and strong anisotropies with relatively small amplitudes for the resonant waves. There is suggestive evidence for steepening of the Alfvén wave spectrum between the coronal base and the largest heights observed spectroscopically. Because the ion-cyclotron wave dissipation is rapid, even for minor ions like O⁵⁺, the observed extended heating seems to demand a constantly replenished population of waves over several solar radii. This indicates that the waves are generated gradually throughout the wind rather than propagated up from the base of the corona. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparison of Polar and Equatorial Coronal Holes Observed by UVCS/SOHO: Geometry and Physical Properties

We analyzed UVCS/SOHO data and compared the H I Lyα (121.6 nm) and O VI (103.2 nm, 103.7 nm) emission in the polar and equatorial coronal holes. We found that the emission lines have similar characteristics in these two types of coronal holes. Both types show evidence for superradially diverging boundaries. The latitudinal distribution of the O VI line ratio may indicate that the equatorial coronal hole has O⁺⁵ outflow velocities lower than in the polar coronal holes. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

UVCS/SOHO Observations of H I Lyman Alpha Line Profiles in Coronal Holes at Heliocentric Heights Above 3.0 R⊙

The Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer (UVCS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) has been used to measure spectral line profiles for H I Lyα in the south polar coronal hole at projected heliocentric heights from 3.5 to 6.0 R_⊙ during 1998 January 5–11. Observations from 1.5 to 2.5 R_⊙ were made for comparison. The H I Lyα profile is the only one observable with UVCS above 3.5 R_⊙ in coronal holes. Within this region the outflowing coronal plasma becomes nearly collisionless and the ionization balance is believed to become frozen. In this paper, the 1/e half widths of the coronal velocity distributions are provided for the observed heights. The velocity distributions include all motions contributing to the velocities along the line of sight (LOS). The observations have been corrected for instrumental effects and interplanetary H I Lyα. The half widths were found to increase with projected heliographic height from 1.5 to 2.5 R_⊙ and decrease with height from 3.5 to 5 R_⊙. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Probing the solar wind acceleration region using spectroscopic techniques

Measurements of the intensities and profiles of UV and EUV spectral lines can provide a powerful tool for probing the physical conditions in the solar corona out to 8 R and beyond. We discuss here how measurements of spectral line radiation in conjunction with measurements of the white light K-corona can provide information on electron, proton and ion temperatures and velocity distribution functions; densities; chemical abundances and mass flow velocities. Because of the fundamental importance of such information, we provide a comprehensive review of the formation of coronal resonance line radiation, with particular emphasis on the H i L line, and discuss observational considerations such as requirements for rejection of stray light and effects of emission from the geocorona and interplanetary dust. Finally, we summarize some results of coronal H i L and white light observations acquired on sounding rocket flights.Paper presented at the IX-th Lindau Workshop The Source Region of the Solar Wind.     

An appraisal of the value of vitamin B12 in the prevention of motion sickness

Unpublished reports have suggested that hydroxycobalamin (B12, i.m.) prevents motion sickness. Some biomedical evidence supports this contention in that B12 influences the metabolism of histidine and choline; dietary precursors to neurotransmitters with established roles in motion sickness. Susceptibility to motion sickness was evaluated after B12 (1000 micrograms, i.m.). Subjects initially completed vestibular function and motion sickness susceptibility tests to establish normal vestibular function. The experimental motion stressor was a modified coriolis sickness susceptibility test. Subjects executed standardized head movements at successively higher RPM until a malaise III endpoint was reached. Following two baseline tests with this motion stressor, subjects received a B12 injection, a second injection two weeks later, and a final motion sickness test three weeks later. No significant differences in susceptibility were noted after B12. Hematological parameters revealed no B12 deficiency before injection. The possibility that patients with B12 deficiencies are more susceptible to motion sickness cannot be ruled out.