Coordinated optical and Yohkoh observations of 26 June 1992 flare loops

Optical spectra of large flare loops were detected by the Ondejov Multichannel Flare Spectrograph (MFS) during coordinated observations with MSDP at Pic du Midi (H) and the soft X-ray telescope (SXT) on Yohkoh. The CCD video images taken by the MFS slit-jaw camera document the time-development of the flare loops as seen through the H filter. Preliminary analysis of the MSDP images shows the intensity structure of the cool flare loops and their velocity fields. From the spectra we can clearly see the intensity variations along the cool loops. SXT images show the structure of hot X-ray loops similar to that of cool loops. Special attention is devoted to the bright tops, simultaneously observed in X-rays, H and other optical lines. Based on a preliminary analysis of the optical spectra, we speculate about possible mechanisms leading to an observed bright emission at the tops of cool loops. We suggest that direct soft X-ray irradiation of cool loops at their tops could be, at least partly, responsible for such a strong brightening.