Satellite lines in the solar X-ray spectrum

Observations of solar X-ray line emission using crystal spectrometers during a large chromospheric flare have provided a list of wavelengths with a precision of 0.003 Å in first order of diffraction and correspondingly better in higher orders. In addition to the resonance, intersystem (1 ¹ S ₀-2 ³ P ₁) and forbidden (1 ¹ S ₀-2 ³ S ₁) transitions of ions of the Hei isoelectronic sequence, we have recorded satellite lines arising from ions in the Lii, Bei and Bi isoelectronic sequences. These satellite features are most prominent in the iron spectrum. Apparent decreases in the ratio of forbidden and intersystem line intensities of Mgxi and Sixiii during the flare are used to derive electron densities possibly as high as 1 × 10¹³ cm^–3 in the Mgxi emitting region and 1 × 10¹⁴ cm^–3 in the Sixiii region during the event. A search for satellite lines on the long-wavelength side of the Lyman-alpha line of Hi-like ions has yielded no positive identifications.     

S xi Emission Lines in Active Region Spectra Obtained with the Solar euv Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (Serts)

Theoretical electron density sensitive emission line ratios involving a total of eleven 2s ²2p ²–2s2p ³ transitions in Sxi between 187 and 292 Å are presented. A comparison of these with solar active region observations obtained during rocket flights by the Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) reveals generally good agreement between theory and experiment. However, the 186.87 Å line is masked by fairly strong Fexii emission at the same wavelength, while 239.83 Å is blended with an unknown feature, and 285.58 Å is blended with possibly Niv 285.56 Å. In addition, the 191.23 Å line appears to be more seriously blended with an Fexiii feature than previously believed. The presence of several new Sxi lines is confirmed in the SERTS spectra, at wavelengths of 188.66, 247.14 and 291.59 Å, in excellent agreement with laboratory measurements. In particular, the detection of the 2s ²2p ^{2 3} P ₁ –2s2p ^{3 3} P _0,1 transitions at 242.91 Å is the first time (to our knowledge) that this feature has been identified in the solar spectrum. The potential usefulness of the Sxi line ratios as electron density diagnostics for the solar transition region and corona is briefly discussed.     

Theoretical emission line strengths for the beryllium-like ion Sxiii compared to XUV observations of solar flares

A comparison of Skylab S082A observations for several solar flares with calculations of the electron temperature sensitive emission line ratio R ₁ = I(2s2p ¹ P – 2s ^{2 1} S)/I(2s2p ³ P ₁ - 2s ^{2 1} S) = = I(256.68 Å)/I(491.45 Å) in Be-like SXIII reveals good agreement between theory and experiment, which provides observational support for the accuracy of the adopted atomic data. However, observed values of the electron density sensitive ratio R ₂ = I(2s2p ¹ P – 2s ^{2 1} S)/I(2p ^{2 3} P ₂ - 2s2p ³ P ₂) = = I(256.68 Å)/I(308.96 Å) all lie below the theoretical high density limit, which is probably due to blending in the 308.96 Å line.     

EMISSION LINES OF Ni XVIII IN THE SOLAR EUV SPECTRUM

Using electron excitation rates calculated with the R-matrix code, theoretical Nixviii electron-temperature-sensitive emission line ratios are presented for R ₁ = I(220.41 Å)/I(320.56 Å) , R ₂ = I(233.79 Å)/I(320.56 Å) , and R ₃ = I(220.41 Å)/I(292.00 Å) . A comparison of these with observational data for two solar flares, obtained by the Naval Research Laboratory's S082A slitless spectrograph on board Skylab, reveals good agreement between theory and observation for R ₁ and R ₂ in two spectra, which provides limited support for the accuracy of the atomic data adopted in the analysis. However, several of the measured ratios are much larger than theory predicts, which is probably due mainly to saturation of the strong 292.00 and 320.56 Å lines on the photographic film used to record the S082A data. A comparison of our line ratio calculations with active region observations made by the Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) indicate that a feature at 236.335 Å, identified as the Nixviii 3p ² P _3/2 - 3d ² D _3/2 transition in the SERTS data, is actually the Arxiii 2s ²2p ^{2 3} P ₀ - 2s2p ^{3 3} D ₁ line. The potential usefulness of the Nixviii line ratios as electron temperature diagnostics for the solar corona is briefy discussed.     

Coronal survey in X-rays of O vii and Ne ix

We report some results of a rocket experiment flown on 29 April, 1971. A survey of the solar corona was carried out with a pair of collimated Bragg spectrometers to study the resonance, intersystem and forbidden line emission from the helium-like ions O vii (22 Å) and Ne ix (13 Å). In the direction of dispersion the collimator provided a field of view of 1.7. Also, the continuum radiation near 3 Å was monitored by a collimated proportional counter within a view angle of 4.2. The observed X-ray emission came from the general corona, seven plage regions, and one dynamic feature- the late stage of a small flare. From the intensity of the O vii and Ne ix resonance lines the electron temperature and emission measure of the individual emitting regions are derived on the basis of two models, one (a) in which the region is assumed to be isothermal and another (b) in which the emission measure decreases exponentially with increasing temperature. The latter model, which is the most adequate of the two, yields for the electron temperature of the time-varying feature 2–3 × 10⁶ K, for the other active regions 1.5–2.5 × 10⁶ K, and for the general corona 1.3–1.7 × 10⁶ K. The Ne ix emitting regions are about 1.5 times as hot as the O vii regions. The emission measure ranges from 0.4–2.3 × 10⁴⁸ cm^–3 for all active regions and is about 2 × 10⁴⁹ cm^–3 for one hemisphere of the general corona above 10⁶ K. From an analysis of the ratio, R, of the forbidden and intersystem lines of O vii we conclude that none of the regions producing these lines at the time of the rocket flight had electron densities exceeding about 3 × 10⁹ cm^–3. Our data demonstrate a dependence of R upon temperature in agreement with the theory of Blumenthal et al. (1971). The wavelengths for the intersystem, the 1s ²2s ² S ^e–1s2p2s ² P ⁰ satellite, and the forbidden transition show in the case of Ne ix improved agreement with predictions. The observed strength of the satellite lines for both O vii and Ne ix agrees with the predictions of Gabriel's (1972) theory, which attributes their formation to dielectronic recombination.We are saddened to report the death of A. J. Meyerott on 13 November, 1971.     

Spectroscopy of Solar Prominences Simultaneously From Space and Ground

We present a comprehensive set of spectral data from two quiescent solar prominences observed in parallel from space and ground: with the VTT, simultaneous two-dimensional imaging of H4862 Å and Caii 8542 Å yields a constant ratio, indicating small spatial pressure variations over the prominence. With the Gregory, simultaneous spectra of Caii 8542 Å and Hei 10830 Å were taken, their widths yielding 8000 K <T _kin<9000 K and 3<v _nth<8 km s^–1. The integrated line intensities show a distinct relation E(Hei) versus E(Caii) for each prominence (`branching'). The intensity ratio of the helium triplet components is used for a simple estimate of the optical thickness, which is <1.0 for the fainter prominence but reaches up to =2.0 for the brighter one. The <sub>0</sub> values allow us to deduce the source function from the central line intensities and thus a mean excitation temperature T<sub>ex</sub> <sup>mean</sup>=3750 K, which determines the relative populations of the helium <sup>3</sup> S and <sup>3</sup> P levels. With SUMER, we sequentially observed six spectral windows containing higher Lyman lines, `cool' emission lines from neutrals and singly charged atoms, as well as `hot' emission lines from ions like Oiv, Sv, Nv, Ov, and Svi. The spatial variation of the EUV lines along the SUMER slit shows a pronounced maximum at the main prominence body and `side-regions' where the `hot' lines are significantly enhanced with respect to the `cool' lines from neutral and singly-ionized atoms. These selected locations were averaged over 7 and the resulting mean EUV lines were fitted by Gaussians yielding realistic widths and integrated line intensities. The intensities of `hot' lines blue-wards of the Lyman series limit appear reduced in the main prominence body but enhanced in the `side-regions'. This absorption is also visible in TRACE images of Feix/x171 Å as fine dark structure which covers only parts of the main (`cool') prominence body. The Lyman lines show a smooth decrease of both line widths and integrated emission, with increasing upper level k=5 to k=19; the widths are smaller for the prominence that yields lower T <sub>kin</sub> from the ground-based spectra. The level populations along the line of sight follow for 5 lek le a smooth Boltzmann distribution with T <sub>ex</sub>>6×10<sup>4</sup> K, the levels k>8 appearing more and more overpopulated. The larger widths of the Lyman lines require high non-thermal broadening close to that of `hot' EUV lines. In contrast, the Heii emission is more related to the `cool' lines.     

Emission line ratios for C III in the sun

Theoretical electron-density-sensitive C III emission line ratios are presented forR ₁ =I(2s2p ³ P – 2p ^{2 3} P)/I(2s2p ¹ P – 2p ^{2 1} S) =I(1176 Å)/I(1247 Å),R ₂ =I(2s2p ³ P – 2p ^{2 3} P)/I(2s ^{2 1} S – 2s2p ³ P ₁) =I(1176 Å)/I(1908 Å), andR ₃ =I(2s2p ¹ P – 2p ^{2 1} S)/I(2s ^{2 1} S – 2s2p ³ P ₁) =I(1247 Å)/I(1908 Å). These are significantly different from those deduced previously, principally due to the adoption of improved electron impact excitation rates in the present analysis. Electron densities deduced from the present theoretical line ratios, in conjunction with observed values ofR ₁,R ₂, andR ₃ measured from solar spectra obtained by the Naval Research Laboratory's S082B instrument on boardSkylab, are found to be generally compatible. In contrast, previous diagnostic calculations imply electron densities fromR ₁,R ₂, andR ₃ that differ by up to two orders of magnitude. These results provide observational support for the accuracy of the atomic physics adopted in the present calculations, and the methods employed in the derivation of the theoretical line ratios.     

High resolution EUV structure of the chromosphere-corona transition region above a sunspot

Ion emission line intensities between 1170 and 1700 Å allow one to determine the differential emission measure (DEM) and electron pressure of the plasma in the solar transition region (TR). These line intensities together with their Doppler shifts and line widths are measured simultaneously for the first time above a sunsport from data obtained with the NRL High Resolution Telescope and Spectrograph with 0.06 Å spectral and 1 spatial resolution.The Doppler shifts show both subsonic and supersonic flow in the same line of sight over the umbra. The temperature structure for 40 resolution elements in the sunspot umbra and penumbra is derived from the DEM and the observed electron pressures.Extrapolation of the emission measure curves supports the previous EUV and X-ray observations that coronal plasma above sunspots with T _e>10⁶ K is reduced while emission from TR plasma between 2×10⁵ and 10⁶ K is greatly enhanced relative to quiet or active regions. This enhancement shifts the minimum of the DEM to lower temperatures and increases the slope at 2×10⁵ K by a factor of two.New pressure diagnostics using the emission line intensity ratios of C iv to N iv are presented, and applied to the data.The energy balance in the TR for the sunspot umbra is dominated by radiative losses from the large amount of TR plasma.An estimate of the energy budget shows that an energy input is required to balance the radiative energy losses above the umbra. The observed divergence of the enthalpy flux for the umbral downflows can balance these radiative losses for T _e between 30000 and 200 000 K.A typical umbral model of T _e versus reduced mass column density is compared with one for chromospheric temperatures determined from the Ca H and K lines.Institute of Theoretical Astrophysics, University of Oslo, Norway.     

Al xii line ratios in the Sun

Recent calculations of electron impact excitation rates in He-like Alxii are used to derive the theoretical electron temperature and density sensitive emission line ratios G ( = (f + i)/r and R ( = f/i, where f, i, and r are the forbidden 1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2s ³ S, intercombination 1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2p ³ P and resonance 1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2p ¹ P transitions, respectively. These ratios are found to be significantly different from earlier calculations, and are in much better agreement with X-ray spectral data for two solar flares obtained with the SMM and P78-1 satellites.     

A Comparison of Theoretical mgvi Emission Line Strengths with Active-Region Observations From Serts

R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in N-like Mgvi are used to derive theoretical electron-density-sensitive emission line ratios involving 2s ²2p ³–2s2p ⁴transitions in the 269–403 Å wavelength range. A comparison of these with observations of a solar active region, obtained during the 1989 flight of the Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS), reveals good agreement between theory and observation for the 2s ²2p ^{3 4} S–2s2p ^{4 4} Ptransitions at 399.28, 400.67, and 403.30 Å, and the 2s ²2p ^{3 2} P–2s2p ^{4 2} Dlines at 387.77 and 387.97 Å. However, intensities for the other lines attributed to Mgvi in this spectrum by various authors do not match the present theoretical predictions. We argue that these discrepancies are not due to errors in the adopted atomic data, as previously suggested, but rather to observational uncertainties or mis-identifications. Some of the features previously identified as Mgvi lines in the SERTS spectrum, such as 291.36 and 293.15 Å, are judged to be noise, while others (including 349.16 Å) appear to be blended.     

Theoretical Siiv line ratios compared to extreme ultraviolet solar observations

New theoretical electron temperature sensitive emission line ratios in Siiv involving the 3d ² D – 3p ² P and 4s ² S – 3p ² P multiplets at 1125 and 816 Å, respectively, are derived using recent R-matrix electron excitation rate calculations. A comparison of these with observational data for a solar active region at the limb obtained with the Harvard S-055 spectrometer on board Skylab reveals that there is good agreement between theory and observation for ratios that include the ² D _{3/2, 5/2} – ² P _3/2 transition at 1128.3 Å. This is in contrast to the findings of Keenan, Dufton, and Kingston (1986) and provides support for the atomic data adopted in the calculations. However, the ² D _3/2 – ² P _1/2 line at 1122.5 Å appears to be severely blended, as suggested previously by Burton and Ridgeley (1970) and Feldman and Doschek (1977), as it leads to electron temperature estimates that differ significantly from that expected in ionisation equilibrium. The fact that the I(1122.5 Å)/I(1128.3 Å) intensity ratios determined from several flare spectra are closer to theory than that for the active region indicates that the blending is probably due to species with relatively low ionization potentials, as noted by Flower and Nussbaumer (1975). Electron temperatures deduced for a sunspot are much lower than that predicted from ionisation balance calculations, in agreement with earlier results, and imply that a cooling flow may be present.     

FLOWS AND DYNAMICS IN THE CORONA OBSERVED WITH THE CORONAL DIAGNOSTIC SPECTROMETER (CDS)

EUV spectra obtained with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) show significant flows of plasma in active region loops, both at coronal and transition region temperatures. Wavelength shifts in the coronal lines Mgix 368 Å and Mgx 624 Å corresponding to upflows in the plasma reaching velocities of 50 km s^-1 have been observed in an active region. Smaller velocities are detected in the coronal lines Fexvi 360 Å and Sixii 520 Å. Flows reaching 100 km s^-1 are observed in spectral lines formed at transition region temperatures, i.e., Ov 629 Å and Oiii 599 Å, demonstrating that both the transition region and the corona are clearly dynamic in nature. Some high velocity events show even higher velocities with line profiles corresponding to a velocity dispersion of 300–400 km s^-1. Even in the quiet Sun there are velocity fluctuations of 20 km s^-1 in transition region lines. Velocities of the magnitude presented in this paper have never previously been observed in coronal lines except in explosive events and flares. Thus, the preliminary results from the CDS spectrometer promise to put constraints on existing models of the flows and energy balance in the solar atmosphere. The present results are compared to previous attempts to observe flows in the corona.     

Solar X-ray spectra observed from the ‘Intercosmos-4’ satellite and the ‘Vertical-2’ rocket

Results are given of the detailed analysis of fourteen Fe xxv-xxiii lines ( = 1.850–1.870 Å) in the spectra of a solar flare on 16 Nov. 1970. The spectra were obtained with a resolution of about 4 × 10^–4 Å, which revealed lines not previously observed and allowed the measurement of line profiles. The measured values of the wavelengths and emission fluxes are presented and compared with theoretical calculations. The analysis of the contour of the Fe xxv line ( = 1.850 Å) leads to the conclusion that there is unidirectional macroscopic gas motion in the flare region with the velocity (projection on the line of sight) ± 90 km s^–1.Measurements of the 8.42 Å Mg xii and 9.16 Å Mg xi lines in the absence of solar flares indicate prolonged existence of active regions on the solar disk with T _e = 4–6 × 10⁶K and emission measure ME 10⁴⁸ cm^–3. The profile of the Mg xii line indicates a macroscopic ion motion with a velocity up to 100 km s^–1.     

A comparison of theoretical line strengths for the 2s 22p 2 − 2s2p 3 transitions in Ne v with solar data

Results are presented for several theoretical line ratios in Nev involving transitions between multiplets in the 2s ²2p ² and 2s2p ³ configurations. A comparison of these with solar data from the S082A and S-055 instruments on board Skylab reveals generally good agreement between theory and experiment, especially in the case of the high-resolution (S082A) observations. However the 2s ²2p ^{2 1} D – 2s2p ^{3 1} P (365.6 Å) and 2s ²2p ^{2 3}P – 2s2p ^{3 3} S (359 Å) lines appear to be blended, possibly with transitions in Fex and Fexi/Fexiii, respectively. We note that the intensity ratio I(365.6 Å)/I(416.2 Å) should be a valuable calibration check for a high-resolution extreme ultraviolet instrument in the spectral range 360–420 Å.     

Extreme Ultraviolet Emission Lines of ca xv in Solar and Laboratory Spectra

New R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in Caxv are used to derive theoretical electron density diagnostic emission line intensity ratios involving 2s ²2p ²–2s2p ³ transitions, specifically R ₁=I(208.70 Å)/I(200.98 Å), R ₂=I(181.91 Å)/I(200.98 Å), and R ₃=I(215.38 Å)/I(200.98 Å), for a range of electron temperatures (T _e=10^6.4–10^6.8 K) and densities (N _e=10⁹–10¹³ cm^–3) appropriate to solar coronal plasmas. Electron densities deduced from the observed values of R ₁, R ₂, and R ₃ for several solar flares, measured from spectra obtained with the Naval Research Laboratory's S082A spectrograph on board Skylab, are found to be consistent. In addition, the derived electron densities are in excellent agreement with those determined from line ratios in Caxvi, which is formed at a similar electron temperature to Caxv. These results provide some experimental verification for the accuracy of the line ratio calculations, and hence the atomic data on which they are based. A set of eight theoretical Caxv line ratios involving 2s ²2p ²–2s2p ³ transitions in the wavelength range 140–216 Å are also found to be in good agreement with those measured from spectra of the TEXT tokamak plasma, for which the electron temperature and density have been independently determined. This provides additional support for the accuracy of the theoretical line ratios and atomic data.     

Spectroscopic Properties of Dynamical Chromospheric Processes in a Confined Solar Flare

We present our results of high temporal resolution spectroscopic observation and study in Hα, Ca II, and He I lines for the 2B/M1.9 confined disk flare on September 9, 2001, combining with GOES soft X-ray (SXR) and Yohkoh hard X-ray (HXR) observations. Apparent redshifted and red-asymmetric profiles were observed in the initial phase. The redshift lasted until the late phase. The derived velocity depends on both the spectral line and the used method. The redshift velocities computed from the line centers of the observed emission profiles (υ₀) are of the order of 10 km s⁻¹ both inside and outside the streak area. However, the velocities determined from the excess profiles by the bisector method (υ) are larger in the streak (18–50 km s⁻¹). Both υ and the red full widths (RFWs) derived from the excess profiles show temporal variations similar to the HXR light-curve in the streak area. Moreover, the Hα line wings of nonthermal characteristics, the redshift velocities, and the lifetime of impulsive broadening suggest that the streak is related to nonthermal electron bombardment. Spectral simulations reveal that we cannot reproduce the observed profiles in the three lines simultaneously with a set of parameters, indicating that the flare atmosphere was not homogeneous along the line-of-sight. Most of the observed Hα profiles showed a ‘flat-top’ structure, implying the flare plasma was optically thick for this line. The electron temperatures (T_e) deduced from the line-center intensity of the three lines are similar and estimated to be higher than 7200 K. The obvious central reversal of the Hα profiles due to absorption of materials in the impulsive phase lasted more than 2 min. However, the far blue wings of the Ca II profiles in the impulsive phase showed low-intensity emission, which is suggestive of the existence of large turbulence or macroscopic motion (> 50 km s⁻¹), which is inconsistent with the current flare model.     

X-rays spectroheliograms in lines of Mg xi and Mg xii

Spectroheliograms in the L Mg xii line and in the Mg xi resonance (R) 1s ²¹ S ₀-1s2p ¹ P ₁ line, intercombination (I) 1s ²¹ S ₀-1s2p ³ P _1,2, line, and the forbidden (F) 1s ²¹ S ₀-1s2s ³ S ₁ line, have been obtained.Two Bragg crystal spectrometers were used mounted with mechanical collimators to obtain a spatial resolution of 1 × 3. The apparatus was launched on a sounding rocket on July 2nd, 1971. A particularly thorough study was made of the brightest active region (MC 11402).Variations in the F to I Mg xi line intensity ratio from one point to another in the active region did not reveal the presence of high electron densities.The observed intensities of the Mg xi R line, Mg xii L line and Mg x 1s ²2s ² S _1/2-1s2p ¹ P 2s × × ² P1_{1/2, 3/2} S line are not well explained by an isothermal model. Good agreement between computed and observed intensities is obtained using the non-isothermal model proposed here.     

The coronal and transition region temperature structure of a solar active region

Using measurements of EUV and X-ray spectral lines we derive the differential emission measure vs electron temperature T from the transition region to the corona of an active region (10⁵ T <5 × 10⁶ K). The total emission measure and radiative losses are of order 3 × 10⁴⁸ cm^–3 and 4 × 10²⁶ ergss^–1 respectively. The emission measure at T > 10⁶ K (i.e. that mainly responsible for the X-ray emission) is about 75% of the total. We also examine the use of Mg x 625 Å as an indicator of coronal electron density. A set of theoretical energy balance models of coronal loops in which the loop divergence is a variable parameter is presented and compared with the observations. Particular attention is given to the limitations inherent in any such comparison.     

Solar soft X-ray flare spectra from OSO-4

Solar flare spectral data, covering the wavelength range 0.7–8.5 Å, are derived from the NRL Bragg crystal spectrometers aboard OSO-4. A detailed analysis of the soft X-ray spectra for the 3b flare of 16 November 1967 (2140 UT) is presented, and it is found that electron temperatures derived from continua and emission lines are compatible with a two or more component plasma, differing in temperature by 6–10 × 10⁶K.     

FIRST RESULTS OF THE SUMER TELESCOPE AND SPECTROMETER ON SOHO – I. Spectra and Spectroradiometry

SUMER – the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of the Emitted Radiation instrument on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) – observed its first light on January 24, 1996, and subsequently obtained a detailed spectrum with detector B in the wavelength range from 660 to 1490 Å (in first order) inside and above the limb in the north polar coronal hole. Using detector A of the instrument, this range was later extended to 1610 Å. The second-order spectra of detectors A and B cover 330 to 805 Å and are superimposed on the first-order spectra. Many more features and areas of the Sun and their spectra have been observed since, including coronal holes, polar plumes and active regions. The atoms and ions emitting this radiation exist at temperatures below 2 × 10⁶ K and are thus ideally suited to investigate the solar transition region where the temperature increases from chromospheric to coronal values. SUMER can also be operated in a manner such that it makes images or spectroheliograms of different sizes in selected spectral lines. A detailed line profile with spectral resolution elements between 22 and 45 mÅ is produced for each line at each spatial location along the slit. From the line width, intensity and wavelength position we are able to deduce temperature, density, and velocity of the emitting atoms and ions for each emission line and spatial element in the spectroheliogram. Because of the high spectral resolution and low noise of SUMER, we have been able to detect faint lines not previously observed and, in addition, to determine their spectral profiles. SUMER has already recorded over 2000 extreme ultraviolet emission lines and many identifications have been made on the disk and in the corona.