SMM观测到的白光耀斑

本文收集了ＳＭＭ运行期间（１９８０．２－１９８９．１１）与地面观测相对应的太阳白光耀斑ＨＸＲＢＳ和ＧＲＳ观测资料，就白光耀斑与硬Ｘ－射线发射及伽玛射线发射之产的关系进行了初步的统计研究，结果表明：白光耀斑与伽玛射线发射之间不存在对应关系；白光耀斑也并非全具有强硬Ｘ－射线发射，对那些只具有对较弱的硬Ｘ－射线发射的白光耀斑，我们发现低能粒子具有足够的能量驱动连续发射，因而它们可能起源于色球，而对那些具     

关于太阳白光耀斑连续发射起源的讨论

白光耀斑研究近年来获得较大进展，对其连续发射起源机制目前流行三种解释．一是耀斑形成过程中所产生的色球凝聚[1-3]，二是非热粒子注入大气致氢原子非热激发和电离[4-6]，三是色球强加热所引起的对大气深层的辐射反加热[7]．这三类解释具有一个共性，即除了自身直接对连续谱     

爆发日珥与日冕物质抛射的观测研究

本文比较了1982年2月9日同时观测到的两个爆发日珥及一次白光日冕物质抛射事件。比较表明,在研究日冕物质抛射事件与爆发日珥的关系时,爆发日珥的形状可能是一个重要的因素,它体现了局部区域磁场结构的变化。作者提出了一种可能的磁场结构模型,对观测结果给以解释。     

耀斑的连续发射是罕见的吗?

自从卡林顿(R.C.Carrington)在1859年观测到第一个白光耀斑以来,至今只记录到四十多个白光耀斑。五十年代以后,有人在边缘耀斑中观测到一些很弱的连续发射(小于光球连续背景的1％);也有人在日面耀斑中观测到一些窄的连续发射丝和     

1991年10月24日白光耀斑的高时间分辨率多波段光谱分析

本文分析了南京大学太阳塔1991年10月24日用多波段光谱仪观测到的高时间分辨率（5s）的一个2N／X2．1级白光耀斑光谱．对耀斑谱线轮廓、连续发射强度、X射线和射电爆发资料进行了综合对比，分析表明，该耀斑属Ⅰ类白光耀斑，具有如下特征：（1）在白光耀斑的脉冲相期间，各波段光谱线心强度、连续辐射、谱线半宽以及线翼红不对称性与硬X射线高能波段的爆发同时达到极大；（2）H_a谱线在连续发射极大时半宽达10A，且呈现强烈的线心反转，H_β和H_γ线心亦有反转；（3）所拍摄的5条谱线都有明显的红不对称性，持续时间约为1分钟，根据上述结果，本文用电子束轰击、色球蒸发和色球压缩区对该耀斑能量积聚和释放的动力学机制作了定性的分析和解释。     

白光耀斑研究的新进展

本文综述了近年来太阳和恒星白光耀斑研究的最新进展。文中着重讨论了两类白光耀斑的光谱特征，白光耀斑的大气模型，以及白光耀斑大气的加热机制等问题，并对恒星白光耀斑同太阳白光耀斑作了某些比较。     

白光耀斑连续发射起源

白光耀斑是第22周太阳活动峰的一个重要研究课题。本文扼要地探讨了白光耀斑的研究近况，针对目前尚未解决的白光耀斑连续发射起源问题，提出了色球凝聚可能对应产生白光连续辐射增强的新观点。     

1974年10月11日白光耀斑的光谱分析

１９７４年１０月１１日耀斑的光谱分析表明，连续发射和微波爆发几乎同时达到极大。在连续辐射极大时刻出现了高项巴耳末发射线和微弱的巴耳末跳跃，所有这些说明这个耀斑是Ｉ型白光耀斑。我们发现，在这个耀斑连续发射的极大时刻，ＣａＩＩＫ线的Ｋ１处强度大大增强，约达到连续辐射强度的一半，对应的辐射温度达到５７１６Ｋ。这个反常增强的持续时间小于４分钟。现有的半经验模型似不能给出这样的结果。色球压缩区也不能给出解释     

1991年10月24日白光耀斑的高时间分辨率多波段光谱分析

本分析了南京大学太阳塔１９９１年１０月２４日用多波段光谱仪观测到的高时间分辨率（５ｓ）的一个２Ｎ／Ｘ２．１级白光耀斑光谱，对耀斑谱线轮廓，连续发射强度，Ｘ射线和射电爆发资料进行了综合对比，分析表明，该耀斑属Ｉ类白光耀斑，具有如下特征：（１）在白光耀斑的脉冲相期间，各波段光谱线心强度，连续辐射，谱线半宽以及线翼红不对称性与硬Ｘ射线高能波段的爆分同时达到极大；（２）Ｈα谱线在连续发射极大时半宽达１０     

1974年9月10日白光耀斑研究

本文详细分析了１９７４年９月１０日白光耀斑的光谱资料，并利用Ｎｏｎ－ＬＴＥ理论计算了它的半经验大气模型和辐射损失。由光谱测量得到：（１）连续辐射强度在巴耳末系限（３６４７）附近发生跳跃。在极大时刻，巴耳末跳跃可达约１１％；（２）该耀斑有强而宽的巴耳末谱线发射，其高项巴耳末谱线轮廓的全半宽随主量子数ｎ而变化，在８＜ｎ＜９达到极小；（３）连续辐射极大时刻同微波爆发极大相一致，比Ｈａ耀斑极大时刻提前几分钟。这三个特征很可能是Ⅰ类白光耀斑的典型特征。     

Occurrence of a White-Light Flare Over a Sunspot and the Associated Change of Magnetic Flux

A white-light flare (WLF) on 10 March 2001 was well observed in the Hα line and the Ca ii λ8542 line using the imaging spectrograph installed on the Solar Tower Telescope of Nanjing University. Three small sunspots appeared in the infrared continuum image. In one sunspot, the infrared continuum is enhanced by 4–6% compared to the preflare value, making the sunspot almost disappear in the continuum image for about 3 min. A hard X-ray (HXR) source appeared near the sunspot, the flux of which showed a good time correlation with the profile of the continuum emission. In the sunspot region, both positive and negative magnetic flux suffered a substantial change. We propose that electron precipitation followed by radiative back-warming may play the chief role in heating the sunspot. The temperature rise in the lower atmosphere and the corresponding energy requirement are estimated. The results show that the energy released in a typical WLF is sufficient to power the sunspot heating.     

The probability distribution function of the Lyman α transmitted flux from a sample of Sloan Digital Sky Survey quasars

We present a measurement of the probability distribution function (PDF) of the transmitted flux in the Lyman α (Lyα) forest from a sample of 3492 quasars included in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey data release 3 (SDSS DR3). Our intention is to investigate the sensitivity of the Lyα flux PDF as measured from low-resolution and low signal-to-noise ratio data to a number of systematic errors such as uncertainties in the mean flux, continuum and noise estimate. The quasar continuum is described by the superposition of a power law and emission lines. We perform a power-law continuum fitting on a spectrum-by-spectrum basis, and obtain an average continuum slope of  α_ν= 0.59 ± 0.36  in the redshift range  2.5 < z < 3.5  . We take into account that the variation in the continuum indices increases the mean flux by 3 and 7 per cent at   z = 3  and 2.4, respectively, as compared to the values inferred with a single (mean) continuum slope. We compare our measurements to the PDF obtained with mock lognormal spectra, whose statistical properties have been constrained to match the observed Lyα flux PDF and power spectrum of high-resolution data. Using our power-law continuum fitting and the SDSS pipeline noise estimate yields a poor agreement between the observed and mock PDFs. Allowing for a break in the continuum slope and, more importantly, for residual scatter in the continuum level substantially improves the agreement. A decrease of ∼10–15 per cent in the mean quasar continuum with a typical rms variance at the 20 per cent level can account for the data, provided that the noise excess correction is no larger than ≲10 per cent.     

The interfringe intensity in coronal interferograms

The paper discusses the low contrast of the Fabry-Perot (FP) fringes observed in the interferograms of the solar corona. The various factors which affect the interfringe intensity of Fabry-Pérot line profiles are considered. The effect of continuum radiation on the interfringe intensity of Fabry-Pérot line profiles is calculated by assuming a coronal model. For the given FP, it was found that unless the ratio of line to continuum intensity (integrated line intensity to continuum per angström) is less than 10, continuum contribution has no significant effect on the fringe contrast. The analysis may be pertinent in the design aspects of a FP interferometer for astronomical observations. The excess interfringe intensity found in the coronal line profiles is interpreted as due to the presence of fast moving plasma components in corona along the line of sight. A detailed analysis qualitatively shows that the line excitation conditions existing in ambient corona and coronal loops are different in active regions while they are more similar in polar regions.     

Decameter storm radiation,II

The physical properties of six decametric storms, observed at Clark Lake Radio Observatory are studied. The height of the storm continuum sources was determined from the rotation rate. Assuming that the radiation originates at the plasma frequency we computed the gradient of electron density for the regions where the storms originate. The mean angular size of the decametric continuum sources is large; it increases with decreasing frequency. The storm continuum is found to be strongly directive toward the disk center. The east-west asymmetry, well observed at meter wavelengths is also observed at decameter wavelengths. The occurrence of two distinct classes of type III bursts in storms is discussed: ‘off-fringe’ and ‘onfringe’ type Ill's. The ‘off-fringe’ Ill's are found to be displaced in position from the continuum source ; on the other hand, the ‘on-fringe’ ones coincide in position with the continuum. These two kinds of bursts differ in other properties as well. A model of the storm region is proposed. The continuum radiation and the ‘on-fringe’ type III's are believed to originate above closed magnetic loops, in regions of diverging field lines; the ‘offfringe’ type Ill's are thought to be excited by energetic electron streams, having access to open magnetic field lines at the base of the loops.     

Revealing the transition from post-AGB stars to planetary nebulae: non-thermal and thermal radio continuum observations

Midcourse Space eXperiment and Infrared Astronomical Satellite colour diagnostics as well as OH maser profile characteristics were used to select a sample of post-asymptotic giant branch (pAGB) candidates for a radio continuum detection experiment with the Australia Telescope Compact Array. Seven out of 28 sources, six of which are new detections, show a continuum. A planetary nebula serendipitously detected in the field of an undetected pAGB candidate also reveals radio continuum. The radio continuum properties of these eight sources are described. Almost half have non-thermal emission. dusty modelling of the infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of the three strongest detections reveals that they all have central stars with temperatures substantially lower than that required for significant photoionization, leading us to infer that the radio continuum has arisen from wind–shock interactions. This hypothesis is consistent with the detection of non-thermal radio emission in one of these three objects.     

The structure of a shock front in atomic hydrogen

A shock wave passing through a stellar atmosphere disturbs the gas, and the consequent adjustment of the fluid is a redistribution of the shock's kinetic energy among the various degrees of freedom. This paper deals with the effects of the Lyman continuum on the shock front. The shock heated gas is cooled principally by ionizing collisions of ground state atoms. This process is followed by a large quasi-isothermal region in which radiative recombinations occur. A final cycle of processes consisting of ionization, photo-recombinations to upper-level and collisional de-excitation, gives way to a sequence of statistical balances as each degree of freedom in the fluid attains equilibrium. Our calculations show that to a great extent, the shock structure is separated into successive regions of internal and radiative relaxation by an intermediate layer of ionized gas appearing at high shock speeds. Numerical results are presented for a range of shock speeds typifying a cepheid atmosphere.Radiation field and gas motions in shock waves are coupled, but the gas reacts little to the radiation it produces. Only the Lyman continuum has an appreciable effect on the shock structure. The principal escape of energy from the shock wave is through continuum radiation produced in recombinations to upper levels; thus the continuum emission in the red is stronger than an equivalent black body. Lyman photons are trapped in the shock while 20–30% of the shock's kinetic energy escapes to the Balmer and Paschen continua after the Lyman continuum is in equilibrium. The post- and pre-shock lines, as well as the post-shock continuum above the Lyman constitute the only observable spectra which emanate from the shock wave. The shock structure is perturbed only by the radiation which is not observed, and its absence tends to distort the emission profile from a Planck distribution.This work was originally started at Smithsonian Observatory and was completed at City College New York under contract with NASA Institute for Space Studies, New York.     

A recalibration of the quiet Sun millimeter spectrum based on the Moon as an absolute radiometric standard

The solar millimeter continuum between 1 and 20 mm is recalibrated using observations of the average lunar brightness temperature at the center of lunar disk and new Moon brightness temperatures. The solar data are placed on a common scale according to the average lunar brightness temperature distribution proposed by Linsky. A least-squares parabolic regression curve is proposed for the solar millimeter continuum. A small departure from this regression curve near 8 mm may indicate the existence of an absorption feature.Staff member, Laboratory Astrophysics Division, National Bureau of Standards.     

Study of the continuum removal method for the Moon Mineralogy Mapper(M~3) and its application to Mare Humorum and Mare Nubium

The absorption band center of visible and near infrared reflectance spectra is a key spectral parameter for lunar mineralogical studies, especially for the mafic minerals(olivine and pyroxene) of mare basalts, which have two obvious absorption bands at 1000 nm(Band I) and 2000 nm(Band II). Removal of the continuum from spectra, which was developed by Clark and Roush and used to isolate the particular absorption feature, is necessary to estimate this parameter. The Moon Mineralogy Mapper(M3) data are widely used for lunar mineral identification. However, M3 data show a residual thermal effect, which interferes with the continuum removal, and systematic differences exist among optical data taken during different optical periods. This study investigated a suitable continuum removal method and compared the difference between two sets of M3 data taken during different optical periods, Optical Period 1B(OP1B)and Optical Period 2A(OP2A). Two programs for continuum removal are reported in this paper. Generally,a program respectively constructs two straight lines across Band I and Band II to remove the continuum,which is recommended for locating band centers, because it can find the same Band I center with different right endpoints. The optimal right endpoint for continuum removal is mainly dominated by two optical period data at approximately 2480 and 2560 nm for OP1 B and OP2 A data, respectively. The band center values derived from OP1 B data are smaller than those derived from OP2 A data in Band I but larger in Band II, especially for the spectra using longer right endpoints(2600 nm). This may be due to the spectral slopes of OP1 B data being steeper than those of OP2 A data in Band I but gentler in Band II. These results were applied to Mare Humorum and Mare Nubium, and the measurements were found to mainly vary from intermediate- to high-Ca pyroxene.     

X-ray continuum slope and X-ray spectral features in NLS1 galaxies

The idea that some of the unusual features in the X-ray spectra of Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) are due to the steep X-ray continuum is tested by comparing photoionization model calculations with various observed properties of Seyfert 1 galaxies. A meaningful comparison must involve the careful use of the “right” X-ray ionization parameter, designated here U(oxygen). When this is done, it is found that the strength of the continuum absorption features is insensitive to the exact slope of the 0.1–50 keV continuum. It is also shown that the complex of iron L-shell lines near 1 keV can produce strong absorption and emission features, depending on the gas distribution and line widths. While this may explain some unusual X-ray features in AGN, the predicted intensity of the features do not distinguish NLS1s from broader line sources. Finally, acceleration of highly ionized gas, by X-ray radiation pressure, is also not sensitive to the exact slope of the X-ray continuum.     

The broad emission-line region in AGNs and quasars: The impact of variability studies

Coordinated observations of variability of the continuum and the emission-line luminosities (reverberation mapping) in AGNs and quasars have fundamentally altered our understanding of the broad-line regions in active galaxies. The constraints these observations impose on the models of the BLRs have been demonstrated here by an attempt to model the BLR of NGC5548, the most intensively monitored AGN. Two models of a BLR, with one having a power law radial distribution of density and the other a gaussian radial distribution, are described and the modelled line luminosities and centroid of the line response functions are presented. A self-consistent model is presented for the change in theCiv/Lyα ratio as the continuum luminosity changes. It is shown that BLR gas must be composed of a mixture of optically thin and optically thick gas and the proportion of thick and thin gas alters with the luminosity of the ionizing continuum. The observed centroid or the lag of a line, can be a function of the continuum luminosity. The variability of the profile of theCiv line in the spectrum of NGC5548 is investigated. This profile is extremely robust and is not significantly affected by changes in the ionizing continuum. Future models of the kinematics of the BLR clouds will have to be based on very stable cloud motions and include anisotropic line emission.