Some observational results on moustaches

The results of new observations of moustaches in H filtergrams and in H spectra are presented and their relations to photospheric and chromospheric phenomena are studied. The main findings and conclusions are: (1) previous results on basic data (size, brightness, lifetime, etc.) are essentially confirmed; (2) limb observations located the moustaches at the base of the structured H chromosphere, just above the level of the emission of H±1 Å. At the disk moustaches are, in general, covered by absorbing and slightly Doppler-shifted chromospheric elements which determine the H core in the moustache spectrum. However, absorption-free moustaches with an H emission core revealing a pure (true) moustache spectrum have also been found; (3) moustaches have been found to coincide with continuous facular granules; it is suggested that they are an extension of facular granules into the chromosphere rather than a low-level flare-like phenomenon.Mitteilung aus dem Fraunhofer Institut, No. 114.     

Interferometric study of the Milky Way between Carina and Aquila

Large field H observations of the Milky Way between Carina and Aquila were made through a narrow interference filter 15 wide. Characteristic large-scale features of the observed region are extended emission areas in Carina, Norma-Scorpius and Scutum-Sagittarius and some weak isolated nebulosities near the Coal Sac, Centauri and Normae. H photographs, a chart mapping the emission, and a list of identified emission regions are given.     

Hα line emission and infrared excess in Be stars

The H observations of a selected sample of bright Be stars are presented. The available infrared observations at K band (2.2 m) of these stars have been used to find the infrared excess emission. The analysis of the combined data show thatL _H, the luminosity of the H emission line, is proportional toL _IR, the luminosity of the infrared excess emission. The linear correlation betweenL _IR andL _H shows that both the infrared excess and the H line originate in a common region. It is also detected that the infrared excess emission is produced throughout the whole envelope whereas the H is emitted in some defined region of the circumstellar (CS) envelope.     

Time delay between Hα and hard X-ray emissions during impulsive solar flares

This investigation shows that statistically there are significant time delays between H and hard X-ray (HXR) emissions during solar flares; most impulsive flares produce HXR emissions up to 1 min before and up to 2 min after the onset of H emission. HXR emissions are also found to be peaked up to 2 min before the H emissions.     

Filter observations of prominences in the D3 and Hα lines

D₃ and H pictures of prominences were obtained with a 21-in. Lyot coronograph and a Fabry-Perot etalon used as a narrow band filter. The monochromatic images of quiescent, quasiquiescent and loop-prominences were studied. The comparison of the isophotes of quiescent and quasi-quiescent prominences in D₃ with those in H shows the similarity of the prominence structure at both wavelength, although there is a strong tendency for an increase in the intensity ratio D₃/H in the upper region of prominences. It seems that it is due to lower temperature in the upper regions of prominences. Probably, the relaxation processes establishing ionization equilibrium play some role. Measurements of the knot intensities of the loop-prominence show strong variations of the intensity ratio D₃/H (more than one order of magnitude).     

The ionization mechanism in low level emission galaxy nuclei: Shocks

We analyze the emission component of galaxy nuclei at very low intensity levels (W(H)2Å). This emission level is considerably lower than that of classical LINERS like NGC 1052. We have access to weaker emission lines by averaging spectra with similar line ratios for H [NII], and [SII]. From the resulting spectrum for very low level emission nuclei, the [SII] 6717, 6731/[SIII] 9069, 9532 line ratio criterion (Diazet al., 1985a) unambiguously shows that shock-wave heating is the mechanism responsible for the ionization in such objects.     

Studies of solar flares using optical,X-ray and radio data

I have studied a number of flares for which good X-ray and optical data were available. An average lag of 5.5 s between hard X-ray (HXR) start and H start, and HXR peak and Ha peak was found for 41 flares for which determination was possible. Allowing for time constants the time lag is zero. The peak H lasts until 5–6 keV soft X-ray (SXR) peak. The level of H intensity is determined by the SXR flux.Multiple spikes in HXR appear to correspond to different occurrences in the flare development. Flares with HXR always have a fast H rise. Several flares were observed in the 3835 band; such emission appears when the 5.1–6.6 keV flux exceeds 5 × 10⁴ ph cm^-2 s^-1 at the Earth. Smaller flares produce no 3835 emission; we conclude that coronal back conduction cannot produce the bright chromospheric network of that wavelength.The nearly simultaneous growth of H emission at distant points means an agent travelling faster than 5 × 10³ km s^-1 is responsible, presumably electrons.In all cases near the limb an elevated Ha source is seen with the same time duration as HXR flux; it is concluded that this H source is almost always an elevated cloud which is excited by the fast electrons. A rough calculation is given. Another calculation of H emission from compressed coronal material shows it to be inadequate.In several cases homologous flares occur within hours with the same X-ray properties.Radio models fit, more or less, with field strengths on the order of 100G. A number of flares are discussed in detail.     

Hα and radio observations of LSI+61o303

Quasi simultaneous H and radio observations of LSI+61^o303 during August-September 1993 are presented. The radio data show that during the studied epoch the outburst has peaked at radio phase 0.6, at level100 mJy. No significant variations in the H profile at phases 0.5 to 0.65 have been detected. A remarkable increase of the EW and FWHM of the H blue peak is observed at radio phase 0.23. Possible reasons are considered.     

The roots of coronal structure in the Sun's surface

We have compared the structures seen on X-ray images obtained by a flight of the NIXT sounding rocket payload on July 11, 1991 with near-simultaneous photospheric and chromospheric structures and magnetic fields observed at Big Bear. The X-ray images reflect emission of both Mgx and Fexvi, formed at 1 × 10⁶ K and 3 × 10⁶ K, respectively. The brightest H sources correspond to a dying sub-flare and other active region components, all of which reveal coronal enhancements situated spatially well above the H emission. The largest set of X-ray arches connected plages of opposite polarity in a large bipolar active region. The arches appear to lie in a small range of angle in the meridian plane connecting their footpoints. Sunspots are dark on the surface and in the corona. For the first time we see an emerging flux region in X-rays and find the emission extends twice as high as the H arches. Many features which we believe to correspond to X-ray bright points (XBPs) were observed. Whether by resolution or spectral band, the number detected greatly exceeds that from previous work. All of the brighter XBPs correspond to bipolar H features, while unipolar H bright points are the base of more diffuse comet-like coronal arches, generally vertical. These diverge from individual features by less than 30°, and give a good measure of what the canopies must do. The H data shows that all the H features were present the entire day, so they are not clearly disappearing or reappearing. We find a new class of XBPs which we call satellite points, elements of opposite polarity linked to nearby umbrae by invisible field lines. The satellite points change rapidly in X-ray brightness during the flight. An M1.9 flare occurred four hours after the flight; examination of the pre-flare structures reveals nothing unusual.     

Fine structure of the Solar Chromosphere: Arch-Shaped Mottles

We analyze a time series of high resolution observations near the solar limb, obtained in H and the Mg b1 line. We identified arch-shaped dark mottles, which are thin, faint H structures observable under very good seeing conditions, best seen in H +0.75 Å. Their mean length is about 15, their mean height about 6 and indicative lifetimes is of the order of 5 min. They show negative (away from the observer) line-of-sight velocities. A possible interpretation is that material flows from the apex towards the feet of the arches.     

The circumstellar gas of sigma orionis E

In order to explain the variable H emission and the eclipse-like light variation of Ori E, we investigated the circumstellar gas trapped by the stellar magnetic field and corotating with the star. By considering the potential along the magnetic field line, we found that the gas concentrates to a potential minimum. The circumstellar gas forms either two condensations or a disk, depending on the inclination of the magnetic dipole to the stellar rotation axis. The geometrical thickness of the circumstellar disk, of about 0.2 stellar radii, and the distance from the center of the star to the inner edge of the disk, of about 3 stellar radii, were obtained. The H emission line profile at its maximum phase and the amplitude of light variation were calculated by assuming the isothermal gas in LTE with the maximum gas density which the magnetic field can hold. The model gives good agreement with observation in the low obliquity case, and also explains the phase correlation among the H emission maximum, the light minimum, and the magnetic extreme. The model, however, failed to explain the large IR excess in theM band.     

Cerenkov line emission: The Lα/Hβ, Hα/Hβ, Pα/Hα intensity ratios of quasars

We use the Cerenkov line emission mechanism to give a new explanation of the observed intensity ratios, particularly the L/H ratio, of the emission lines of quasars. We give equations that restrict the choice of the parameter values. The parameters are the characteristic energy of the relativistic electrons, the number density of neutral hydrogen and its relative level populations. With reasonable choice of the parmaeters, we can obtain calculated L/H, H/H, P/H ratios in agreement with observed values. Our estimate for the gas density in the broad line region of quasars is 10¹⁵ cm^–3, very different from previous estimates. Unlike previous theories, such a high density causes no difficulties with the Cerenkov line emission.     

Rediscussion of balmer decrement of broad-line radio-galaxies

On the basis of the erenkov line emission theory in the optically thick case, a new interpretation of intensity ratios H/H and H/H in broad-line radio-galaxies (BLRGs) is reported. Calculation shows that if the theoretical ratio H/H is just taken to be the mean observed value 0.21, equivalently, the parameterX(H)=3.0, then the expected ratio H/H=6.70 is almost the same as the observations. By comparing these values with the previous investigations of QSOs (X(H)=20.9), we conclude that the number density of neutral hydrogen gas in BLRGs is almost one order-of-magnitude smaller than that in the QSOs.Preliminary verification of the erenkov line emission has been obtained by Xuet al. (1981) in the laboratory.     

Variability of the Hα emission in ϕPer

Photoelectric spectrum scans of the Be shell star Per in the H region have been taken to investigate the variations of H emission lines. Definite variations with time-scales of a few minutes have been detected. It is hoped that hydromagnetic instability within the envelope is responsible for such variations.     

On the line intensity ratios E(Hα)/E(D3) and E(Hβ)/E(D3) in prominences

The intensity ratios E(H)/E(D3) and E(H)/E(D3) in prominences depend on the total optical thickness in H of the layer. The emission of the He D3 line appears relatively enhanced in thin layers and in outer parts of the prominences.     

The solar filigree

As a birefringent filter is tuned from the center of H to the continuum the H bright mottles appear to break up into a network of grains. The name filigree is suggested for this bright network. Its size, shape, contrast and time evolution is described as well as its relation to the abnormal granulation, magnetic field and spicules.On leave from The University of Hawaii.     

Post-flare loops of 26 June 1992

We observed the large post-flare loop system, which developed after the X 3.9 flare of 25 June 1992 at 2011 UT, in H with the Multichannel Subtractive Double Pass Spectrograph at Pic-du-Midi and in X-rays with the it Yohkoh/SXT instrument. Following the long-term development of cool and hot plasmas, we have determined the emission measure of the cool plasma and, for the first time, the temporal evolution of the hot-loop emission measure and temperature during the entire gradual phase. Thus, it was possible to infer the temporal variation of electron densities, leading to estimates of cooling times. A gradual decrease of the hot-loop emission measure was observed, from 4 × 10³⁰ cm^–5 at 2300 UT on 25 June 1992 to 3 × 10²⁸ cm^–5 at 1310 UT on 26 June 1992. During the same period, the temperature decreased only slowly from 7.2 to 6.0 × 10⁶ K. Using recent results of NLTE modeling of prominence-like plasmas, we also derive the emission measure of cool H loops and discuss their temperature and ionisation degree. During two hours of H observations (11–13 hours after the flare) the averaged emission measure does not show any significant change, though the amount of visible cool material decreases and the volume of the loops increases. The emission measure in H, after correction for the Doppler-brightening effect, is slightly lower than in soft X-rays. Since the hot plasma seems to be more spatially extended, we arrive at electron densities in the range n _infe ^supho n _infe ^supcool 2 × 10¹⁰ cm^–3 at the time of the H observations.These results are consistent with the post-flare loop model proposed by Forbes, Malherbe, and Priest (1989). The observed slow decrease of the emission measure could be due to an increase of the volume of the loops and a gradual decrease of the chromospheric ablation driven by the reconnection, which seems to remain effective continuously for more than 16 hours. The cooling time for hot loops to cool down to 10⁴ K and to appear in H would be only a few minutes at the beginning of the gradual phase but could be as long as 2 hours at the end, several hours later.     

Comparison of Prominences in Hα and He II 304 Å

In this letter, we bring attention to prominences which show different morphology in H and Heii 304 Å, as observed simultaneously by BBSO and EIT on board SOHO. Those two lines have been thought to represent similar chromospheric structures although they are formed at significantly different temperatures. We give two examples representing two kinds of anomaly: (1) prominences showing strong H emissions in the lower part and strong Heii emissions in the upper part, and (2) erupting prominences showing extensive Heii emission, but nothing in H. Our results indicate that a part or the whole of a prominence may be too hot to emit H radiation, possibly due to heating or thermal instability. Please note that these are not just two isolated cases, many other prominences show the similar differences in H and Heii 304 Å.     

On the size of the structure elements in the solar chromosphere

Photometric reductions of the spectrograms obtained during the third flight of the Soviet Stratopsheric Solar Station are discussed. A comparison of photometric scans in H and its far wings near to the continuum leads to the conclusion that chromospheric mottles are at least several times broader than photospheric granules. The optimum size of mottles is about 0.8–1.1. The H profiles of mottles are practically the same as those obtained from the ground observations. The broadening of mottles is considered as an effect of expansion of magnetic arcs growing up to chromospheric levels.     

Acceleration of electrons in absence of detectable optical flares deduced from type III radio bursts,Hα activity and soft X-ray emission

The relationship between H absorption features, type III radio bursts and soft X-ray emission has been examined in order to determine the characteristics of the particle acceleration process operating when a H-flare may not be detectable. It is found that transient H activity observed in the absence of reported flares is associated with production of relatively weak type III radio and soft X-ray emission. Since such optical phenomena are much more frequent than flares themselves, it is concluded that instabilities generating fast particles may be produced in the corona in a quasi-continuous way with coincident perturbations in the lower solar atmosphere.The soft X-ray component, which is similar to the precursor in flares, is not necessarily the direct product of fast particles, but is probably associated with some type of heating since both the soft X-ray emission and the H features exhibit a similar evolution, the type III bursts occurring near the maximum of this perturbation. The observations are consistent with a model in which the electron acceleration region is located at an altitude where the ion density is 10⁹ cm^–3 and most of the accelerated electrons( 20 keV) are confined to coronal altitudes where the ion density is 10¹⁰ cm^–3.