Flare coronal loop heating and hard X-ray emission from solar flares of August 23, 2005, and November 9, 2013

The thermal balance and hard X-ray emission of coronal loops for two solar events have been considered in the scope of a “standard” flare model. An important role of the thermal energy release is justified by the event of August 23, 2005, as an example. For the flare of November 9, 2013, it has been established that electrons accelerated at a flare loop top cannot maintain the observed hard X-ray fluxes from the flare footpoints, which indicates that charged particles are additionally accelerated in the chromosphere.

     

Simultaneous measurements of X-rays and electrons during a pulsating aurora

The PULSAUR II rocket was launched from Andøya Rocket Range at 23.43 UT on 9 February 1994 into a pulsating aurora. In this paper we focus on the observations of precipitating electrons and auroral X-rays. By using models it is possible to deduce the electron energy spectrum from X-ray measurements. Comparisons are made between the deduced electron fluxes and the directly measured electron fluxes on the rocket. We found the shape of the observed and the deduced electron spectra to fit very well, with almost identical e-folding energies in the energy range from 10 keV to 60–80 keV. For the integrated fluxes from 10.8 to 250 keV, we found a discrepancy of 30%. By combining two models, we have found a good method of deducing the electron precipitation from X-ray measurements. The discrepancies between calculations and measurements are in the range of the uncertainties in the measurements.     

Dynamics of accelerated electron beams and X rays in solar flares with sub-THz radiation

Unique measurements by a solar submillimeter radio telescope (SST) have been carried out in the sub-THz radiation at 212 and 405 THz over the past decade. The spectrum of RF radiation in this region increased with frequency for the three flares of November 2 and 4, 2003, and December 6, 2006, and the flux value reached 5 × 10³?2 × 10⁴ sfu at 405 GHz (Kaufman et al., 2009). In this work, we consider a set of nonlinear equations for an accelerated electrons beam and the Langmuir wave energy density. The distribution functions of the accelerated electron beam and wave energy density are calculated taking into account Coulomb collisions, electron scattering by waves, and wave scattering by plasma ions. In addition, the source of accelerated particles and the heat level of the Langmuir turbulence are specified. The beam and plasma parameters are chosen based on the aims of a problem. The plasma concentration varies from n = 10¹³ to 10¹⁵ cm^?3, the electron plasma frequency f _p = (3 × 10¹⁰?3 × 10¹¹) Hz in this case. The ratio of plasma and beam concentrations, sufficient to explain the value of the radio flux at a frequency of 300 GHz, is n _b/n = 10^?3. The Langmuir turbulence is excited due to the instability of the accelerated electron beam with an initial distribution function of the ??bump-in-tail?? type. Then, the parameters of radiowaves are calculated in the sub-THz range under the assumption of coalescence of two plasma waves. The calculation results show that a sub-THz radio flux can be obtained under the condition of injection of accelerated electrons. The fine time structure of radio flux observed is easily simulated based on this statement by the pulsed time structure of electron beams and their dynamics in overdense plasma. X-ray and gamma radiation was recorded during the events under study. Hard X-ray radiation is bremsstrahlung radiation from accelerated electron beams.     

Probing the magnetic topology of coronal mass ejections by means of Ulysses/HI-SCALE energetic particle observations

In this work, solar flare energetic particle fluxes (E_e 42 keV) observed by the HI-SCALE instrument onboard Ulysses, a spacecraft that is probing the heliosphere in 3-D, are utilized as diagnostics of the large-scale structure and topology of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) embedded within two well-identified interplanetary coronal mass ejection (ICME) structures. On the basis of the energetic solar flare particle observations firm conclusions are drawn on whether the detected ICMEs have been detached from the solar corona or are still magnetically anchored to it when they arrive at 2.5 AU. From the development of the angular distributions of the particle intensities, we have inferred that portions of the ICMEs studied consisted of both open and closed magnetic field lines. Both ICMEs present a filamentary structure comprising magnetic filaments with distinct electron anisotropy characteristics. Subsequently, we studied the evolution of the anisotropies of the energetic electrons along the magnetic field loop-like structure of one ICME and computed the characteristic decay time of the anisotropy which is a measure of the amount of scattering that the trapped electron population underwent after injection at the Sun.     

磁场重联中电子加速问题的物理分析和数值研究

观测表明耀斑中电子加速发生在软X射线耀斑环上方的磁重联区域.在重联电流片中被super Dreicer电场直接加速似乎是产生能量在10keV～10MeV之间高能电子的最直接的方式.本文的结果证明纵向电磁场可以有效地将电子“锁”在重联电流片上,使得横向电场得以直接加速电子.对于解释产生相对论性粒子的脉冲式耀斑,这可能是一个有效的机制.     

Diagnostic Analysis of the Solar Proton Flares of September 2017 by Their Radio Bursts

The powerful solar flares that occurred on September 4–10, 2017 are analyzed based on a quantitative diagnostics method for proton flares developed at the Institute of Terrestrial Magnetism, the Ionosphere and Radio-Wave Propagation (IZMIRAN) in the 1970–1980s. We show that the fluxes and energy spectra of the protons reached the Earth with the energies of tens of MeV qualitatively and quantitatively correspond to the intensity and frequency spectra of the microwave radio bursts in the range of 2.7–15.4 GHz. Specifically, the flare of September 4 with a peak radio flux S ~ 2000 sfu at the frequency f ~ 3 GHz (i.e., with the soft radio spectrum) was accompanied by a significant proton flux J (>10 MeV) ~100 pfu and a soft energy spectrum with the index γ ~3.0, while the strong flare on September 10 with S ~ 21000 sfu at f ~ 15 GHz (i.e., with the hard radio spectrum) led to a very intense proton event with J (>10 MeV) ~1000 pfu with a hard spectrum (γ ~ 1.4), including the ground level enhancement (GLE72). This is further evidence that microwave radio data can be successfully used in diagnostics of proton flares independently of a specific source of particle acceleration at the Sun, in particular, with the IZMIRAN method.     

Unusual sudden ionospheric disturbance from solar flare of 4 November 2003

An interpretation of the nature of the sudden ionospheric disturbance in terms of response to X-ray flux enhancement in the band 1–20 Å has been made by many authors. Last decades investigations revealed presence of important qualitative distinctions in spatially temporal pattern of geomagnetic response to solar flares featuring harder radiation spectra (with quanta energies above 100 keV). These distinctions can not be adequately described by classical theory implying ionization growing on E and D ionosperic layers and intensification of Sq-current system. In this respect, solar flare on 4 November 2003 characterizing by existence of two separate (time lag ~45 min) spectral maximums in X-rays range (average quantum energy <100 keV) and in γ-rays range (average quantum energy >100 keV), represents convenient proving ground for study of specifics the geomagnetic response to bursts marked by different hardness. In current article, we show that this flare has a number of unusual features including specific variation of accompanying current system and magnetospheric manifestation that is observed in trapped radiation fluxes and magnetic field on geosynchronous orbit. Possible physical mechanism leading to intensification of magnetospheric–ionospheric current system is discussed.     

Nighttime subvisual high-latitude auroras

Special methods for processing TV images have been used to study the characteristics of nighttime auroras based on the observations at high-latitude observatories on Spitsbergen. Weak subvisual auroras (SVAs), originating 3°–4° north of brighter auroras in the auroral oval, have been detected in the interval 1900-0400 MLT. The average lifetime of SVAs is approximately 7 min, and the average velocity of the equatorward shift is ～0.6 km/s. SVAs were observed during relatively quiet periods, when the IMF B _z component is mainly positive. However, SVAs are not polar-cap auroras since they are oriented from east to west rather than toward the Sun. The optical observations indicate that the SVA intensity is 0.2–0.5 and 0.1–0.3 kR in the 630 and 557.7 nm emissions, respectively. The average ratio of the emission intensities (I ₅₅₇₇/I ₆₃₀₀) is about 0.5. According to the direct satellite observations, the SVA electron spectrum has a maximum at 0.4–1.0 keV. In this case the energy flux of precipitating electrons is approximately an order of magnitude as low as such a flux in brighter auroral arcs in the auroral oval.     

Effect of a self-induced electric field on the electron beam kinetics and resulting hard X-ray and microwave emissions in flares

The kinetics of beam electron precipitation from the top of a loop into the solar atmosphere with density gradients and an increasing magnetic field have been generally described. The Fokker-Planck equations are solved with regard to Coulomb collisions and the effect of the electric field induced by this beam. The photon spectra and polarization degree in hard X-ray (10–300 keV) and microwave (1–80 GHz) emissions are simulated under different assumptions regarding the beam electron distribution function. The simulation results are compared with the flare observations on March 10, 2001, and July 23, 2002, visible at different position angles. It has been indicated that the coincidence of the theoretical photon spectra with simultaneous observations of the hard X-ray and microwave emissions of these flares is the best for models that not only take into account collisions, but also the electric field induced by electron fluxes propagating in flare loops with very weakly or moderately converging magnetic fields.     

风云二号C/D卫星与GOES卫星太阳X射线探测数据交叉比对

风云二号卫星是我国研制的第一代静止业务气象卫星.本文针对风云二号C星/D星(FY-2C/D)太阳X射线探测数据与美国GOES系列卫星太阳X射线探测数据开展交叉比对,以检验FY-2C/D卫星数据的有效性.研究结果表明在X射线通量变化的时间特性以及通量大小等方面,FY-2C/D卫星探测结果与GOES系列卫星探测结果具有较好的一致性.对2004年11月—2010年6月期间85次耀斑事件X射线峰值流量的比对结果表明,FY-2C卫星与GOES系列卫星的探测结果在1~8 Å波段的相关系数为0.795,FY-2D卫星与GOES系列卫星的探测结果在0.5~3 Å和1~8 Å波段的相关系数分别为0.921和0.989,说明FY-2C/D卫星太阳X射线探测结果可信度较高,能够用于太阳X射线耀斑的监测、预警以及研究工作.     

Experimental study of the response of the midlatitude ionospheric <Emphasis Type="Italic">D</Emphasis> region to the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

The observations of the state of the midlatitude ionospheric D region during the March 29, 2006, solar eclipse, based on the measurements of the characteristics of partially reflected HF signals and radio noise at a frequency of f = 2.31 MHz, are considered. It has been established that the characteristic processes continued for 2–4 h and were caused mainly by atmospheric gas cooling, decrease in the ionization rate, and the following decrease in the electron density. An increase in the electron density on average by 200–250% approximately 70–80 min after the eclipse beginning at altitudes of 90–93 km and approximately 240 min after the end of the solar eclipse at altitudes of 81–84 km, which lasted about 3–4 h, has been detected experimentally. This behavior of N is apparently caused by electron precipitation from the magnetosphere into the atmosphere during and after the solar eclipse. Based on this hypothesis, the fluxes of precipitating electrons (about 10⁷–10⁸ m^?2s^?1) have been estimated using the experimental data.     

Hard X rays of relativistic electrons accelerated in solar flares

The direction and polarization degree of hard X rays (HXRs) in solar flares are studied. The continuous injection of relativistic electrons, which is implemented in powerful flares, is considered. The stationary relativistic kinetic equation is studied by using the method of expansion in terms of the Legendre polynomial and by integrating the equations for the expansion coefficients. The HXR characteristics are calculated using the bremsstrahlung relativistic cross-section for different angular and energetic electron distributions in the acceleration region. A high linear polarization degree of HXRs (??35%) has been obtained for narrow (??cos⁶??) beams of electrons with a soft spectrum (??E ^?6); the polarization degree decreases with increasing quanta energy, whereas the directivity of a high-energy emission increases. This effect is absent for a nonrelativistic approximation. The considered model is applied to one of the most powerful flares in cycle 23, registered on October 28, 2003. The measured polarization degree values at relativistic energies (0.2?C0.4 and 0.4?C1 MeV) agree with the results achieved in the considered model when the electron energy spectrum index (?? = 2.5), angular distribution part (??cos⁶??), and the spectrum cutoff energy (E _max = 1.3 MeV) were specified.     

Behavior of the polar lower ionosphere during the solar flares in January 2005 according to the data of the partial reflections method

The results of the observations, using partial reflections, of the lower ionosphere over Tumannyi station in the Murmansk region (69.0° N, 35.7° E) during strong solar flares on January 15–20, 2005, are presented. The structure of the D region of the polar ionosphere and the effects of X-ray flares and fluxes of high energy protons on this region are considered. The anomalous values of electron density in the lower part of the D region, unusually low values of the height of the lower ionospheric boundary, complete or partial absorption of short and medium radiowaves, and bursts of the meter cosmic radio emission were detected during solar disturbances.     

Global X-ray emission during an isolated substorm — a case study

The polar ionospheric X-ray imaging experiment (PIXIE) and the UV imager (UVI) onboard the Polar satellite have provided the first simultaneous global scale views of the patterns of electron precipitation through imaging of the atmospheric X-ray bremsstrahlung and the auroral UV emissions. While the UV images in the Lyman–Birge–Hopfield-long band used in this study respond to the total electron energy flux which is usually dominated by low-energy electrons (<10 keV), the PIXIE images of X-ray bremsstrahlung above ∼2.7 keV respond to electrons of energy above ∼3 keV. Comparison of precipitation features seen by UVI and PIXIE provides information on essentially complementary energy ranges of the precipitating electrons. In this study an isolated substorm is examined using data from PIXIE, UVI, ground-based measurements, and in situ measurements from high- and low-altitude satellites to obtain information about the global characteristics during the event. Results from a statistical study of isolated substorms, which has reported a significant difference in the patterns of energetic electron precipitation compared to the less energetic precipitation are confirmed. A localized maximum of electron precipitation in the morning sector delayed with respect to substorm onset is clearly seen in the X-ray aurora, and the time delay of this morning precipitation relative to substorm onset strongly indicates that this intensification is caused by electrons injected in the midnight sector drifting into a region in the dawnside magnetosphere where some mechanism effectively scatter the electrons into the loss cone. In this study, we also present the results from two low-altitude satellite passes through the region of the localized maximum of X-ray emission in the morning sector. Measured X rays are compared with X-ray fluxes calculated from the electron spectral measurements. By fitting the electron spectra by a sum of two exponentials we obtain fairly good agreement between calculated and directly measured X-ray flux profiles.     

Solar flare effect on the geomagnetic field and ionosphere

This paper studies the ionospheric and geomagnetic response to an X6.2 solar flare recorded at 14:30 UT on December 13, 2001, in quiet geomagnetic conditions which allow the variations in the geomagnetic field and ionosphere measurements to be easily related to the solar flare radiation.By using measurements from the global positioning system (GPS) and geomagnetic observatories, the temporal evolution of ionospheric total electron content variation, vTEC_V, and geomagnetic field variations, δB, as well as their rates of variation, were obtained around the subsolar point at different solar zenith angles. The enhancement of both parameters was recorded one to three minutes later than the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) programme recording; such delay tends to depend on the latitude, longitude, and solar zenith angle of the observatory's observations.The vTEC_V is related to the local time and the δB to the intensity and position of the ionospheric currents.The vTEC_V′s maximum value is always recorded later than the maximum values reached by δB and the X-ray intensity. The maximum δB is larger in the local morning than in the afternoon.The rates of vTEC_V and δB have two maximum values at the same time as the maximum values recorded by Hα (for each ribbon).This work shows the quantitative and qualitative relations between a solar flare and the ionospheric and geomagnetic variations that it produces.     

Impact of different energies of precipitating particles on NOx generation in the middle and upper atmosphere during geomagnetic storms

Energetic particle precipitation couples the solar wind to the Earth's atmosphere and indirectly to Earth's climate. Ionisation and dissociation increases, due to particle precipitation, create odd nitrogen (NO_x) and odd hydrogen (HO_X) in the upper atmosphere, which can affect ozone chemistry. The long-lived NO_x can be transported downwards into the stratosphere, particularly during the polar winter. Thus, the impact of NO_x is determined by both the initial ionisation production, which is a function of the particle flux and energy spectrum, as well as transport rates. In this paper, we use the Sodankylä Ion and Neurtal Chemistry (SIC) model to simulate the production of NO_x from examples of the most representative particle flux and energy spectra available today of solar proton events (SPE), auroral energy electrons, and relativistic electron precipitation (REP). Large SPEs are found to produce higher initial NO_x concentrations than long-lived REP events, which themselves produce higher initial NO_x levels than auroral electron precipitation. Only REP microburst events were found to be insignificant in terms of generating NO_x. We show that the Global Ozone Monitoring by Occultation of Stars (GOMOS) observations from the Arctic winter 2003–2004 are consistent with NO_x generation by a combination of SPE, auroral altitude precipitation, and long-lived REP events.     

Solar flare model: Comparison of the results of numerical simulations and observations

The electrodynamic flare model is based on numerical 3D simulations with the real magnetic field of an active region. An energy of ∼10³² erg necessary for a solar flare is shown to accumulate in the magnetic field of a coronal current sheet. The thermal X-ray source in the corona results from plasma heating in the current sheet upon reconnection. The hard X-ray sources are located on the solar surface at the loop foot-points. They are produced by the precipitation of electron beams accelerated in field-aligned currents. Solar cosmic rays appear upon acceleration in the electric field along a singular magnetic X-type line. The generation mechanism of the delayed cosmic-ray component is also discussed.     

Quantitative description of electron precipitation during auroral absorption events in the morning/noon local-time sector

Flux-energy spectra of precipitating electrons are derived from electron density profiles measured by the EISCAT radar during auroral absorption events in the morning/noon local-time sector. The inversion technique uses effective recombination coefficient profiles computed on the basis of a previously validated theoretical model of the lower ionosphere. It is shown that flux-energy spectra for the energy range 30–200 keV are in reasonable agreement with those derived for the same events using trapped flux-energy spectra from geosynchronous satellite data and a model for diffusion of trapped electrons into the loss cone by scattering on whistler waves. During individual events, strongly varying precipitating fluxes are found to be due primarily to varying pitch-angle diffusion.     

Superfine time structure and polarization of hard X-ray emission during solar flares: Simulation of isolated pulses

A superfine time structure has been detected recently via hard X-ray satellite observations during solar flares. Some pulses are hundreds of milliseconds in length. Time series are sharply nonstationary sequences of overlapping pulses. We interpreted a similar time structure in a model of the nonstationary kinetics of accelerated electron beams. In this work, we present calculation results of the degree of polarization of the hard X rays of solar flares with millisecond pulses. The dependence of the polarization degree on the plasma concentration, radiation energy, and the observation angle has been derived from calculations with the thick-target nonstationary kinetics model for rectangular and triangular individual pulses of accelerated electrons in the region of injection with the angular dependence cos²ⁿ θ. It is shown that the degree of polarization does not exceed 78% and decreases down to 50–65% 20 s after the beginning of the injection.     

Solar proton increases and dynamics of the electron outer radiation belt during solar events in December 2006

Increases in solar protons and variations in the electron and proton fluxes from the outer radiation belt are studied based on the GLONASS satellite measurements (the circular orbit at an altitude of ～20000 km with an inclination of ～65°) performed in December 2006. Indications in the channels, registered protons with energies of Ep = 3–70 MeV and electrons with energies of Ee > 0.04 and >0.8 MeV, are analyzed. The data on electrons with Ee = 0.8–1.2 MeV, measured on the Express-A3 geostationary satellite, are also presented. Before the strong magnetic storm of December 14 (|Dst|_max = 146 nT), the maximum of the outer belt electrons with the energy >0.7 MeV was observed at L ～ 4.5. After the storm, the fluxes of these electrons increased by more than an order of magnitude as compared to the prestorm level, and the maximum of a “new” belt shifted to L < 4 (minimal L reached by the GLONASS orbit). Under quiet geomagnetic conditions, solar protons with the energies >3 MeV fill only high-latitude legs of the GLONASS orbit. During the strong magnetic storm of December 15, the boundary of proton penetration into the magnetosphere almost merged with the orbital maximum of the proton radiation belt.