Microwave radiation of solar active regions before X flares according to the RATAN-600 observations in 2011

The evolution of the microwave radiation from four active regions, where strong X-ray flares (X-class, GOES) occurred in 2011, has been studied. Daily multiwavelength RATAN-600 radio observations of the Sun in the 1.6–8.0 cm range have been used. It has been indicated that the radiosource above the photospheric magnetic field neutral line (above the region with the maximal convergence of the fields opposite in sign) becomes predominant in the structure of the active region microwave radiation one to two days before a powerful flare as in the eruptive events previously studied with RATAN-600. The appearance of such a radiosource possibly reflects the current sheet formation in the corona above the active region. The energy necessary for a flare is stored in the magnetic field of active region, which can be considered as a factor for predicting a powerful flare.     

Studying the solar corona above active regions from microwave observations during solar flares recorded by CORONAS-F satellite

In 2001–2003, 45 flares of hard X ray (HXR) and gamma ray radiation, identified with a particular active region (AR) that produced each event, were recorded during the experiments onboard the Russian Solar Observatory CORONAS-F using the SONG (solar neutrons and gamma ray quanta) instrument. The solar corona structure and dynamics above these ARs is studied on the basis of the microwave observations with two Russian radio telescopes RATAN-600 and Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT). The results are illustrated using the active region NOAA 9601 and flare of September 5, 2001 (～ 1430 UT) as an example. The flare is interesting because the energy of its gamma radiation exceeded 1 MeV, while its power was only M6.0 in soft X rays. Such a combination of the event characteristics is not too frequent, which indicates that the spectrum of the studied event was rather hard. The type of the source of microwave radiation above NOAA 9601 has been determined. Some properties of this-type sources of a diagnostic value for detecting ARs capable of producing HXR and gamma radiation are indicated.     

Local maximum in the microwave spectrum of solar active regions as a factor in predicting powerful flares

We discuss the results of a study of microwave radiation from three flare-active regions??NOAA 10300, 10930, and 11158??with powerful eruptive events (X-class flares and coronal mass ejections) recorded on July 15, 2002; December 13, 2006; and February 15, 2011, when the regions were in the central part of the disk. There exists evidence of a ??-configuration in the structure of the photospheric magnetic field formed one or two days prior to the eruptive process as a result of the emergence of a new magnetic flux and shifting movements of the sunspots and accompanied by changes in the spectral characteristics of the microwave radiation of the active regions (ARs), which suggests the development of a peculiar radio source. The analysis of these regions continues a series of studies of eruptive events carried out at RATAN-600 in the 1980s?C1990s and gives a reason to conclude that early detections of peculiar sources in the microwave radiation of ARs, which are essentially areas of high energy release in the solar atmosphere, can be used as a factor in predicting powerful eruptive (geoeffective) processes on the Sun.     

The subsecond pulses during the August 10, 2011 flare by observations of RATAN-600 and the 4–8 GHz Siberian solar spectropolarimeter

We present the results of a study of the subsecond pulses (SSPs) registered in the microwaves during the C2.4 solar flare. The event occurred on August 10, 2011, in the 11236 active region near the western limb and reached a maximum at 0935 UT. Subsecond pulses were registered by RATAN-600 for the first time when this flare reached its maximum. The fact of detection of SSPs was confirmed by simultaneous observations carried out with a spectropolarimeter at the Radio Astrophysical Observatory, Institute of Solar-Terrestrial Physics. A former analysis of the emission nature of the main flare source revealed the presence of a high-temperature (T > 30 MK) source that determined both the microwave and X-ray emission parameters of this event. We have compared the temporal variations of the SSPs microwave emission with the variations of the plasma parameters (temperature and emission measure) taken from observations with the FERMI space telescope with a subsecond time resolution. The obtained results suggest that the nature of SSP generation, as well as of the flare itself, was determined by the high-temperature source.     

The Role of Quasi-Transverse Propagation in Observed Polarization of Flare Loop Microwave Radiation

The ordinary mode of gyrosynchrotron radiation was identified to be predominant in some segments of flare loops in solar flares of July 19, 2012, and October 22, 2014. These events were studied by investigation of the quasi-transverse propagation effect on the observed polarization. The analysis involved reconstruction of the magnetic field topology at the linear force-free approximation based on the data of the SDO HMI space telescope and the subsequent simulation of radio emission of flare loops with the GX Simulator software package. The quasi-transverse propagation effect was established to be characteristic for both events, but its influence on the radio emission polarization at a frequency of 17 GHz was observed only in the October 22, 2014 flare.     

Comparative analysis of the distributions of brightness temperatures in the solar polar region based on observational data obtained with RATAN-600 in the microwave range during the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006

The results of microwave observations of the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, with the RATAN-600 radiotelescope are presented. The observations were carried out using the northeastern sector of the radiotelescope in a broad wavelength range (1.03, 1.38, 2.70, 6.20, 13.00, and 30.70 cm) in the intensity channel. The aim of the present work is to conduct a comparative analysis of the distributions of brightness temperatures in the solar atmosphere at a distance (ranging from one to two solar radii) from the center of the optical solar disk. The data for the analysis come from the RATAN-600 observations of the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, earlier observations with the RATAN-600 radiotelescope, and calculations of brightness temperatures that were carried out using the Baumbach-Allen formula which describes the electron density in the solar corona. The differences between the distributions obtained by the above-mentioned methods are discussed.     

Anomalous polarization features of the cyclotron radiation source in the NOAA 7123 active region: The structure, dynamics, and reasons of occurrence

The research results of the unique NOAA 7123 active region (April 1992) are presented; its anomalous polarization features (long-term predominance of O-mode radiation above the central part of the main sunspot) were previously revealed by VLA observations with a resolution of (2–4)” at wavelengths of 3.6 and 6.4 cm (Vourlidas et al., 1997). Additional observations in a wider band of electromagnetic radiation, including, in particular, spectrum-polarization observations performed with the RATAN-600 and SSRT radio telescopes, are considered. The analysis of these data allowed for the conclusion that the anomaly was caused by the presence of a cold substance in the upper coronal layers, starting from the height where (6–7) cm radiation was generated. A possible transportation agent of this substance—Hα filament—one of the bases of which fell on the sunspot’s umbra-penumbra boundary, was found.     

Search for accelerated electron anisotropy signatures based on observed polarization of the flaring loop microwave emission

The distribution maps of the circular polarization degree and radio brightness have been analyzed for more than 40 flares based on the Nobeyama Radioheliograph data. It has been shown that the observed microwave emission is polarized in the ordinary mode in some flaring loop parts in six events. Based on a joint analysis of the photospheric magnetic field maps obtained from the HMI/SDO and MDI/SOHO magnetograph’s and the radio emission dynamics in different source parts, it has been concluded that the ordinary mode predominance in all six selected events can be connected with implementation of the longitudinal pitch-angle anisotropy of emitting electrons.     

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.     

Radio-heliographic diagnostics of the potential flare productivity of active regions

As deduced from the data with high spatial resolution obtained at the radio heliographs of the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope (SSRT, 5.7 GHz) and the Nobeyama radio heliograph (NoRH, 17 GHz), radio brightness centers in the distribution of the Stokes parameter I are shifted relative to the distribution of the parameter V 1–2 days before an intense flare. It has been shown that this phenomenon can be related to the behavior of quasi-stationary sources over the inversion line of the radial component of the magnetic field (neutral-line associated sources (NLSs)). These sources have a brightness temperature up to 106 K and a circular polarization up to 90%. The origination of NLSs is associated with the outflow of a new magnetic flux into the atmosphere of an active region that is a classical factor of the flare activity. Therefore, an NLS is a precursor of power solar flares and can be used as a forecast factor. Owing to the high resolution of the SSRT, the deviation of the observed polarization distribution of microwave radiation of the active region from the normal one within the solar disk zone containing the active region can be used as a precursor of the preflare state of the active region. As a result, the single-frequency Tanaka-Enome criterion is modified. The use of the data from two radio heliographs (SSRT and NoRH) allows us to propose a two-frequency criterion of normal longitudinal zones that is more efficient for short-term forecasting of solar flares. Preflare features associated with the displacement of brightness centers in I and V, which is manifested as the transformation of NLSs into spot sources, are fine attributes added to forecast according to the two-frequency criterion. This is illustrated by an example of active region 10930, which produced power proton flares on December 6 and 13, 2006.     

Analysis of the Physical Characteristics of the Polar Coronal Hole on the Sun in the Microwave Wavelength Range

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - The results of a study of a polar coronal hole based on data from observations of the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, with the RATAN-600 radio telescope in a wide...     

Spectral characteristics of large-scale radio emission areas in coronal holes

The spectra of the coronal hole radio emission in solar cycles 23 and 24 have been studied based on RATAN-600 data in the 4–16.5 GHz range at frequencies of 5.7 and 17 GHz and 327 MHz. It has been found that bright features of coronal hole microwave emission at 17 GHz and dark features at 5.7 GHz can exist in coronal holes when the spectral index is 1.25–1.5 in the 6.5–16.5 GHz range; the radio spectrum in this range is flat when coronal holes are indiscernible against the background of a quiet Sun. The possible vertical scale of the solar atmosphere over coronal holes is discussed.     

Manifestation of the Identity of Brightness Temperatures of the Polar Coronal Hole and Low-Latitude Coronal Holes in the Centimeter Wave Range

This paper is devoted to an analysis of brightness temperatures of the polar and low-latitude coronal holes on the Sun in the cm-wave range during periods of minimum solar activity. Data from observations of the polar coronal hole received by the RATAN-600 radio telescope during the solar eclipse of March 29, 2006, and low-latitude observations of coronal holes and quiet Sun received earlier with the RATAN-600 and BPR radio telescopes in the period of minimum solar activity have been used in the paper. The obtained good agreement between the brightness temperatures of cm-wave emission of the polar coronal hole above the North Pole of the Sun and of the low-latitude coronal holes against the background of the quiet Sun reveals the identity of the temperature properties of large coronal holes, irrespective of the mode of their arrangement and location on the Sun during the periods of minimum solar activity.     

CME和太阳耀斑现象

在本文里, 我们对ＣＭＥ 和太阳耀斑现象的各种相互关系进行了讨论希望本文的内容能够引起天文、空间物理和地球物理等人员的兴趣, 促进ＣＭＥ的综合研究     

Increased Microwave Radiation Brightness as a Sign of Flare-Producing Active Regions Based on Observations of NOAA Active Region 12371

Geomagnetism and Aeronomy - Methods to predict solar flares based on observations in the microwave range with radio telescopes with high angular resolution continue to be developed. The results are...     

耀斑的短期生物效应

为研究太阳耀斑的短期生物效应,统计分析了198-199年中16万婴儿出生日与光学耀斑的关系. 结果表明,婴儿出生数的变化与耀斑辐射的能量,以及能量到达地球的时间有关. 太阳活动较平稳年白天爆发的各级耀斑的当天都对应着一个平均出生数高峰,而且耀斑的亮度和面积越大,对应的出生峰值越大. 2B耀斑当天平均出生数超过前后21d总均值的13.6髎,具有p＜0.001的统计高度显著性水平. 这些出生高峰与耀斑的电磁和高能辐射有关. 2B、2N和1B三类耀斑后的第2-4d还有一个出生峰,它们与耀斑引发的地球物理变化的时间符合.     

Spatio-temporal Evolution of Sources of Microwave and Hard X-ray Pulsations of the Solar Flare using the NoRH,RHESSI, and AIA/SDO Observation Data

This paper reports the obtained analysis data on the spatio-temporal evolution of sources of microwave and hard X-ray pulsations for the SOL2011-06-07T06:16 event based on the observation data of the RHESSI spectrometer and the Nobeyama radioheliograph. The position of the considered pulsation sources changes from one pulsation to another. The motion of the X-ray sources is predominantly longitudinal in nature in relation to the inversion line of the magnetic polarity. The obtained analysis data on the evolution of X-ray sources are in good agreement with the results of the radio image analysis. The radio brightness center at 34 GHz changes its position from one pulsation to another along the inversion line of the magnetic polarity throughout the burst. According to the AIA/SDO telescope data, the flare region images in the ultraviolet range demonstrate a well-defined eruption of the magnetic flux rope. The flare energy release can likely be triggered by the erupting magnetic flux rope; the successive interaction of different parts of it with different loops of the surrounding magnetic arcade can result in their successive “ignition” and, as a consequence, lead to the observed changes in the position of X-ray and microwave sources from one pulsation to another.     

Structure and development of the spotless flare on March 16, 1981

The morphological peculiarities of the 1N (N09W22) two-ribbon spotless flare on March 16, 1981, as well as its connection with a magnetic field, have been considered. In contrast to major flares of the active region, this spotless flare is characterized by a large-scale development process, a large distance from the magnetic neutral line, and the absence of the spread of the ribbons. The development of the flare had four periods. At the beginning of each period, a sharp increase in the brightness of the flare was observed along with a simultaneous decrease in the area of the flare ribbons. The areas of the ribbons varied synchronously during all of the periods. However, the situation changed abruptly near the maximum: the area of one of the ribbons increased, whereas the area of the other ribbon decreased. In our opinion, this behavior is a manifestation of real physical processes in the flare source and was a precursor of the beginning of the flare decay. The magnetic field and its topology, as well as the cellular structure of the chromosphere, were primarily responsible for the evolution of the flare. Almost all of the mottles and bright parts of the flare were localized in the immediate vicinity of magnetic hills with field intensities from 80 to 250 G. The main structural elements of the flare have been identified. A phenomenon called the tunnel effect has been revealed: the flare progresses inside a tunnel formed by the system of dark arch structures (filaments). The results indicate that spotless flares apparently constitute a specific class of flare phenomena and the study of them is of great interest for understanding of the origin of solar flares.     

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.