Periodic oscillations found in coronal velocity fields

By making line profile analyses of the Fe xiv 5303 coronal line, temporal variations of three fundamental quantities, the line intensity, the FWHM, and the Doppler velocity, have been investigated for an active region. The power spectrum shows that the line-of-sight Doppler velocity fluctuated periodically at two locations with a period of nearly 300 seconds, while no periodic oscillations were found in line intensity. As to the FWHM, some evidence of periodic fluctuations are recognized but in a less distinct manner.The Sacramento Peak Observatory is operated by the Associated Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. by contact with the National Science Foundation.     

SMM/UVSP observations of the distribution of transition region oscillations and other properties in a sunspot

Observations of a sunspot in the Civ line at 1548 Å formed in the transition region have been analyzed to obtain the time variations and/or mean values of the velocity, intensity, longitudinal magnetic field, and line width. Oscillations with periods between approximately 110 and 200 s are observed only over the umbra where the transition region magnetic field is highest and the line width is smallest. When periodic intensity variations occur at the same frequency as the velocity oscillations, the peak intensities occur slightly before the maximum upward motions. No periodic variations in the transition region magnetic field have been detected. Scatter diagrams are presented which show possible relationships between the flow velocity, emission line intensity, line width, and transition region magnetic field.     

Solar EUV emission line profiles of Si ii and Si iii and their center to limb variations

Spectral line profiles of Si ii and Si iii are presented which were observed both at solar center and near the quiet solar limb with the Naval Research Laboratory EUV spectrograph of ATM/SKYLAB. Absolute intensities and line profiles are derived from the photographic data. A brief discussion is given of their center-to-limb variations and of the optical thickness of the chromosphere in these lines. Nonthermal broadening velocities are found for the optically thin lines from their full width at half maximum intensity (FWHM).Also at High Altitude Observatory for part of this work.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Periodic oscillations found in the velocity field of a quiescent prominence

With the purpose of detecting periodic oscillations or waves in a quiescent prominence, temporal variations of a Ca ii K line profile have been studied. The most conspicuous phenomenon found here is the fact that the edge of the prominence showed, over some 20000 km along the spectrograph-slit, periodic velocity fluctuations of nearly the same phase with periods of 210–240 s and with an amplitude of up to ± 2 kms ^–1. At other portions, several different periods of peaks (160–400 s) can also be seen in the power spectra, but less distinctly. As to the intensity and the line width, however, no periodic variations have been detected.     

Radial velocity and profile variations of the ultraviolet circumstellar lines in ζ tauri

The radial velocity and profile variations of UV lines of the shell star Tau have been examined in the IUE spectra obtained in 1978–1982. The neutral atoms, and once or twice-ionized ions (exceptCii, Aliii, Siiii resonance lines) follow the same velocity variations as in the visual spectra, while the Siiv andCiv resonance lines show a constant negative velocity (–50 km s^–1 at the core). The Aliii,Cii resonance lines and probably Feiii (mult. No. 34) are formed in both regions, i.e., in lowly-ionized and highly-ionized regions and the Siiii resonance line is formed in a highly-ionized region.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

Line profile variations in Be stars

Be stars show both emission and absorption profiles in the optical part of the spectrum, and these are found to vary with the time. Some of the shifts in profiles were earlier interpreted as Doppler shifts. However, some of the shifts of features in both emission and absorption line profiles may be artifacts due to superposition of an emission profile arising from an Hii region around a binary compact object, and a profile due to the Be star. This interpretation of shifts in line profiles has the advantage over the conventional Doppler-shift interpretation in so far as it does not need the oscillation of a large mass of circumstellar gas, and leads to the observed correlation between radial velocity (RV) variations and V/R variations.     

Solar Heii(304 Å) and Si xi(303 Å) line profiles

Additional observations of He ii (304 Å) and Si xi (303 Å) were obtained from a high resolution rocket spectrograph flown on 30 August, 1973 and 20 January, 1975. The profile of the He ii (304 Å) line is everywhere clearly non-gaussian across the solar disk, except in bright active areas. Near the limb, the profile is distinctly reversed. The profile of the Si xi (303 Å) line is essentially gaussian for all regions across the solar disk. Measurements of the He ii/Si xi intensity ratio indicate that the average value of this ratio across the disk depends markedly on solar activity, being about 101 for a moderate level of activity and 301 for a quiet Sun.     

The symbiotic stellar lines at 6830 Å, 7088 Å; An origin in optically thick fluorescence

The question of the origin of the symbiotic stellar lines at 6830 Å and 7088 Å, recently proposed to arise from Raman scattering of ultraviolet Ovi lines by hydrogen, is examined quantitatively by comparing line intensities expected from this process with the intensity of an Feii line photoexcited by one of the same Ovi lines. It appears that Raman scattering does not yield sufficient intensity to account for the symbiotic lines. An alternative mechanism for producing the lines exists, however, in off-line-center photoexcitation of optically thick hydrogen by the Ovi lines. This gives intensities which are higher than Raman intensities, and which are more consistent with the Feii fluorescent line intensity. Observed further redward shifts are also explained by the mechanism. It is therefore suggested that the proposed hypothesis of Ovi–Hi interaction may be valid, but that the process involved is probably not second-order Raman scattering but first-order fluorescent scattering.     

The umbral flash as a magneto-acoustic wave phenomenon

The suggestion that an umbra flash may be caused by a magneto-acoustic wave phenomenon is examined. It is suggested that the flash in Ca ii lines is formed during the compressional stage in a magneto-acoustic wave. The compression which is assumed to be adiabatic will produce a rise in temperature and a corresponding increase in number of Ca ii atoms. The variations in line emission (absorption) coefficient of the Ca ii K-line are calculated on this assumption and are found to be in general agreement with the observed variations. Other observed quantities as proper motion, magnitude of line shift etc., also agree with the wave hypothesis. Further observations which may serve as tests on the wave hypothesis are suggested.     

A comparison between Mgii and Caii spectroheliograms

A detailed photometric comparison between a Mgii K filterheliogram and a nearly simultaneous Caii K spectroheliogram is presented. The comparison shows a close correspondence in both location and intensity of the bright features on the Sun with a correlation coefficient of 0.92 ± 0.02 between the Mgii and the Caii intensities in active regions.A small flare is most likely observed in the Mgii heliogram giving a substantial contribution to the recorded intensity.We also estimate theoretically the heights in the solar atmosphere at which the Mgii K and Caii K lines are formed. Taking into account the general shape of the line profiles and the different passbands used in the recordings we arrive at an average height of formation of 1700–1900 km above the photosphere for these particular heliograms.     

The helium 10830 Å line in the undisturbed chromosphere

A study of the solar spectrum near helium 10 830 Å has shown that, where the line is very weak, the anomalous ratio of the two components is due almost certainly to faint blends. The centre-limb intensity variation over supergranule centres is in good agreement with an optically-thin law. The line is stronger over supergranule boundaries, and the ratio of the two components can be understood only if the absorbing elements have been resolved incompletely (as is probable); using centre-limb intensity variations, we have been unable to distinguish between unresolved horizontal platelets or inclined slabs.The integrated absorption in 10 830 Å over supergranule centres is double that at the boundaries. An analysis of the extension of 10 830 Å beyond the limb has failed to reveal the relative contributions from these two regions or their variations with height (though the supergranule-centre emission should be located relatively low). Line profiles in 10 830 Å, hydrogen Pa and Caii 8542 Å indicate that, out to at least 5000 km, line broadening is effectively non-thermal, with horizontal rms velocities of about 20 km s^–1.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

An emission measure analysis of two sunspots observed by the UVSP instrument on the SMM spacecraft

The EUV observations from the SMM satellite of two sunspots are presented here. These observations show the sunspots (a) to be regions of lower intensity than the surrounding plage, contrary to that found by previous authors, and (b) to have line intensities which vary little over a period of several hours. An upper limit to mass flows of 2km s^-1 is derived, indicating a relatively simple energy balance for the chromosphere-corona transition zone with thermal conduction being balanced by radiative losses. Electron densities derived from Niv to Civ line ratios imply electron pressures (log N _eT_e) of 15.0 to 15.3.     

Structure and oscillations in quiescent filaments from observations in He i λ10830 å

Observations of two quiescent filaments show oscillatory variations in Doppler shift and central intensity of the He i 10830 Å line.The oscillatory periods range from about 5 to 15 min, with dominant periods of 5, 9, and 16 min. The 5-min period is also detected in the intensity variations, after correction for atmospheric effects. Doppler shifts precede intensity variations by about one period. The possibility that the oscillations are Alfvén waves is discussed.The Doppler signals of the filament form fibril-like structures. The fibrils are all inclined at an angle of about 25° to the long axis of the filament. The magnetic field has a similar orientation relative to the major direction of the filament, and the measured Doppler signals are apparently produced by motions along magnetic flux tubes threading the filament.The measured lifetimes of the small-scale fibrils of quiescent disk filaments are very likely a combined effect of intensity modulations and reshuffling of the structures.     

Absorption effects in sixHii regions

We have measured the profile of the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen in the direction of sixHii regions (RCW 38, RCW 49, RCW 57 (b), RCW 74, W22, and W37). By comparison with line profiles outside the nebulae we have deduced the absorption profiles corresponding to eachHii region. We compare our results with those of other authors in the 21-cm line, in the line of OH, and in the recombination lines of hydrogen.     

Density dependence of solar emission lines of boron-like ions

Steady state level density of 20 levels of boron-like ions, Mg viii and Si x, have been computed as a function of electron density and temperature. We have accounted for collisional and spontaneous radiative processes. Photo-excitation between the two levels of the ground term has also been considered. Using the computed level density, line intensities have been obtained as a function of electron density and temperature. In case of Mg viii, line intensity ratio I(430.47)/I(436.62) is found to be electron density sensitive. Likewise other pairs of lines namely, I(75.03)/I(74.86), I(315.02)/I(430.47), and I(315.02)/I(335.23) are also found to be density sensitive. Similar density sensitive line intensity ratios have been found for Si x. Absolute line fluxes from these ions at earth distance have been computed and are found to be comparable with values obtained, using various satellite and rocket measurements.Paper presented at the 5th Astronomical Society of India Meeting, held at Uttar Pradesh State Observatory, Naini Tal, India, 5–9 November, 1979.     

Nonstationarity of the atmosphere of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis> Cyg: II. Variability of the ion and H<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis> line profiles

We report an efficient method for analyzing the radial-velocity and line-profile variability. We show that a detailed analysis of the variations of line profiles and velocity field in the stellar atmosphere requires the radial velocities to be measured separately for the blue and red halves of the absorption lines at different levels of their residual intensity. We applied this method to 120 CCD spectra taken in 1998–99 with the coude echelle spectrograph attached to the 2-m telescope of Shemakha Astronomical Observatory of National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan and analyzed the variations of the radial velocities and profiles of ion and Hβ lines in the spectrum of α Cyg. In the case of ion lines both halves of the absorption profile exhibit synchronous radial-velocity variations at all levels of line intensity. In the case of the Hβ line, which forms in the layers where stellar wind originates, the pattern of radial-velocity variations differs for the blue and red halves of the absorption profile. The variability pattern is the same at all levels in the red half of the profile, the blue half of the profile exhibits different variability patterns at different levels of residual line intensity. Identification and analysis of such variations allows us to study the nature of stellar-wind variability in the region of wind formation.The spectrum of α Cyg showed no line-profile or radial-velocity variations for six days in both halves of the absorption contour at all levels of line intensity. The star was in the quiescent phase.     

Neutral hydrogen observations onHii regions

Nine of the cataloguedHii regions in the southern hemisphere have been selected for correlation with neutral hydrogen observed at the 21 cm line.The radiotelescope used for theHi line observations was the 30 m Carnegie telescope of the Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomía and the 56 channel, 10 KHz bandwidth receiver.The observational results are analyzed for eachHii region. They are compared with previous optical and radio results.For three of the nine observed regions it has been possible to find neutral hydrogen in absorption with similar velocities. In three cases absorption has been found but no component at theHii region velocity is seen. Finally in three cases, it has not been possible to find any absorption at all.Member of the Carrera del Investigador Científico del Cosejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas.     

Intensity Oscillation in the Corona as Observed during the Total Solar Eclipse of 29 March 2006

We obtained the images of the eastern part of the solar corona in the Fe xiv 530.3 nm (green) and Fe x 637.4 nm (red) coronal emission lines during the total solar eclipse of 29 March 2006 at Manavgat, Antalya, Turkey. The images were obtained using a 35 cm Meade telescope equipped with a Peltier-cooled 2k × 2k CCD and 0.3 nm pass-band interference filters at the rates of 2.95 s (exposure times of 100 ms) and 2.0 s (exposure times of 300 ms) in the Fe xiv and Fe x emission lines, respectively. The analysis of the data indicates intensity variations at some locations with period of strongest power around 27 s for the green line and 20 s for the red line. These results confirm earlier findings of variations in the continuum intensity with periods in the range of 5 to 56 s by Singh et al. (Solar Phys. 170, 235, 1997). The wavelet analysis has been used to identify significant intensity oscillations at all pixels within our field of view. Significant oscillations with high probability estimates were detected for some locations only. These locations seem to follow the boundary of an active region and in the neighborhood, rather than within the loops themselves. These intensity oscillations may be caused by fast magneto-sonic waves in the solar corona and partly account for heating of the plasma in the corona.     

Lα, Lβ (of Hi), k and h (of Mgii), K and H (of Ca ii) observations in a quiescent prominence with the OSO-8 LPSP instrument

A sequence of images taken at different positions in the resonance lines of Ca ii, Mg ii, and H i was obtained over a quiescent prominence with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8. Ca ii K (and H) profiles are reconstructed at different locations in the prominence with a (10 × 5) arc sec² resolution. Significant variations of FWHM and line shifts are found: FWHM range from 0.14 Å to 0.5 Å; blue shifts reach about 14 km s^-1. The ratio of K to H absolute intensities shows a large spread around the average value of 1.2. The same ratio for the Mg ii lines in the whole prominence is higher (1.7), a fact already noticed at the edge of an active prominence (Vial et al., 1979). The ionization degree, as measured by the L/Ca K ratio, shows noticeable variations within the prominence. The L intensity is about 0.3 times the intensity measured in the quiet Sun, and the L/L ratio is less than one half the disk value. These results indicate important variations of the thermal conditions inside the prominence.DASOP, Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France.     

Ni I 6768 Å line profile variations during a solar flare and their effect on the SOHO/MDI magnetic field measurements

Observational data on the Ni I 6768 Å line profile variations during the impulsive and post-impulsive phases of the July 18, 2002 while light flare (WLF) in the kernel of WLF emission and in other flare kernels are presented. The line profiles at the sites of intense photospheric motions in active regions are also studied. The effect of the observed Ni I 6768 Å line profile variations on the SOHO/MDI magnetic field measurements is estimated. The following conclusions have been reached. (1) The thermodynamic structure of the photo-spheric layers changes significantly during the flare. As a result, the Ni I line profile changes, particularly at the site of WLF emission. At this time, the line depth decreases significantly, but the line does not show any emission reversal. Subsequently, a relatively slow return to the conditions of an undisturbed photosphere is observed. (2) The technique of SOHO/MDI magnetic field measurements is insensitive to such line variations. Therefore, the detected variations during the flare did not result in any noticeable errors in the MDI longitudinal magnetic field measurements. (3) The line profile is broadened, shifted as a whole, and asymmetric at the sites of active regions where intense photospheric motions appear. In the MDI measurements, such changes in the profile lead to an underestimation of the magnetic field by approximately 10% if the line-of-sight velocity of the photo-spheric ejection is about 1.6 km s^?1.