On intensity ratios of helium and hydrogen lines in quiescent prominences

Observations of the lines He i 3888 and H8 in 80 quiescent prominences by the author, and in other prominences by Kubota et al. (1972) and Morozhenko (1971), have been used to derive the dependences of I(3888)/I(H8) on I(H8), N ₂ ³ _s on ₀ (H), and N ⁺ n _e on ₀(H) (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4). The equations of ionization equilibrium and triplet system steady state for a helium atom (27 levels and continuum were considered) were solved together with the radiation transfer equation in the helium Lyman continuum. As given n _e () distribution with depth and T _e =7500 K were assumed. The 2³ S level population N₂ ³ s, helium emission measure N ⁺ n _e and the intensity ratios of the He i 3888 and H8 lines were calculated and compared with observation (Figures 2, 3 and 4, solid lines). The figures show that in bright prominences the observed values of N ₂ ³ s and N ⁺ n _e are systematically higher than the calculated ones. These deviations cannot be eliminated by decreasing n _e . One can make the calculations and observations agree for bright prominences by increasing the UV radiation which penetrates into the prominence.     

Polarization of the sodium D lines in prominences

The expected polarization of the sodium D lines from solar prominences is computed as a function of the local magnetic field vector. To this aim, the formulation of the Hanle effect in terms of the statistical tensors developed by Landi Degl'Innocenti (1982) is employed, with minor changes connected to hyperfine structure. The sodium atoms are described in the incomplete Paschen-Back regime so that the validity of the results is not limited to weak magnetic fields. The polarization diagrams obtained are discussed and compared with the corresponding diagrams for the helium D₃ line.     

The Ca ii emission lines in quiescent prominences

Observations of the Ca ii H, K, and infrared triplet lines are compared with theoretical predictions from the slab models of Heasley and Milkey (1976). While the theoretical models describe the hydrogen and helium emission spectra of quiescent prominences satisfactorily the predicted Ca ii lines are systematically too bright. The most likely reason for the discrepancy is the inapplicability of the symmetric slab prominence model for lines which become even moderately optically thick in prominences.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.Visiting scientist at Kitt Peak National Observatory.     

On the intensity of helium and hydrogen lines in quiescent prominences with filamentary structure

Diffuse penetration of ionizing radiation into prominences with filamentary structure is considered. The equations of radiative transfer, ionization balance and steady state of the triplet system of the helium atom (with 27 levels and continuum) are solved for a chosen model of prominence. The calculated intensity ratios of helium and hydrogen lines for prominences of various brightness are compared with observations. Parameters of filamentary structure of prominences which are in a good agreement with observations are given.     

Two-dimensional photometric analysis of emission lines in quiescent prominences

Emission lines from quiescent prominences were observed simultaneously through narrow-band interference filters, thus integrating the total line intensities without the use of a spectrograph. Simultaneous exposures (50 ms) on three electronically connected CCD cameras at the 70 cm VTT on Tenerife assured almost identical influence of the Earth's atmosphere and a spatial resolution of 1 arc sec. The resulting spatially high-resolution two-dimensional images in H, H, and Ca⁺8542, calibrated in units of the disk-center intensities, allow a two-dimensional mapping of emission ratios yielding relevant physical parameters. The emission relation between H and H, which depends on the total optical thickness, confirms earlier photometric results from spectra, however, with a large sample of data points from six prominences. It demonstrates the saturation effects towards brighter prominences or prominence locations. The relation between Ca⁺8542 and H, which depends on the gas pressure, is found to vary between different prominences but is nearly constant within one prominence. Its mean spatial variation of 30% within one prominence may be interpreted in terms of a magnetic field with variations of 5%. The brightness distribution in most prominences is not smooth but indicates preferred values, which are interpreted as superpositions of several fine structures.     

On the Balmer: Paschen ratio in prominences

Vidicon data for the intensities of Balmer and Paschen lines for n = 11 to 18 indicate a line ratio within 1σ of the theoretical value of 3.27, calculated with the assumptions of an optically thin atmosphere and angular momentum substates populated according to their statistical weights. The observed value is not consistent with the value of 8 reported in some early work, or with the model that higher angular momentum states have low populations.     

A method of analysing the emission lines of solar prominences

A new method of analysing the emission spectrum of solar prominences is presented, in which the source function is allowed to vary with optical depth. Least-squares fitting of the observed profile determines simultaneously the optical depth τ₀, the Doppler width Δλ_D and the factor characterising the variation of the source function. This method is applied to the early Balmer lines in ten prominences of Ref. [1]. The results show that the source function of the self-reversed H line increases towards the centre of the prominence, the value at the centre is 1.2–2.5 times the value at the edge. Neglect of this variation will give too large values of τ₀. The degree of attenuation by selfabsorption also depends on this variation. Discussion of the variation gives support to the view that the main exciting mechanism in solar prominences is the scattering of the incident radiation.     

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).     

On the branching in the emission relations of Ca+ in prominences

Spatially well resolved prominence spectra of the three lines Ca⁺ K, H, and Ca⁺ 8542 are analysed. It is confirmed that the branching in the emission relations of Ca⁺ versus H correlates with the magnitude of non-thermal (turbulent) broadening.     

On peculiarities of the H and K Ca ii lines of quiescent prominences

A study of the metallic lines in bright quiescent prominences indicates that the optical thickness in the K line of Ca ii may reach values as high as 10³. This is about 10 times larger than the optical thickness in the H line and may explain some peculiarities of the H and K lines in solar prominences.     

Emitting region of sodium lines in solar prominences

We have calculated the emission spectra of hydrogen and sodium atoms in the cool part of prominence models which satisfy simultaneously the constraints of radiative transfer, statistical equilibrium and charge-particle conservations.In the considered range of our model parameters, emission strengths of H and Nai D lines increase with the temperature and the total number density. Low-pressure models raise the ionization rate highly but yield very weak Nai D line intensities, since these model prominences contain small amounts of free electrons and sodium atoms which have a deep relation with the formation of sodium lines. We find that sodium D lines should be emitted in the high pressure region of prominences, and that their intensities are difficult to attain in the cool core of any model prominence with a temperature as low as 4000 K. In order to explain consistently the spectral emissions of H and Nai D lines observed in quiescent prominences, a total number density higher than 4 x 10¹¹ cm^-3 and a temperature over 5000 K are required at least in the cool part of prominences.Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 282.     

On green-to-red line intensity ratio in the solar corona

An improved formula for the green-to-red line intensity ratio in the solar corona is proposed. The results are compared with those given by the previous expression.     

The stability of 2D current sheet models of prominences

A necessary and sufficient condition for the ideal magnetohydrodynamic stability of 2D current sheet models of prominences suspended in a potential coronal field with line-tying is developed using the energy method. This condition takes the form of two simple coupled second-order differential equations which may be integrated along a field line to find marginal stability. The two conditions (85) and (86) of Anzer (1969) are now only sufficient for stability. Two current sheet models are investigated and it is shown that for a potential coronal field allowing perturbed electric currents to flow, line-tying can completely stabilize the equilibria for realistic heights.     

On the problem of the flare-like emission in sodium lines

Unusual and intense emission in the D ₁, D ₂ lines has been registered photoelectrically in an undisturbed region near the center of the solar disk on 28 July, 1966. Various aspects of the possibility that the emission might originate in either artificial or natural comets by processes of resonance scattering or flu orescence have been analyzed. It is shown that the observed emission can only be located on the solar surface. Some aspects of the problem are discussed briefly.     

On the nature of unidentified cometary emission lines

The nature of unidentified cometary emission lines is discussed. A model of ice particles in cometary halos as a mixture of frozen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and acyclic hydrocarbons is considered. The properties of frozen hydrocarbon particles are described and 5–7% of the unidentified cometary emission lines are considered as the photoluminescence of frozen hydrocarbons. The positions of unidentified emission lines in the spectrum of Comet 19P/Borrelly are compared with the positions of quasi-lines in the photoluminescence spectra of PAHs that were dissolved in acyclic hydrocarbons at a temperature of 77 K and that constitute a polycrystalline solution.     

Observations of helium and hydrogen emission in quiescent prominences

Observations of a number of helium triplet ( 10830, 4713, 4471, 3889, 4026) and hydrogen (H, , , ) emission line intensities in six quiescent prominences are presented. The regions of prominence and neighboring corona were raster-scanned by the telescope, and all lines were measured concurrently at each point. The instrumental field of view was 5 × 20. The results are compared with previous observations and theory. In particular, the intensity of the 10830 emission relative to the other triplets is found to differ strongly from the predictions of the recent detailed calculations of Heasley et al. (1974) for model quiescent prominences.     

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.     

On the polarization of the solar coronal emission lines

The results of the spectrophotometrical measurements of the polarization in the coronal lines Fe xiv 5303 Å and Fe × 6374 Å are given. Polarization spectrograms were obtained by two spectrographs (prism and echelle types) during the solar eclipse in Mexico on 7 March, 1970 near the region of the second contact at the heights 0.06 to 0.12 R above the limb. The polarization in the green line is about 30% (for averaged height 1.08 R ). The polarization in the red line is close to the errors of the measurement and does not exceed 6%. A brief discussion of the results is also given.     

On the effect of emission lines on UBVR photometry

We investigate the effect on the U, B, V, R_C and R_J magnitudes of the removal of emission lines from a spectrum. We determined Δm corrections from the ratio of fluxes with and without emission lines, transmitted from the object through a photometric filter. An exact and simplified approach for operative use was applied. The effect was demonstrated for classical symbiotic stars, symbiotic novae and the classical nova V1974 Cyg. It was found that about 20–30%, 30–40%, 10% and 26/20% of the observed flux in the U, B, V and R_C/R_J filters, respectively, are radiated in the emission lines of the investigated classical symbiotic stars. The largest effect was found for symbiotic novae (RR Tel and V1016 Cyg) and the classical nova V1974 Cyg at 210 days (an average of 74%, 79%, 56% and 66/60%), because of their very strong emission line spectrum. In all cases, the line corrected flux points fit the theoretical continuum well. The difference between Δm corrections obtained by the accurate calculation and that given by our approximate formula is less than 10%. Deviations up to 30% can exist only in the U passband. Examples for practical applications are suggested.     

The infrared emission lines of H2

The photodissociation regions located between ionized regions and molecular clouds are studied by using a one-dimensional model where molecular H₂ are formed on the dust grains, and destructed by photodissociation. The escape probability method is used for the line transfer. The excitation of infrared emission lines of H₂ by UV fluorescence in M17, by shock heating in Orion KL and mainly by UV fluorescence in NGC 2023 are discussed.