Gamma-ray observations from Hinotori

Some interesting results on gamma-ray line emission and its time profiles observed by Hinotori are presented. Possible explanations of gamma-ray line and hard X-ray emissions for the impulsive and gradual flares are discussed. Relationship between the gamma-ray line emission and acceleration and escape of the solar particles is also studied.     

Interpretation of the soft X-ray spectra from Hinotori

We present analyses of the soft X-ray iron line spectra of flares obtained from the Bragg Spectrometer on Hinotori. We first present a case of strong K emission at the impulsive phase of the hard X-ray burst, and assess net K emission due to the electron impact by eliminating the fluorescence contribution. Second we discuss on the differences in the electron temperatures and emission measures derived respectively from FeXXVI and FeXXV spectra. A pilot two-temperatures model which can explain the two spectra is presented. Finally, we compare the temporal relations between the soft X-ray and hard X-ray intensities and show two extreme classes of flares, one characterized by the efficient formation of a hot thermal plasma above 30 million degree, and the other characterized by the spiky hard X-ray component. Energetical relation of the thermal plasma to the electron beam is discussed for the two classes.     

Gamma-ray bursts observed from the Hinotori satellite

During February, 1981 and June, 1982 the gamma-ray and the hard X-ray spectrometers on the Hinotori satellite observed four gamma-ray bursts on 28 February, 21 July, 1981, 26 February and 13 March, 1982. These gamma-ray bursts were simultaneously observed by other satellites. The time histories and energy spectra are shown for these gamma-ray bursts, and the burst sizes (erg cm^–2) are estimated. Two possible source locations for the burst of 21 July, 1981 are roughly determined from arrival time delays between two pairs of satellites, PVO-Hinotori and ISEE-3-Hinotori. The weak gamma-ray line peak structure around 1.8 MeV was observed for the burst of 13 March, 1982. The line could be interpreted in terms of gravitationally redshifted neutron capture line at 2.22 MeV.     

Polarization measurements using the Bragg crystal spectrometers on Hinotori

The two Bragg crystal spectrometers on board Hinotori provide a new technique for measuring linear polarization of the soft X-ray line emission from solar flares. The results of the measurements of large (X class) flares are given in this paper, and the polarization degree averaged over the soft X-ray maximum phases is estimated to be less than 4%.     

Hard X-ray dynamic spectrum of flares observed by Hinotori

Time variations of the hard X-ray spectrum in solar flares are observed by the hard X-ray spectrometer (HXM) aboard the Hinotori satellite. With a new presentation of the dynamic spectrum we have studied the differences between impulsive and gradual hard X-ray bursts. In the impulsive events a “bent” spectrum up to some hundred keV persists at least until the main peak. In the gradual events, on the other hand, a power-law spectrum augmented by a low-energy excess is dominant.     

A flare model deduced from Hinotori and millimeterwave interferometer observations

The -ray and white-light flare of 13 May, 1981 is used for a study of spatial distributions of energetic electrons and high-temperature plasma.     

Computed magnetic field structure of the flares observed by Hinotori hard X-ray telescope

Potential field computations have been carried out to study the location of hard X-ray sources observed by the HINOTORI hard X-ray imaging instrument, SXT. Of the two flares studied, the X-ray source of the 1981 May 13 event, a very unusual gradual flare, appears to lie at the top of an arcade of field lines. In the other event, the 1981 October 15 flare, the observed double source structure is not explained in the present computation, implying the existence of non-negligible electric currents in the flare region.     

Observation of the flare of 12 June 1982 by Norikura coronagraph and Hinotori

Flare activity was observed near the limb with two coronagraphs at the Norikura Solar Observatory and the Soft X-ray Crystal Spectrometer (SOX) aboard HINOTORI. A prominence activation occurred and then Hα brightenings were seen on the disk near the prominence. The prominence became very bright and its electron density increased to 10^12.8 cm^?3 in 1/2 hour. Loop prominence systems appeared above the Hα brightenings about half an hour after the onset of the flare, and were observed in the coronal lines CaXV 5694Å, FeXIV 5303Å, and FeX 6374Å. Shifted and asymmetric profiles of the emission line of 5303Å were sometimes observed, and turbulent phenomena occurred even in the thermal phase. The energy release site of the flare at the onset would be lower than 20 000 km above the solar limb.     

General aspects of hard X-ray flares observed by Hinotori: Gradual burst and impulsive burst

We survey here the observational results on five gradual and four impulsive type events from the hard X-ray imaging (SXT) and spectrometer (HXM) instruments on the Hinotori satellite. A set of differences are clearly recognized between the gradual and impulsive type bursts. These are: (1) Hard X-ray images show the existence of a large coronal source for each gradual burst and a wide variety of source structures for impulsive bursts. (2) The source heights of the impulsive bursts appear to be low. (3) All gradual bursts show power-law spectra while impulsive bursts show exponential thermal spectra at least before the maximum phase. (4) Energy-dependent peak delays are observed only in gradual bursts. From these differences we suggest that two different acceleration and emission mechanisms are involved with these two kinds of hard X-ray bursts.     

南极洲高原介绍

南极洲高原的天文开发在过去的10年中有了显著的进展．大的天文设施已在南极(South Pole)的Amundsen-Scott站运行,更具威力的望远镜已在计划或正在那儿建设,然而由于一些重要的原因,高原站址冰穹A(Dome A)和冰穹C(Dome C)对多种天文学科似乎比南极更具有利条件．2005年1月中国对冰穹A的成功考察,加上2005年以整年运行为目的的法/意Concordia站在冰穹C的开启,已为南极洲天文学创造了激动人心的新机遇．     

Introduction to plasma astrophysics and cosmology

The year 1996 marks the Centennial Celebration of the founding of Plasma Astrophysics and Cosmology; its origins may be traced to the seminal research first published by Kristian Birkeland in 1896. This special workshop issue reports on advances in issues of importance to the plasma universe; topics as timely as when first raised a century ago.     

Time variations of hard X-ray bursts observed with the Solar X-ray Telescope aboard Hinotori (with a movie)

We have developed a new method for synthesizing hard X-ray maps from the raw data of the Solar X-ray Telescope (SXT) aboard Hinotori. Using this method we analyzed five typical SXT events and summarized their images in a movie with a time resolution of about 8 s (half spin period of the satellite). The movie clearly shows that (1) three different classes of bursts, i.e., the gradual thermal burst, the multiple impulsive burst, and the extended outburst, have different structures and show quite different variations from each other, and that (2) the source of the extended outburst is located in the corona above 10⁴ km and its shape appears to be a large loop.     

Introduction to the solar space telescope

The design of the space solar telescope (SST) (phase B) has been completed. The manufacturing is under development. At the end of 2000, it will be assembled. The basic aspect will be introduced in this paper.     

Introduction to the restricted Jupiter orbiter problem

We consider a restricted six-body problem, consisting of Jupiter, the four Galilean satellites, and an orbiter. The Galilean satellites' orbits are circular and coplanar; Io, Europa, and Ganymede are in exact resonance; their mean longitudes obey the Laplace relation. We seek periodic orbits which avoid close approaches to any satellite; such orbits are of interest for mission planning. They are approximated as equilibrium points of sets of variational equations associated with time-averaged disturbing functions. Stability of the solutions is also determined. The orbits of greatest interest are:Planar: twice Callisto's period, eccentricity0.6Planar: four times Callisto's period, eccentricity0.75Slightly inclined: twice Callisto's period, eccentricity arbitraryPlanar: 4/5 or 5/4 Europa's period.     

An Introduction to Observations Relevant to Astrophysical Jets and Nebulae

This article reviews the basic physics and jargon associated with astronomical observations of nebulae, with an emphasis on processes relevant to shock waves in astrophysical jets.