Characteristics of Flares with Hα Emission Protruding over Major Sunspot Umbrae

A sample of 47 importance 1 flares whose H emission occurred or protruded over umbrae of major sunspots (so called Z-flares) was studied to investigate characteristics of the associated dm–m radio, microwave and soft X-ray emission as the energy release site permeats into regions of strong magnetic fields. A close time association was found between the microwave burst peak and the `contact' of the H emission with the sunspot umbra. The H emission attained maximum close to or a few minutes after the contact. The soft X-ray bursts were delayed more, attaining maximum 0–10 min after the contact. The onset of bursts in the dm–m wavelength range was associated with the period of growth or the peak of the microwave burst. Two categories of type III and IV bursts could be recognized: the ones starting some ten minutes before the microwave peak, and those that begin close to the microwave burst peak. Type III bursts occur preferably when the microwave burst peaks simultaneously with or after the contact. The results are explained presuming that the contact reveals a permeation of the energy release process into a region of strong magnetic fields, where the process intensifies, and where the accelerated particles have access to magnetic field lines extending to large coronal heights. Different manifestations of the energy release process in various magnetic field topologies are considered to account for the various time sequences observed.     

A search for ultra-high energy counterparts to gamma-ray bursts

A small air shower array operating over many years has been used to search for ultra-high energy (UHE) gamma radiation ( 50 TeV) associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the BATSE instrument on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (CGRO). Upper limits for a one minute interval after each burst are presented for seven GRBs located with zenith angles < 20°. A 4.3 excess over background was observed between 10 and 20 minutes following the onset of a GRB on 11 May 1991. The confidence level that this is due to a real effect and not a background fluctuation is 99.8%. If this effect is real then cosmological models are excluded for this burst because of absorption of UHE gamma rays by the intergalactic radiation fields.     

Cosmic gamma-ray burst spectroscopy

A review is given of the gamma-ray burst energy spectrum measurements on Venera 11 and Venera 12 space probes. The gamma burst continuum approximates in shape thermal brems-strahlung emission of a hot plasma. The radiation temperature varies over a broad range, 50–1000 keV, for different events. Spectra of many bursts contain cyclotron absorption and/or redshifted annihilation lines. Strong variability is typically observed in both continuum and line spectra. These spectral data provide convincing evidence for the gamma-ray bursts being generated by neutron stars with superstrong magnetic fields 10¹²–10¹³ G.     

A comparison of type III metric radio bursts and global solar potential field models

We compare evidence of coronal magnetic fields from polarized metric type III radio bursts with (a) global potential field models, (b) direct averages of the observed photospheric magnetic field, and (c) H synoptic charts. The comparison clearly indicates both that the principal aspects of type III burst radiation are understood and that global potential field models are a significantly more accurate representation of coronal magnetic field structure than either the large-scale photospheric field or H synoptic charts.     

Two ‘negative bursts’ with moving filaments, 19 May 1969

The event of 1969 May 19, 1430 UT included a flare, radio burst, and an active dark flocculus (ADF) or moving filament described by Vorpahl (1973) and a microwave negative burst superposed on a gradual rise and fall, described by Covington (1973). He found the interpretation of a second decrease at 2010 UT to be ambiguous in the absence of complete information. The second decrease is found here to be part of a series of events that parallels that of the earlier negative burst. Each decrease is superposed on a long-enduring burst that begins simultaneously with the eruption of a prominence near the equator at east limb and each is preceded by an ADF seen in H in a nearby active region. The similarity of these sequences strengthens the interpretation of the second event as a negative burst. The prominence eruptions, while not directly related to the negative bursts, add to a number of other signs of rapid changes in the large-scale structure of magnetic fields in the complex of active regions where the events took place.     

Robotic telescopes and networks: New tools for education and science

Nowadays many telescopes around the world are automated and some networks of robotic telescopes are active or planned. Such equipment could be used for thetraining of students and for science in the Universities of DCs and of newastronomical countries, by sending them observational data via Internetor through remotely controlled telescope. It seems that it is thetime to open up for discussion with UN and ESA organizations and also withIAU, how to implement links between robotic telescopes and suchUniversities applying for collaborations. Many scientific fields couldthus be accessible to them, for example on stellar variability, near-earthobject follow-up, -ray burst counterpart tracking, and so on.     

Particle acceleration in solar flares

Particle acceleration during solar flares is a complex process where the main actors (Direct (D.C.) or turbulent electric fields) are hidden from us. It is easy to construct a successful particle accelertion model if we are allowed to impose on the flaring region arbitrary conditions (e.g., strength and scale length of the D.C. or turbulent electric fields), but then we have not solved the acceleration problem; we have simply re-defined it. We outline in this review three recent observations which indicate that the following physical processes may happen during solar flares: (1) Release of energy in a large number of microflares; (2) short time-scales; (3) small length scales; and (4) coherent radiation and acceleration sources. We propose that these new findings force us to reformulate the acceleration process inside a flaring active region assuming that a large number of reconnection sites will burst almost simultaneously. All the well-known acceleration mechanisms (electric fields, turbulent fields, shock waves, etc.) reviewed briefly here, can be used in a statistical model where each particle is gaining energy through its interaction with many small reconnection sites.     

Cosmic GRB 060428C detected in the field of view of the IBIS and SPI telescopes onboard the INTEGRAL observatory and its early afterglow

While analyzing the archival data of the INTEGRAL observatory, we detected and localized a cosmic gamma-ray burst recorded on April 28, 2006, by the IBIS/ISGRI and SPI telescopes in their fields of view. Since the burst was not revealed by the INTEGRAL burst alert system (IBAS), information about its coordinates was not distributed in time and no search for its afterglow was conducted. The burst was recorded by the KONUS/WIND and RHES SI satellites. Its 20–200-keV fluence was 2.3 × 10^?6 erg cm^?2, the peak flux was 3.6 × 10^?7 erg cm^?2 s^?1 (3.9 phot. cm^?2 s^?1). The burst had a complex multipeaked profile and stood out among typical bursts by an increase in its hardness with time. At the flux peak, the spectrum was characterized by a photon index α ? ?1.5 and a peak energy E _p ? 95 keV. The burst lasted for ～12 s, after which its afterglow decaying as a power law with an index γ ～ ?4.5 was observed at energies 15–45 keV. The spectral hardness decreased noticeably during the afterglow.     

Electron acceleration in solar flares

We present observations of an intense solar flare hard X-ray burst on 1980 June 27, made with a balloon-borne array of liquid nitrogen-cooled germanium detectors which provided unprecedented spectral resolution (1 keV FWHM). The hard X-ray spectra throughout the impulsive phase burst fitted well to a double power-law form, and emission from an isothermal 10⁸–10⁹K plasma can be specifically excluded. The temporal variations of the spectrum indicate that the hard X-ray burst is made up of two superposed components: individual spikes lasting 3–15 s, whch have a hard spectrum and a break energy of 30–65 keV; and a slowly varying component characterized by a soft spectrum with a constant low-energy slope and a break energy which increases from 25 keV to 100 keV through the event. The double power-law shape indicates that acceleration by DC electric fields parallel to the magnetic field, similar to that occurring in the Earth's auroral zone, may be the source of the energetic electrons which produce the hard X-ray emission. The total potential drop required for flares is typically 10² kV compared to 10 kV for auroral substorms.     

A slowly moving plasmoid associated with a filament eruption

We report the imaging observations of a slowly moving type IV burst associated with a filament eruption. This event was preceded by weak type III burst activity and was accompanied by a quasi-stationary continuum that persisted for several hours. The starting times and speeds of moving type IV burst and the erupting filament are nearly the same, implying a close physical relation between the two. The moving type IV burst is interpreted as gyrosynchrotron emission from a plasmoid containing a magnetic field of 1–2 G and nonthermal electrons of density 10⁵–10⁶ cm^–3 with a relatively low average energy of 50 keV.     

Interferometer observations of a radio burst at 8.6 mm associated with a polarized hard X-ray event

Observations of a radio burst at 8.6 mm wavelength on 1970 November 5, are described with the particular interest on the correspondence between radio and polarized X-ray events. The radio observations were carried out using an interferometer with a half power width of 2.9 at the Dept. of Physics, Nagoya University, and indicated that the location of the radio burst coincided with preceding sunspots and the size of the burst source must be very small, less than about 1. Mechanisms of radio and X-ray emissions are discussed briefly.     

Solar radio continuum storms

Radio noise continuum emissions observed in metric and deca-metric wave frequencies are, in general, associated with actively varying sunspot groups accompanied by the S-component of microwave radio emissions. It is known that these continuum emission sources, often called type I storm sources, are often associated with type III burst storm activity from metric to hectometric wave frequencies. This storm activity is, therefore, closely connected with the development of these continuum emission sources.It is shown that the S-component emission in microwave frequencies generally precedes by several days the emission of these noise continuum storms of lower frequencies. In order for these storms to develop, the growth of sunspot groups into complex types is very important with the increase of the average magnetic field intensity and area of these groups. In particular, the types of these groups such as and are very important on the generation of noise continuum storm sources and sharp increase of the flux of these continuum emissions. This fact suggests that sunspot magnetic configuration and its variation, both space and time, are very effective on the growth of the sources for these noise continuum emissions.Although we have not known yet the true mechanism of these emissions, it is very likely that energetic electrons, 10 to 100 keV, accelerated in association with the variation of sunspot magnetic fields, are responsible as the sources of those radio emissions. Furthermore it seems that these electrons are contributing to the emission of type III burst storms, which are associated with the noise continuum storm sources. In explaining the origin of these storms, some plasma processes must be taken into consideration. Furthermore, it should be remarked that the storage mechanism of the electrons mentioned above plays an important role in generating both the noise continuum emissions and type III burst storms, because on-fringe type III bursts are all generated above these noise continuum storms sources. After reviewing the theories of these noise continuum storm emissions, a model is briefly considered to explain the relation between these continuums and type III bursts, and a discussion is given on the role of energetic electrons on these two emissions. It is pointed out that instabilities associated with these electrons and their relation to their own stabilizing effects are important in interpreting both of these storm emissions.Astrophysics and Space Science Review Paper.     

Binary star model of the γ-ray burst with special reference to that on 5 March, 1979 and subsequent bursts on 6 March, 4 April,and 24 April, 1979

The peculiar -ray burst phenomenon of 5 March, 1979, and the other subsequent bursts on 6 March, 4 April, and 24 April, 1979, are studied, using the physically more realistic exponentially increasing accretion rate on a highly magnetized neutron star from its companion, and the conclusions that pycnonuclear reaction flash for the first and thermonuclear flashes for the subsequent bursts as the most probable model for this series of bursts, are made.We further conclude that a huge -ray burst is a sequel to rapid X-ray transient or type-I X-ray bursts, i.e., an almost exactly similar burst as on 5 April, 1979 will never repeat from the same source, instead rapid X-ray transient burst, or type-I X-ray burst will be occured. A rough estimate gives that the next burst will occur within 0.5 yr since 24 April, 1979.     

Ignition of MHD shocks associated with solar flares

We have selected single frequency recordings of 28 high-frequency type II bursts characterized by a starting frequency greater than 237 MHz to estimate as accurately as possible the launch-time of the flare-associated MHD shocks. We established the time associations between metric type II burst onsets and the time characteristics of the microwave and X-ray fluxes of the associated flares. The associated flares were impulsive events with rise times most often about 1 min in the hard X-ray range and 1–2 min in the microwave wavelength range. The majority of the type II bursts from our sample started about 1 min after the maximum of the microwave burst. Launch times of MHD shocks producing type II bursts were obtained using the 10 × Saito coronal model and shock velocities estimated from burst characteristics at different frequencies. Back-extrapolations of type II recordings indicate that MHD shocks are launched in the time interval prior to the maximum of the first peak in the associated microwave burst, most probably at the beginning of the rapid increase of the microwave burst.     

Gamma-ray bursts: the time domain

Temporal aspects of the gamma-ray burst phenomenon are reviewed in a hierarchical schema. The macrocosm - burst profiles taken as a whole - is fairly well characterized. The bimodal duration distribution can be framed in terms of discretization of pulse structures. The average burst envelope is slightly asymmetric, an aspect possibly related to spectral softening. Burst durations are longer for dim BATSE bursts, an effect explainable by either cosmic time dilation or a luminosity function governed by special relativistic beaming, or a combination. GeV emission, persisting up to thousands of seconds after burst cessation at keV-MeV energies is one of the most challenging features of bursts. On the timescale of pulses structures (the mesocosm), some properties mirror the macrocosm: rise/decay asymmetry; wider pulses and longer intervals between pulses in dim bursts than in bright ones; and the tendency of pulses to soften with time. A central clue to the burst mechanism may be the organization in time and energy, manifest as pulses, for both long and short bursts. Burst profiles appear to be well represented by pulses, accounting for the vast majority of emission in the BATSE energy band. In the microcosm, existence of a higher frequency component - with properties possibly unlike those of pulses - has not been well addressed.     

A long-enduring multi-source burst at 17 GHz and its relation to a type IVm-dm burst with spectral fine features

A proton-event-associated microwave burst occurred on November 10, 1978 and was observed with the 17 GHz interferometer at Nobeyama. The burst had a very broad extent of about 4.5 arc and consisted of at least four separate sources. The time evolutions of the individual sources were almost independent of each other. We suggest that the sources are fallen into two distinct types as follows: (i) The two-ribbon-associated sources are characterized by the source expansion in size and the relatively flat microwave spectrum, both of which can be explained by thermal emission from hot condensed plasma in the magnetic arcades whose legs are seen as the two-ribbon H flare, and (ii) the spot-related sources are characterized by the high polarization degree with a compact unipolar structure, the rapid time variation, and the inverted-U shape microwave spectrum. The intimate relation of the latter sources to the evolution of the associated type IV_m-dm burst with spectral fine features is also discussed.     

Spatial positions of fast-time structures of a solar burst observed at 48 GHz

The impulsive solar burst of October 28, 1992 showed temporal and spatial fine structures that were observed at 48 GHz with the multi-beam antenna of the Itapetinga Radio Observatory. The relative positions of burst centroids were determined with a spatial accuracy of 2, with a temporal resolution of 1 millisecond. The burst intensity time profile shows fast pulses of about one second duration, superimposed by subsecond time structures. The spatial analysis of the fast pulses suggests that the emission originated from distinct locations, separated by about 5. Our results favour the idea that impulsive solar bursts are a superposition of small elementary events spread both in time and space, probably resulting from discontinuous energy release processes.     

Multiple radio echoes in the solar corona

Echo-type solar radio bursts are associated with preceding short-lived bursts in double events. The peculiar and rather rare decameter echoes are observed with a UTR-2 antenna. The initial narrow-band burst is followed, some 5 to 10 s later, by an echo-like burst at the same frequency. The observational data obtained for decameter echo evens are, on the whole, consistent with the model of a pulsed source emitting radio signals at the plasma-frequency harmonic, which is placed in a non-uniform corona and rotates together with the Sun.Intensity-time profiles of 25 MHz echo bursts are of an unusual shape, featuring an extended leading edge and an abrupt decay at the trailing edge and also showing some fine structures in the form of an additional, weakly pronounced maximum or a step at the final stage of the burst. Time parameters characterizing the profiles are evaluated. The step is delayed with respect to the main pulse at about two times longer than the principal echo maximum. At the same time, the time delays depend essentially on the heliolongitude of the active region and achieve their maximum values at the meridian. The step height does not exceed 0.5 of the echo maximum. At this level, the echo-decay time almost coincides with the initial burst duration but is about 1.7 times less than the echo-rise time. The feature at the echo tail can be interpreted as a result of a repeated reflection of the burst from the source region. The causes and conditions for the formation of multiple echoes are discussed. The extended leading edge of the echo permits us to assume a quasi-radial fibrous structure of the corona, capable of back-scattering the incident radiation.     

Analysis of COMPTEL gamma-ray burst locations and spectra

In its first three years of operation, the COMPTEL instrument on theCompton Gamma-Ray Observatory has measured the locations (mean accuracy 1°) and spectra (0.75-30 MeV) of 18 gamma-ray bursts and continues to observe new events at a rate of 1/month. With good angular resolution and sensitivity at MeV energies, the growing COMPTEL burst catalog is an important new piece of evidence in the on-going GRB mystery. The COMPTEL burst locations are consistent with an isotropic distribution of sources, yet the spatial coincidence of two of the bursts indicates the possibility of repetition. The COMPTEL burst spectra are in most cases consistent with a single power law model with spectral index in the range 2–3. However, two bursts show evidence of a spectral break in the MeV range. Measurement of rapid variability at MeV energies in the stronger bursts provides evidence that either the sources are nearby (within the Galaxy) or the gamma-ray emission is relativistically beamed. We present an overview of analysis results obtained from the COMPTEL burst catalog concentrating on the search for burst repetition and the implications of highly variable MeV emission.     

Solar soft X-rays and solar activity

Flare-associated soft X-ray bursts (8–12 Å) are examined for 283 events observed by OSO-III. These bursts are shown to be predominantly thermal in nature. Their time-profiles are roughly similar to those of the associated H flares, although the X-ray burst begins about two minutes earlier, on the average. The strength of the soft X-ray burst is directly related to the area and brilliance of the flare, the age and flare-richness of the associated plage, and the general level of solar activity at the time of the burst. The peak enhancements in the soft X-ray and H emission rates during flares are of the same order of magnitude, as are the total flare energies radiated at these wavelengths. We estimate that soft X-radiation accounts for up to 10% of a flare's total electromagnetic emission.NRC/NAS Resident Research Associate.