The anomalous intensities of helium lines in the quiet solar transition region

Previous studies using observations made at low spatial and spectral resolution showed that the resonance lines of He  i and He  ii are anomalously strong in the quiet Sun when compared with other transition region lines formed at similar temperatures. Here, the higher spatial and spectral resolution provided by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer ( cds ) instrument on board the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory ( SOHO ) is used to re-examine the behaviour of the He  i and He  ii lines and other transition region lines, in quiet regions near Sun centre. Supergranulation cell boundaries and cell interiors are examined separately. Near-simultaneous observations with the sumer instrument provide information on the lower transition region and the electron pressure. While the lines of He  i and He  ii have a common behaviour, as do the other transition region lines, the behaviour of the helium lines relative to the other transition region lines is significantly different. The emission measure distributions that account for all transition region lines, except those of helium, fail to produce sufficient emission in the He  i and He  ii resonance lines by around an order of magnitude, in both supergranulation cell boundary and cell interior regions. The electron pressure appears to be higher in the cell interiors than in the average cell boundaries, although the uncertainties are large. While the VAL-D model gives a closer match to the He  i 584.3-Å line, it does not successfully reproduce other transition region lines.     

Photon scattering in the solar ultraviolet lines of He i and He ii

Observations made with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory ( SOHO ) are used to investigate the behaviour of the intensities of the emission lines of He  i , He  ii and O  iii at the quiet Sun-centre and at  θ= 60°  towards the equatorial limb. The aim is to examine the possible effects of photon scattering on the spatial variation of the optically thick helium lines. At the quiet Sun-centre, we find that, in agreement with previous work, the ratios of the intensities of the He  i 584-Å and He  ii 304-Å lines to those of the O  iii 600-Å line decrease systematically as the intensity of the O  iii line increases. However, we find that the dependence of these ratios on the O  iii intensity is not unique, but differs between the individual regions studied. Similar results are found at  θ= 60°  . We have also used line intensities and intensity ratios to investigate limb-to-disc effects and variations across a sample of supergranulation cell boundaries and adjacent cell interiors at both locations. The results do not exclude photon scattering as the cause of the larger observed ratios in cell interiors. The differences between the apparent widths of boundaries in O  iii at Sun-centre and 60° show that the emitting material is extended in height, which will aid the process of scattering into cell interiors. Photon scattering could also account for the lack of oscillations in the He  i intensities in a cell interior studied by Pietarila & Judge. Three-dimensional radiative transfer calculations in chosen geometries are now needed to account for the observations in detail.     

Transition region and coronal plasmas: instrumentation and spectral analysis

The plasma conditions in the solar atmosphere and, in particular, in coronal holes are summarized, before space-borne instrumentation for observing these regions in vacuum-ultraviolet light is briefly introduced with the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) spectrometer on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) as example. Spectroscopic measurements of small plasma jets are then analyzed in detail. Magnetic reconnection is thought to be responsible for heating the corona of the Sun as well as accelerating the solar wind by converting magnetic energy into thermal and kinetic energies. The continuous outflow of the fast solar wind from coronal holes on ‘open’ field lines, which reach out into interplanetary space, then requires many reconnection events of very small scale sizes – most of them probably below the resolution capabilities of present-day instruments. Our observations of such an event have been obtained with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) providing both high-resolution imaging and spectral information for structural and dynamical studies. We find whirling or rotating motions as well as jets with acceleration along their propagation paths in close spatial and temporal vicinity to the coronal jet. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

MSX mid-infrared imaging of massive star birth environments – I. Ultracompact H ii regions

In solar extreme ultraviolet spectra the He  i and He  ii resonance lines show unusual behaviour and have anomalously high intensities compared with other transition region lines. The formation of the helium resonance lines is investigated through extensive non-local thermal equilibrium radiative transfer calculations. The model atmospheres of Vernazza, Avrett & Loeser are found to provide reasonable matches to the helium resonance line intensities but significantly overestimate the intensities of other transition region lines. New model atmospheres have been developed from emission measure distributions derived by Macpherson & Jordan, which are consistent with SOHO observations of transition region lines other than those of helium. These models fail to reproduce the observed helium resonance line intensities by significant factors. The possibility that non-Maxwellian electron distributions in the transition region might lead to increased collisional excitation rates in the helium lines is studied. Collisional excitation and ionization rates are recomputed for distribution functions with power-law suprathermal tails that may form by the transport of fast electrons from high-temperature regions. Enhancements of the helium resonance line intensities are found, but many of the predictions of the models regarding line ratios are inconsistent with observations. These results suggest that any such departures from Maxwellian electron distributions are not responsible for the helium resonance line intensities.     

Evolution of a Coronal Loop System

The temporal variation of a loop system that appears to be changing rapidly is examined. The analyzed data were obtained on 15 May 1999, with the Transition Region and Coronal Explorer (TRACE) during an observing campaign and consist of observations in the Fe ix/Fe x 171?Å and Fe xii 195?Å passbands taken at a cadence of ～10 min. The special interest in this loop system is that it looks like one expanding loop; however, careful examination reveals that the loop consists of several strands and that new loop strands become visible successively at higher altitudes and lower loop strands fade out during the one hour of our observations. These strands have different widths, densities, and temperatures and are most probably consisting of, at least, a few unresolved thinner threads. Several geometric and physical parameters are derived for two of the strands and an effort is made to determine their 3D structure based on the extrapolation of the magnetic field lines. Electron density estimates allow us to derive radiative and conductive cooling times and to conclude that these loop strands are cooling by radiation.     

Measurements of spectral lines observed with Hinode/EIS as implications for coronal heating

We have measured the line widths and nonthermal velocities in 12 solar regions using high resolution EUV data taken by Hinode/EIS. We find that there exists a positive correlation between the intensity and nonthermal velocity for the Fe xII emission line as well as some other lines. The correlation coefficients decrease from the disk center to the limb. However, the nonthermal velocities of a particular spectral line do not vary much in different regions, so they are considered isotropic. In particular, we find that for a coronal loop structure, the largest widths and nonthermal velocities occur at the footpoints, where outflows appear. Based on these observational results, we discuss several physical processes responsible for coronal heating.     

Measurements of spectral lines observed with Hinode/EIS as implications for coronal heating

We have measured the line widths and nonthermal velocities in 12 solar regions using high resolution EUV data taken by Hinode/EIS. We find that there exists a positive correlation between the intensity and nonthermal velocity for the Fe XII emission line as well as some other lines. The correlation coefficients decrease from the disk center to the limb. However, the nonthermal velocities of a particular spectral line do not vary much in different regions, so they are considered isotropic. In particular, we find that for a coronal loop structure, the largest widths and nonthermal velocities occur at the footpoints, where outflows appear. Based on these observational results, we discuss several physical processes responsible for coronal heating.     

The solar photospheric abundance of zirconium

Zirconium (Zr), together with strontium and yttrium, is an important element in the understanding of the Galactic nucleosynthesis. In fact, the triad Sr‐Y‐Zr constitutes the first peak of s‐process elements. Despite its general relevance not many studies of the solar abundance of Zr were conducted. We derive the zirconium abundance in the solar photosphere with the same CO⁵BOLD hydrodynamical model of the solar atmosphere that we previously used to investigate the abundances of C‐N‐O. We review the zirconium lines available in the observed solar spectra and select a sample of lines to determine the zirconium abundance, considering lines of neutral and singly ionised zirconium. We apply different line profile fitting strategies for a reliable analysis of Zr lines that are blended by lines of other elements. The abundance obtained from lines of neutral zirconium is very uncertain because these lines are commonly blended and weak in the solar spectrum. However, we believe that some lines of ionised zirconium are reliable abundance indicators. Restricting the set to Zr II lines, from the CO⁵BOLD 3D model atmosphere we derive A (Zr) = 2.62 ± 0.06, where the quoted error is the RMS line‐to‐line scatter (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

What SDO tells us about structure and evolution of coronal bright points

Using magnetograms and coronal images from two instruments on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), we study structure and evolution of a limited number of coronal bright points (CBPs). Our results show that the relation between CBPs and their magnetic footpoints is not simple. In some cases, CBP may appear as a bright portion of a larger loop (with clearly identifiable footpoints), and in some cases, an isolated CBP may develop between magnetic poles, which might not be the closest ones to each other or which might not be involved in the magnetic flux cancellation. We suggest that the magnetic connectivity responsible for formation of isolated coronal bright points is governed by the orientation of the large‐scale magnetic field. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Propagation of the Slow Magnetoacoustic Waves in Coronal Loops Above Sunspots

The observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) have revealed the weak dis- turbances (WDs) propagating in the fan-like coronal loops of the active region (AR 11092) at 171 ?A, 193 ?A, and 211 ?A. These WDs seem to be a common phenomenon in this part of the active region. The disturbances originate from the bright loop foot, and propagate along the loops. The observed propagation speed decreases with the increasing temperature, and varies between 40 km/s and 121 km/s, close to and less than the sound speed in coronal loops. Consid- ering the projection effect and the different angles of the loops with respect to the line of sight, this is exactly what the slow-wave model expects. The wavelet analysis shows that the periods of the WDs observed in different wavebands have no signi?cant difference, the two distinct periods, 3 min and more than 10 min, are all detected in the three EUV wavebands. Not only the coronal loops but also the sunspot region in the chromosphere exhibit intensity oscillations with a period of the order of 3 min. This result suggests that the sunspot oscillations can propagate into the corona through the chromosphere and transition region.     

An asteroseismic signature of helium ionization

We investigate the influence of the ionization of helium on the low-degree acoustic oscillation frequencies in model solar-type stars. The signature in the oscillation frequencies characterizing the ionization-induced depression of the first adiabatic exponent γ is a superposition of two decaying periodic functions of frequency ν, with 'frequencies' that are approximately twice the acoustic depths of the centres of the He  i and He  ii ionization regions. That variation is probably best exhibited in the second frequency difference  Δ₂ν _{n ,  l} ≡ν _{n −1,  l} − 2ν _{n ,  l} +ν _{n +1,  l}   . We show how an analytic approximation to the variation of γ leads to a simple representation of this oscillatory contribution to Δ₂ν which can be used to characterize the γ variation, our intention being to use it as a seismic diagnostic of the helium abundance of the star. We emphasize that the objective is to characterize γ, not merely to find a formula for Δ₂ν that reproduces the data.     

Evidence for interchange reconnection between a coronal hole and an adjacent emerging flux region

Coronal holes are regions of dominantly monopolar magnetic field on the Sun where the field is considered to be ‘open’ towards interplanetary space. Magnetic bipoles emerging in proximity to a coronal hole boundary naturally interact with this surrounding open magnetic field. In the case of oppositely aligned polarities between the active region and the coronal hole, we expect interchange reconnection to take place, driven by the coronal expansion of the emerging bipole as well as occasional eruptive events. Using SOHO/EIT and SOHO/MDI data, we present observational evidence of such interchange reconnection by studying AR 10869 which emerged close to a coronal hole. We find closed loops forming between the active region and the coronal hole leading to the retreat of the hole. At the same time, on the far side of the active region, we see dimming of the corona which we interpret as a signature of field line ‘opening’ there, as a consequence of a topological displacement of the ‘open’ field lines of the coronal hole. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Fe xiixii emission lines in solar active regions observed by the RES-C spectroheliograph on the CORONAS-I mission

Theoretical line intensity ratios involving Fe  xii transitions in the 186–201 Å wavelength range are compared with observational data for five solar active regions, obtained by the RES-C spectroheliograph on the CORONAS-I mission. Generally good agreement is found between theory and observation, hence resolving discrepancies previously found in the comparison of calculations with active region and subflare spectra from the Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph ( SERTS ). However, the Fe  xii 190.06- and 201.12-Å lines are blended with Fe  x 190.04 Å and Fe  xiii 201.13 Å, respectively. In addition, a weak feature at ∼197 Å, tentatively identified as Fe  xii 196.87 Å, does not appear to be due to this ion.     

Fe xiii emission lines in active region spectra obtained with the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph

Recent fully relativistic calculations of radiative rates and electron impact excitation cross-sections for Fe  xiii are used to generate emission-line ratios involving 3s²3p²–3s3p³ and 3s²3p²–3s²3p3d transitions in the 170–225 and 235–450 Å wavelength ranges covered by the Solar Extreme-Ultraviolet Research Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS). A comparison of these line ratios with SERTS active region observations from rocket flights in 1989 and 1995 reveals generally very good agreement between theory and experiment. Several new Fe  xiii emission features are identified, at wavelengths of 203.79, 259.94, 288.56 and 290.81 Å. However, major discrepancies between theory and observation remain for several Fe  xiii transitions, as previously found by Landi and others, which cannot be explained by blending. Errors in the adopted atomic data appear to be the most likely explanation, in particular for transitions which have 3s²3p3d ¹D₂ as their upper level. The most useful Fe  xiii electron-density diagnostics in the SERTS spectral regions are assessed, in terms of the line pairs involved being (i) apparently free of atomic physics problems and blends, (ii) close in wavelength to reduce the effects of possible errors in the instrumental intensity calibration, and (iii) very sensitive to changes in N _e over the range  10⁸–10¹¹ cm⁻³  . It is concluded that the ratios which best satisfy these conditions are 200.03/202.04 and 203.17/202.04 for the 170–225 Å wavelength region, and 348.18/320.80, 348.18/368.16, 359.64/348.18 and 359.83/368.16 for 235–450 Å.     

Broadening of lines of Be ii, Sr ii and Ba ii by collisions with hydrogen atoms and the solar abundance of strontium

In a previous paper by the present authors the theory of Anstee and O'Mara for the broadening of spectral lines of neutral atoms by collisions with hydrogen atoms was extended to singly ionized atoms. In this paper we apply the method to the resonance and triplet lines of ionized strontium, the infrared triplet of ionized barium, and the resonance lines of ionized beryllium. Analysis of five lines of ionized strontium, previously regarded as too strong for an abundance analysis, and two lines of neutral strontium results in a solar abundance of strontium of log( N _Sr N _H)+12=2.92±0.05, which is entirely consistent with the meteoritic value.     

The broadening of strong lines of Ca+, Mg+ and Ba+ by collisions with neutral hydrogen atoms

The theory of Anstee &38; O'Mara is extended to the line broadening of transitions of singly ionized atoms by collisions with neutral hydrogen atoms. The theory is used to calculate broadening cross-sections for strong lines of singly ionized calcium, magnesium and barium. The broadening cross-sections calculated are compared with both theoretical and empirical results of other workers.