The time behaviour of the continua during the initial stage of type IV bursts

The existence of a group of broad-band continua during the initial stage of some type IV bursts can be shown which are polarized in the extraordinary sense. Unfortunately interferometric records were available only for one of these continua. In this case no movement of the radiation source could be stated during the whole of its lifetime. It can be shown that the time behaviour of the broad-band continua is clearly different from that of the moving type IV bursts recorded directly by interferometers. Therefore, it must be concluded that both types of continua originate from different physical processes at the Sun, though both are caused by synchrotron radiation.Based on the author's thesis in Berlin.     

Spectral features of large type IV bursts and interrelation to solar-terrestrial phenomena

The type IV burst phenomenon consists of at least five physically distinct components or phases. Concerning the spectral and polarization characteristics of the radio emission, the X-ray emission and the association of energetic particle emission, two main classes of type IV burst components can be distinguished. The first class associated with energetic particle events comprises the (especially hard) X-ray burst, the type IV and mA₁ components. With respect to the dynamics of the burst source a quasistationary mA₁-phase can be distinguished from a moving mA₂-phase. The general tendencies of the development of large type IV events have been discussed with regard to the possibility of the occurrence of neutral points of the magnetic field in greater coronal heights.     

Fiber bursts in type IV dm radio continua as a signature of coronal current sheet dynamics

In the late phase of some complex flare events which produce type IV radio emission, a narrow-band decimetric component with generally a high abundance of spectral fine structures is observed. We identify this late dm continuum as a hypothetical switch-off signature of the equivalent two-ribbon flare current system. The quasi-periodic and highly dynamic fiber-burst pattern studied in the February 5, 1986 example is understood as radio evidence for a final reactivation of a cyclic sequence of instabilities in the driven reconnecting current sheet below the rising prominence.Paper presented at the 4th CESRA Workshop in Ouranopolis (Greece) 1991.     

Generation of intermediate drift bursts in solar type IV radio continua through coupling of whistlers and Langmuir waves

The possible generation of intermediate drift bursts in type IV dm continua through coupling between whistler waves, traveling along the magnetic field, and Langmuir waves, excited by a loss-cone instability in the source region, is elaborated. We investigate the generation, propagation and coupling of whistlers. It is shown that the superposition of an isotropic background plasma of 10⁶K and a loss-cone distribution of fast electrons is unstable for whistler waves if the loss-cone aperture 2α is sufficiently large (sec α?4); a typical value of the excited frequencies is 0.1 ω _ce (ω _ce is the angular electron cyclotron frequency). The whistlers can travel upwards through the source region of the continuum along the magnetic field direction with velocities of 21.5–28 v _A (v _A is the Alfvén velocity). Coupling of the whistlers with Langmuir waves into escaping electromagnetic waves can lead to the observed intermediate drift bursts, if the Langmuir waves have phase velocities around the velocity of light. In our model the instantaneous bandwith of the fibers corresponds to a frequency of 0.1–0.5 ω _ce and leads to estimates of the magnetic field strength in the source region. These estimates are in good agreement with those derived from the observed drift rate, corresponding to 21.5–28 v _A, if we use a simple hydrostatic density model.     

Circulation changes in the free atmosphere during proton events associated with type IV radio bursts

New evidence of statistically significant circulation changes in the lower stratosphere and in the middle and upper troposphere following Type IV Proton and Ground Level Events confirms some earlier findings of a relationship between solar activity and weather. The maximum 24-hr circulation changes appear to occur in the North Pacific-Alaskan area. A comparison between the effects that followed the flare sample used in this study with earlier results reported for less intense solar particle emission flare samples, implies that if these particles are responsible for triggering the atmospheric circulation in times of enhanced solar activity, their atmospheric effect is enhanced as we move to the more energetic solar proton events. The physical explanation of the results may possibly be found in numerical-experimental models. Some possible causes of the results are discussed.     

Center-to-limb variation of the peak flux spectra of type IV radio bursts associated with solar proton flares

Type IV radio bursts with wide band from microwave to metric-wave frequency are generally associated with solar proton flares. Recently, Castelli et al. (1967, 1968) have shown that the type IV radio bursts associated with solar proton flares show the U-shaped peak flux spectra with the minimum flux at decimetric frequencies. In this paper, the center-to-limb variation of such peak flux spectra is investigated in order to examine the effect of decrease of the peak flux at metric frequencies with increase of the angular distance from the central meridian of the Sun. It is shown that the U-shaped spectra are obtained independent of the position of proton flares, although the spectral form changes significantly in the case of the flares near the limb. It is further suggested that the U-shaped spectra consist of the two essentially independent components for microwave and metric-wave frequencies, respectively.     

Pulsations of type IV solar radio emission: The bounce-resonance effects

A mechanism of excitation of radial oscillations of a magnetic tube is proposed for the interpretation of a periodic modulation of type IV radio burst intensity in the meter and decimeter range. After the flare a configuration with denser plasma extended along the magnetic field can be formed in the corona. Eigenoscillations of such a system are damped by MHD-wave emission into the external coronal plasma. However, if high energy protons with 0.2 are trapped by this configuration, the damping of oscillations can be made up for by an amplification due to bounce-resonant plasma instability. The regularity of the pulse period is explained by presence of a maximum in the wave growth rate dependence on the frequency.     

Absolute broad-band polarization behaviour of PSR B0329+54: a glimpse of the core emission process

In this paper we report multifrequency single-pulse polarization observations of the PSR B0329+54 normal mode using the Giant Metre-wave Radio Telescope at 325 and 610 MHz and the Effelsberg Observatory at 2695 MHz. Our observations show that towards the central part of the polarization position angle traverse there is an unusual 'arc'-like structure, which comprises a broad-band 'kink' and a frequency-dependent 'spot'. The features are intimately connected with the intensity dependence of the core component: the stronger emission arrives earlier and its linear polarization is displaced farther along the 'kink'. Moreover, at high intensities, the circular polarization is −/+ antisymmetric; the nearly complete positive circular is characteristic of the weaker, later core subpulses. We find that the 'kink' emission is associated with the extraordinary (X) propagation mode, and hence propagation effects do not appear to be capable of producing the core component's broad-band, intensity-dependent emission. Rather, the overall evidence points to a largely geometric interpretation in which the 'kink' provides a rare glimpse of the accelerating cascade or height-dependent amplifier responsible for the core radiation.     

Spectral behaviour of the eclipsing binary TX UMa around primary minimum

Sixty-one blue spectrograms of TX UMa were obtained in the years 1969–1970, mainly in phases close to the primary minimum of the eclipsing system. The radial velocity curve displays clear rotational effect from which much higher than synchronous rotational velocity of the blue (B8V) component has been formally derived. However, this discrepancy is probably due to the presence of the tenous accretion disk around the primary. The disk is apparently fed by the intermittent mass transfer as indicated by the occasional changes of orbital period of the system. From all available radial velocity data an improved set of spectroscopic orbital elements is derived. The behaviour of the spectral lines in and out of the primary minimum is compared. Metallic lines of the cold (F7IV) secondary component are clearly seen exclusively in phases 0.988 to 0.012.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Polarization features of type IV bursts

Using both the polarization records of our institute at seven different frequencies and polarization records from other stations, the spectral diagrams of some important type IV bursts are completed by polarization diagrams. Combining both types of diagrams and adding the results of optical observations and X-ray data it is possible to come to a deeper understanding of the processes taking place during strong solar radio bursts.     

VLA and Trieste observations of type I storms,type IV and pulsations

A prime objective of this experiment was to determine whether type I or IV sources at 333 MHz contain features of small (arc sec) scale. With the VLA, our resolution was better than 4. However, we never observed any structure of size smaller than about 30, with the typical source sizes being between about 40 and 90.Many observations were simultaneous with the Trieste Astronomical Observatory records at 327 MHz. The observations were made on two days in November 1988. On 8 November the observations were of a type I storm about two hours after a major flare. On 14 November they were mostly of the main phase of a type IV event, including pulsations of a kind rarely seen, strongly circularly polarized, and having a well-defined period of about 12 s. The size of the pulsating source was about 40 by 60, and the brightness temperature was about 10⁹ K. We compare these pulsations with those observed earlier.     

Spectral analysis and model atmospheres of WR type central stars

Wolf-Rayet type spectra of central stars are compared with spectra from Pop. I objects. Non-LTE models for expanding atmospheres are applied for analyzing these spectra quantitatively.     

Observations of radio continua and terminology

Different components and successive stages of type IV bursts are reviewed. Some simplifications in the schematic representation of well developed type IV bursts are proposed. The existence of two physically distinct acceleration/injection mechanisms is discussed. Suggestions for further work are proposed.Proceedings of the Workshop on Radio ontinua during Solar Flares, held at Duino (Trieste), Italy, 27–31 May, 1985.     

Symmetry of the neutron and proton superfluidity effects in cooling neutron stars

We investigate the combined effect of neutron and proton superfluidities on the cooling of neutron stars whose cores consist of nucleons and electrons. We consider the singlet state paring of protons and the triplet pairing of neutrons in the cores of neutron stars. The critical superfluid temperatures T _c are assumed to depend on the matter density. We study two types of neutron pairing with different components of the total angular momentum of a Cooper pair along the quantization axis (|m _J |=0 or 2). Our calculations are compared with the observations of thermal emission from isolated neutron stars. We show that the observations can be interpreted by using two classes of superfluidity models: (1) strong proton superfluidity with a maximum critical temperature in the stellar core T _c ^max ?4×10⁹ K and weak neutron superfluidity of any type (T _c ^max ?2×10⁸ K); (2) strong neutron superfluidity (pairing with m _J =0) and weak proton superfluidity. The two types of models reflect an approximate symmetry with respect to an interchange of the critical neutron and proton pairing temperatures.     

An interpretation of the broad-band circular polarization of sunspots

The broad-band circular polarization of sunspots is discussed on the basis of the observations made in the Okayama Astrophysical Observatory. The observation with the spectrograph proves that it is the integrated polarization of spectral lines in the observed spectral range. A velocity gradient in the line-of-sight can produce this integrated polarization due to the differential saturation between Zeeman components of magnetically sensitive lines. The observed degree of polarization and its spatial distribution in sunspots is explained when we introduce a differentially twisted magnetic field in addition to the velocity gradient. The differential twist has the azimuth rotation of the magnetic field along the line-of-sight and generates the circular polarization from the linear polarization due to the magneto-optical effect. The required azimuth rotation is reasonable and amounts at most to 30°. The required velocity gradient is compatible with the line asymmetry and its spatial distribution observed in sunspots. The observed polarity rule leads to the conclusion that the sunspot magnetic field has the differential twist with the right-handed azimuth rotation relative to the direction of the main magnetic field, without regard to the magnetic polarity and to the solar cycle. The twist itself is left-handed under the photosphere, when the sunspot is assumed to be a unwinding emerging magnetic field.     

Spectral evidence of type ii shock influence on razin-cutoff frequency in the decametric type iv continuum

Bhonsle and Degaonkar (1980) have presented an evidence for the Razin-cutoff frequency in the dkm range of type IV continuum observed by the Ahmedabad spectroscope on 27 April, 1979. They explained this cutoff as due to the Razin effect in the coronal medium. From the broad-band spectrograph at Weissenau, covering 1000 to 30 MHz, additional information on the initial features of type IV is furnished here. This record also confirms the preceeding type II burst, the shock front of which was assumed to produce the quasiperiodicity observed at the lower cut off frequency by interaction with the type IV radiation source.