Observations and discussions concerning ‘high’ polarization features in the solar corona

Photographic observations were obtained of the radial and tangential polarization of the solar corona for the 1970, March 7, solar eclipse. The corona was photographed using a neutral density filter and rotating linear polaroid sectors to allow the polarization structure to be seen from 1 to 6 solar radii. Anomalously high polarizations were found for structures with the E-tangential intensity being predominantly larger than the E-radial intensity. These structures are generally filamentary in nature and radial in direction. One case with a high radial polarization was also found. The photographs were calibrated accurately against the Earth shine from the Moon. Possible source mechanisms are discussed that may explain this new component in the solar corona. Most sources may be ruled out on physical grounds. One possibility appears to be synchrotron radiation from 10 GeV electrons in a 0.4 G field. The existence of these electrons, however, is unlikely in that spacecraft observations at 1 AU do not confirm their presence.     

WHAT SHOULD THE COLOUR OF THE SOLAR CORONA BE?

This paper determines what should be the difference between the colour of the solar disc centre and the integrated light of the corona at different heights. We define the colour as the ratio of the spectral intensity at = 640 nm and = 490 nm. The optical radiation of the corona is assumed to be caused by a contribution of photospheric light scattered on free electrons in K-corona and by a contribution of the photospheric light scattered on solid dust particles in F-corona. The limb-darkening law was taken from Pierce and Slaughter (1977). The distribution of electron density and brightness of the F-corona was taken from van de Hulst (1950). We indicate that the solar corona should be already close to the limb, more reddish than the centre of the solar disc, where reddening increases with the height due to the increase of the contribution of the F-corona.     

The results of coronal investigation at the September 22, 1968 solar eclipse

The 1968 Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory Solar Eclipse Expedition obtained photographic records of the polarization and intensity of the solar corona on September 22 from a site of the South Urals (Western Siberia). A photometric study of the corona was carried out. Polarization has been computed both in a total corona and in some of its streamers. The coronal intensity I _k and I _F components are separated. Electron concentrations and temperatures are computed.     

The polarization of the inner solar corona at the eclipse of 10 July 1972

Photographs of the corona in the continuum spectrum (580–700 nm) have been obtained with a doublet camera (F=4m) through rotating sector polarizers with the vibrational directions oriented radially and tangentially to the solar limb. Isophotes of the total emission and its polarized component, as well as diagrams giving the degree of polarization for the (K+F)-corona and the electron corona proper (P _K), have been plotted up to the distance of 1R from the limb. In some inner regions the polarizationP _K exceeds the highest value possible for Thomson scattering under the given conditions. The reality of this anomally is dubious; systematic photometrical errors may account for it. Three-dimensional forms of 15 different coronal rays have been ascertained by comparing the course of polarization along the rays to the family of Baumach curves. The rays are found to deflect substantially from the radial directions out of the plane of the sky. Mean values of the coronal brightness and polarization versus the distance from the Sun have been determined. Contrary to well-known models (Van de Hulst) the mean polarization of the electron corona (P _K) decreases with distance after reaching the maximum (50%) at (1.4–1.6)R from the Sun's centre. This decrease can be explained by deflection of the streamers from radial directions.     

Polarization of the white-light corona and its large-scale structure in the period of solar cycle maximum

Distributions of brightness and polarization,p, were obtained for the February 16, 1980 solar corona. Isophotes have a circular shape, typical for the period of the solar cycle maximum. A variety of structural features are distinctly seen in the distribution ofp. The polarization reaches 55%, and thep values are comparatively high, not only in the well-defined streamers, but in the overlapping faint rays and small streamers, as well. A theoretical interpretation of the observed high degrees of polarization, taking into account the data on coronal brightness, is very difficult. This cannot be done within the scope of spherically symmetric models of the corona; the assumption of a high concentration of coronal matter into the plane of the sky is needed. With the most extreme densities in coronal structures, it is not, however, possible to exceed the observed valuep = 55%. Taking into account the accuracy of the polarization measurements, there are no reasons to reject the Thomson scattering as a basic mechanism to explain the origin of the white-light corona.     

Venus: On the phase variation of CO2 line profiles

The shapes of Venus' CO₂ profiles are found to vary with solar phase angle. High-resolution spectra of the P16 and P14 lines in the 8689- and 7820-Å bands, respectively, are presented for phase angles ranging from 6 to 158°. The scattering mean free path at 80 mbar, approximately the effective pressure, is 1.7 km. Use of the van de Hulst similarity relations with simple, parametric scattering models is inadequare to separate effects due to the scattering phase function from those due to inhomogeneities in depth when one attempts to determine the atmospheric structure by fitting a family of such models over a wide range of phase angles.     

Polarization features of solar radio emission and possible existence of current sheets in active regions

We show that it is possible to account for the polarization features of solar radio emission provided the linear mode coupling theory is properly applied and the presence of current sheets in the corona is taken into account. We present a schematic model, including a current sheet that can explain the polarization features of both the low frequency slowly varying component and the bipolar noise storm radiation; the two radiations face similar propagation conditions through a current sheet and hence display similar polarization behavior. We discuss the applications of the linear mode coupling theory to the following types of solar radio emission: the slowly varying component, the microwave radio bursts, metric type U bursts, and bipolar noise storms.     

SECIS: The Solar Eclipse Coronal Eclipse Imaging System

The Solar Eclipse Coronal Imaging System (SECIS) is an instrument designed to search for short-period modulations in the solar corona seen either during a total eclipse or with a coronagraph. The CCD cameras used in SECIS have the capability of imaging the corona at a rate of up to 70 frames a second, with the intensities in each pixel digitised in 12-bit levels. The data are captured and stored on a modified PC. With suitable optics it is thus possible to search for fast changes or short-period wave motions in the corona that will have important implications for the coronal heating mechanism. The equipment has been successfully tested using the Evans Solar Facility coronagraph at National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak and during the 11 August 1999 eclipse at a site in north-eastern Bulgaria. The instrument is described and preliminary results are outlined.     

An Interpretation of the Coronal Holes’ Visibility in the Millimeter Wavelength Range

Various observations indicate that coronal holes generally appear as low brightness temperature regions (LTRs) in the centimeter and millimeter wavelength ranges. However, within their borders local enhancements of radiation, that is, high brightness temperature regions (HTRs), often occur. The theory behind the described behavior is not fully understood and therefore we analyze full-disk solar images obtained at a wavelength of 8 mm at Metsähovi Radio Observatory and compare them with data simultaneously taken in other wavelength ranges. The observational finding that the average brightness temperature of coronal holes is not much different from the quiet-Sun level (with localized deviations toward higher and lower intensities on the order of a few percent) is compared with theoretical models of the thermal bremsstrahlung radiation originating in the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. Special attention is devoted to the interpretation of the localized enhancements of radiation observed inside coronal holes at millimeter wavelengths. The main conclusion is that the most important contribution to the brightness temperature comes from an increased density in the transition region and low corona (i.e., at the heights where the temperature is below 10⁶ K). This can explain both the LTRs and HTRs associated with coronal holes.     

Invariant imbedding and Chandrasekhar's planetary problem of radiative transfer

In connection with Chandrasekhar's planetary problem of radiative transfer the total scattering and the diffuse transmission functions have been discussed by several authors (cf. Chandrasekhar, 1950; van de Hulst, 1948; Sobolev, 1948; Bellman,et al., 1967; Kagiwada and Kalaba, 1971). With the aid of the Bellman-Krein formula for the resolvent kernel of the auxiliary equation governing the source function, we show how the invariant imbedding equations governing the diffuse scattering and transmission functions can readily be obtained. So far as we know, the Cauchy system of the functional equations for the scattering and transmission functions is new and is well-suited for the numerical computation.Supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. GP 29049, and by the Atomic Energy Commission under Grant No. AT (40-3)-113 Project 19.     

The profile and polarization of the coronal Lα line

We calculate the profile and polarization of the Lα line in the solar corona. Coronal temperature variation, solar wind and other non-thermal motions have been taken into account. Because of the relatively low atomic weight of hydrogen the profile of the Lα line is a sensitive indicator of the coronal temperature. The line polarization contains relatively little information except for strong magnetic fields (> 70 G).     

Line intensities in the photosphere-chromosphere transition region

Eclipse observations of total line intensities (Cr i: two groups of lines; Ti ii, Fe ii and Cr ii: two lines each) are interpreted in terms of departures from LTE. The same method as described in Paper III (van Dessel, 1974) is used. The HSRA model is used to compute the LTE populations. A distribution of NLTE-coefficients is obtained for each group of lines. The lines discussed in the present paper are seen to remain in emission down to some 1000 km inside the limb. As a consequence, interpretation is less simple than for the Fe i lines (Paper III); population and excitation temperatures are found to be rather divergent from Holweger's temperature, which was used for a first approximation.     

Near-infrared imaging polarimetry of young stellar objects in ρ Ophiuchi

The results of a near-infrared ( J H K L _P) imaging linear polarimetry survey of 20 young stellar objects (YSOs) in ρ Ophiuchi are presented. The majority of the sources are unresolved, with K -band polarizations, P _K < 6 per cent. Several objects are associated with extended reflection nebulae. These objects have centrosymmetric vector patterns with polarization discs over their cores; maximum polarizations of P _K > 20 per cent are seen over their envelopes. Correlations are observed between the degree of core polarization and the evolutionary status inferred from the spectral energy distribution. K -band core polarizations >6 per cent are only observed in Class I YSOs.
A 3D Monte Carlo model with oblate grains aligned with a magnetic field is used to investigate the flux distributions and polarization structures of three of the ρ Oph YSOs with extended nebulae. A ρ∝ r ^−1.5 power law for the density is applied throughout the envelopes. The large-scale centrosymmetric polarization structures are due to scattering. However, the polarization structure in the bright core of the nebula appears to require dichroic extinction by aligned non-spherical dust grains. The position angle indicates a toroidal magnetic field in the inner part of the envelope. Since the measured polarizations attributed to dichroic extinction are usually ≤10 per cent, the grains must either be nearly spherical or very weakly aligned. The higher polarizations observed in the outer parts of the reflection nebulae require that the dust grains responsible for scattering have maximum grain sizes 1.05 μm.     

Validation of Spherically Symmetric Inversion by Use of a Tomographically Reconstructed Three-Dimensional Electron Density of the Solar Corona

Determining the coronal electron density by the inversion of white-light polarized brightness (pB) measurements by coronagraphs is a classic problem in solar physics. An inversion technique based on the spherically symmetric geometry (spherically symmetric inversion, SSI) was developed in the 1950s and has been widely applied to interpret various observations. However, to date there is no study of the uncertainty estimation of this method. We here present the detailed assessment of this method using a three-dimensional (3D) electron density in the corona from 1.5 to 4 R _⊙ as a model, which is reconstructed by a tomography method from STEREO/COR1 observations during the solar minimum in February 2008 (Carrington Rotation, CR 2066). We first show in theory and observation that the spherically symmetric polynomial approximation (SSPA) method and the Van de Hulst inversion technique are equivalent. Then we assess the SSPA method using synthesized pB images from the 3D density model, and find that the SSPA density values are close to the model inputs for the streamer core near the plane of the sky (POS) with differences generally smaller than about a factor of two; the former has the lower peak but extends more in both longitudinal and latitudinal directions than the latter. We estimate that the SSPA method may resolve the coronal density structure near the POS with angular resolution in longitude of about 50°. Our results confirm the suggestion that the SSI method is applicable to the solar minimum streamer (belt), as stated in some previous studies. In addition, we demonstrate that the SSPA method can be used to reconstruct the 3D coronal density, roughly in agreement with the reconstruction by tomography for a period of low solar activity (CR 2066). We suggest that the SSI method is complementary to the 3D tomographic technique in some cases, given that the development of the latter is still an ongoing research effort.     

Green corona and solar sector structure

Analysis of the green line corona for the interval 1947–1970 suggests the existence of largescale organization of the emission. The green line emission at high northern latitudes (≈ 40°–60°) is correlated with the emission at high southern latitudes 6, 15 and 24 days later, while the low latitude green corona seems to be correlated on both sides of the equator with no time lag. These coronal features are recurrent with a 27-day period at all latitudes between ± 60 °, and we associate these large-scale structures with the solar magnetic sector structure. The high correlation between northern and southern high-latitude emission at 15 days time lag is explained as a signature of a two-sector structure, while four sectors are associated with the 6 and 24 day peaks.     

Brightness variations of the white light corona during the years 1964–67

Observations of the white light corona were made on over 900 days during the years 1964–67 at heights between 1.125 and 2.0 R with the K-coronameter at Mount Haleakala and Mauna Loa, Hawaii. The brightness distribution of the minimum corona was elliptical with average equatorial intensities three times the polar. Coronal features of the new cycle at 1.125 R occurred predominantly in the sunspot zones at 25–30° latitude and in a high latitude zone which migrated toward the North pole before solar maximum. The brightness of the inner corona doubled over this period and a close association is found between the average corona and 10.7-cm solar radio flux. Electron densities in the equatorial regions were nearly twice those of Van de Hulst's model corona, in agreement with the results of recent eclipse observations.At Hawaii Institute of Geophysics.     

Propagation characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in a cold plasma mixed with a hot plasma and right-hand polarized Pc1 and Pc5

Propagation characteristics of hydromagnetic waves in a cold plasma mixed with a hot plasma under a uniform static magnetic field are investigated. The existence of cold plasma seriously affects the polarization properties of the waves. The results are applied to the interpretation of Pcl and Pc5 with righthand polarizations guided along the geomagnetic field line.     

Simulations of small-scale explosive events on the Sun

Small-scale explosive events or microflares occur throughout the chromospheric network of the Sun. They are seen as sudden bursts of highly Doppler-shifted spectral lines of ions formed at temperatures in the range 2×104–5×105 K. They tend to occur near regions of cancelling photospheric magnetic fields and are thought to be directly associated with magnetic field reconnection. Recent observations have revealed that they have a bi-directional jet structure reminiscent of Petschek reconnection. In this paper compressible MHD simulations of the evolution of a current sheet to a steady Petschek, jet-like configuration are computed using the Versatile Advection Code. We obtain velocity profiles that can be compared with recent ultraviolet line-profile observations. By choosing initial conditions representative of magnetic loops in the solar corona and chromosphere, it is possible to explain the fact that jets flowing outward into the corona are more extended and appear before jets flowing towards the chromosphere. This model can reproduce the high Doppler-shifted components of the line profiles, but the brightening at low velocities, near the center of the bi-directional jet, cannot be explained by this simple MHD model.