Pulsating type IV solar radio bursts

Several models for pulsating type IV radio bursts are presented based on the assumption that the pulsations are the result of fluctuations in the synchrotron emission due to small variations in the magnetic field of the source. It is shown that a source that is optically thick at low frequencies due to synchrotron self-absorption exhibits pulsations that occur in two bands situated on either side of the spectral peak. The pulsations in the two bands are 180° out of phase and the band of pulsations at the higher frequencies is the more intense. In contrast, a synchrotron source that is optically thin at all frequencies and whose low frequency emission is suppressed due to the Razin effect develops only a single band of pulsations around the frequency of maximum emission. However, the flux density associated with the later model would be too small to explain the more intense pulsations that have been observed unless the source area is considerably larger than presently seems reasonable.     

Subsecond (0.1 s) Pulsations in the 11 April 2001 Radio Event

Radio pulsations observed during the 11 April 2001 event at six single frequencies (237, 327, 408, 610, 1420, and 2695 MHz) by the Trieste radio-polarimeter with a time resolution 10 ms are analyzed. A wavelet analysis method as well as time delay and polarization measurements are used. Both methods reveal pulsations with a period of about 0.1 s at all observed frequencies. Furthermore, the 0.1 s pulsations drift toward higher and lower frequencies, starting at about 1420 MHz. The polarization of pulsations increases with frequency and time. The remarkable fact that the detected 0.1 s period of pulsations does not depend on frequency in a very broad frequency range is discussed in terms of existing models of pulsations.     

The role of the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory in geomagnetic field research

Geomagnetic field research carried out at the Hermanus Magnetic Observatory over the past decade is reviewed. An important aspect of this research has been the study of geomagnetic field variations, with particular emphasis on ULF geomagnetic pulsations. Features of geomagnetic pulsations which are unique to low latitude locations have been investigated, such as the cavity mode nature of low latitude Pi 2 pulsations and the role played by ionosphericO ⁺ ions in the field line resonances responsible for Pc 3 pulsations. A theoretical model has been developed which is able to account for the observed relationships between geomagnetic pulsations and oscillations in the frequency of HF radio waves traversing ionospheric paths. Other facets of the research have been geomagnetic field modelling, aimed at improving the accuracy and resolution of regional geomagnetic field models, and the development of improved geomagnetic activity indices.     

Multisatellite observations of resonant hydromagnetic waves

Most measurements of long period ULF pulsations have come from ground based and single satellite observations. The observations have given strong support to the idea that these waves are resonant standing hydromagnetic waves on geomagnetic field lines. Simultaneous ground-satellite observations provide further details of the pulsation structure and are useful for examining the effect of the ionosphere on the transmission of the waves to the ground. Recently, multisatellite observations have been used to provide further insight into the nature of pulsations and we review the results obtained using this technique. Among the results presented are those from the ISEE 1 and 2 spacecraft which are closely spaced in identical orbits, making it possible to distinguish temporal from spatial structure in waves. The ISEE spacecraft have made measurements of resonant region widths and resonance harmonics. In addition, examples are shown of recent multisatellite observations of the global nature of some pulsations and the localization of Pi2 pulsations in space.     

A time profile of millisecond pulsations of solar microwave radio bursts

An hypothesis on the interference origin of millisecond pulsations of solar-burst microwave radio emissions based on the fact that the signal scintillation appears as a result of radio-wave propagation through an inhomogeneous turbulent corona is considered. It is shown that the time profile of pulsations depends on the phase difference of interfering waves and can either look like pulses of “emission” and “absorption” or it can have a sawtooth form with slow buildup and fast drop. The observed properties of pulsations were compared with predictions of this model; this comparison showed that the formation of pulsations and their observed properties are satisfactorily explained by multipath propagation, which takes place at traversal of the coronal plasma by radio waves.     

Multipoint observations of low latitude ULF Pc3 waves in south-east Australia

Geomagnetic pulsations recorded on the ground are the signatures of the integrated signals from the magnetosphere. Pc3 geomagnetic pulsations are quasi-sinusoidal variations in the earth’s magnetic field in the period range 10–45 seconds. The magnitude of these pulsations ranges from fraction of a nT (nano Tesla) to several nT. These pulsations can be observed in a number of ways. However, the application of ground-based magnetometer arrays has proven to be one of the most successful methods of studying the spatial structure of hydromagnetic waves in the earth’s magnetosphere. The solar wind provides the energy for the earth’s magnetospheric processes. Pc3–5 geomagnetic pulsations can be generated either externally or internally with respect to the magnetosphere. The Pc3 studies undertaken in the past have been confined to middle and high latitudes. The spatial and temporal variations observed in Pc3 occurrence are of vital importance because they provide evidence which can be directly related to wave generation mechanisms both inside and external to the magnetosphere. At low latitudes (L < 3) wave energy predominates in the Pc3 band and the spatial characteristics of these pulsations have received little attention in the past. An array of four low latitude induction coil magnetometers were established in south-east Australia over a longitudinal range of 17 degrees at L = 1.8 to 2.7 for carrying out the study of the effect of the solar wind velocity on these pulsations. Digital dynamic spectra showing Pc3 pulsation activity over a period of about six months have been used to evaluate Pc3 pulsation occurrence. Pc3 occurrence probability at low latitudes has been found to be dominant for the solar wind velocity in the range 400–700 km/s. The results suggest that solar wind controls Pc3 occurrence through a mechanism in which Pc3 wave energy is convected through the magnetosheath and coupled to the standing oscillations of magnetospheric field lines.     

Derivation of the amplitude equations of acoustic modes of an unstable semi-infinite polytrope

The coupling of non-radial pulsations and convection is studied on a simple example: an unstable semi-infinite polytrope. An expansion is proposed and the equations that should describe correctly the pulsations are isolated. The additional complications of the real solar case are discussed at the end.     

A Search for Pulsating, Mass-Accreting Components in Algol-Type Eclipsing Binaries

We present a status report on the search for pulsations in primary componants of Algols systems (oEA stars). Analysis of 21 systems with A0-F2 spectral type primaries revealed pulsations in two systems suggesting that of the order of ten persent of Algols primaries in this range are actually pulsators.     

Simultaneous ground-satellite observations of Pi 2 magnetic pulsations and their high frequency enhancement

Pi 2 magnetic pulsations are a frequent occurrence at the earth's surface and have been shown to be clearly correlated with substorm expansion onset. These pulsations are also observed in space at synchronous orbit at the same time as they are seen on the ground at the satellite conjugate point. In this brief report we describe three days in 1969 on which Pi 2 magnetic pulsations were simultaneously observed at the synchronous satellite ATS 1 and at Tungsten, N.W.T., Canada, near the foot of the ATS 1 magnetic field line. These Pi 2 bursts all exhibit the characteristic waveform and frequency, as well as an ～0.3 Hz enhancement, at both locations. This high frequency enhancement appears to be an integral part of Pi 2 bursts both on the surface and at synchronous orbit and should be considered in the development of models of generation mechanisms.     

A criterion of double-mode pulsation from coupling coefficients

A criterion for the occurrence of double-mode pulsations is derived from linear adiabatic coupling coefficients The criterion indicates that double-mode pulsations of classical Cepheids occur at a shorter period range than the observed one, and that the evolutionary mass models are preferable for the double-mode pulsations.     

Correlations between ground observations of Pi 2 geomagnetic pulsations and satellite plasma density observations

Ground observations of Pi 2 geomagnetic pulsations are correlated with satellite measurements of plasma density for three time intervals. The pulsations were recorded using the IGS network of magnetometer stations and the plasma density measurements were made on board GEOS-1 and ISEE-1. Using the technique of complex demodulation, the amplitude, phase and polarisation characteristics of the Pi 2 pulsations are observed along two meridional profiles; one from Eidar, Iceland (L = 6.7) to Cambridge, U.K. (L = 2.5) and the other from Tromso, Norway (tL = 6.2) to Nurmijarvi, Finland (L = 3.3). The observed characteristics of the Pi 2 pulsations are then compared with the plasma density measurements. Close relationships between the plasmapause position and the position of an ellipticity reversal and a variation in H component phase are observed. A small, secondary amplitude maximum is observed on the U.K./Iceland meridian well inside the position of the projection of the equatorial plasmapause. The primary maxima on the two meridians, in general occur close to the estimated position of the equatorward edge of a westward electrojet. Using the plasma density measurements, the periods of surface waves at the plasmapause for two intervals are estimated and found to be in good agreement with the dominant spectral peaks observed at the ground stations near the plasmapause latitude and within the plasmasphere. The polarisation reversal, together with phase characteristics, spectral evidence and the agreement between the theoretical and observed periods leads to the suggestion that on occasions a surface wave is excited on the plasmapause as an intermediate stage in the propagation of Pi 2 pulsations from the auroral zone to lower latitudes.     

太阳微波低频段射电脉动现象的观测分析

综述云南天文台“四波段（１４２０ 、２０００ 、２８４０ 和４０００ ＭＨｚ） 太阳射电高时间分辨率同步观测系统”在１９８９ 年１２ 月—１９９４ 年１ 月期间所观测到的１２ 个射电脉动事件,发现在这些波段有多种不同特征的脉动现象,并在此基础上对脉动的形态、周期、带宽等观测特征作了分析和讨论     

Observational evidence for solar coronal decimetric radio pulsations with very short periods

Using the decimetric (700–1500 MHz) radio spectrometer and the synchronous observational system with high temporal resolution at four frequencies (1420, 2130, 2840 and 4260 MHz) of Yunnan Observatory, two rare events were observed on 2001 June 24 and 1990 July 30. The former was a small radio burst exhibiting pulsations with short periods (about 29, 40 and 100 ms) in the impulsive phase. The latter was a large radio burst, which at 2840 MHz produced radio pulsations with period of about 30 ms. This paper focuses on pulsations with very short periods in the range of 29–40 ms. The mechanism of generation of such pulsations may be modulation of radio radiation by the periodic trains of whistler packets originating in unstable regions of the corona. Alternatively, these pulsations can be attributed to wave-wave non-linear interactions of electrostatic upper hybrid waves driven by beams of precipitating electrons in flaring loops.     

Transient ULF pulsation decay rates observed by ground based magnetometers: The contribution of spatial integration

Theoretical studies suggest that Joule dissipation in the ionosphere is the major source of damping for resonant ULF pulsations. The decay rates of transient pulsations (i.e. short-lived pulsations with latitude dependent periods) observed by ground based magnetometers are however generally larger than those predicted, and also larger than those observed in the magnetosphere. We have modelled the integration effects of ground based magnetometers on transient pulsations by considering empirical models of the associated ionospheric currents. The simulated ground magnetometer data show a smearing of the amplitude and period variations, which is more pronounced for smaller scale (specifically latitudinal) variations. The period increase with latitude is reduced, and may even be eliminated over appreciable latitude ranges. For all spatial scales the observed decay rates are typically 2–3 times larger than the true values, due to the additional decay resulting from spatial integration of the incoherent transient pulsations. Estimates of the ionospheric Pedersen conductance based on ground magnetometer observations of decay rates are correspondingly too small, and spurious gradients may be introduced. The present calculations reconcile observed decay rates on the ground with those predicted using the assumption that Joule dissipation is the dominant damping mechanism for toroidal mode resonant oscillations.     

Hard x-ray Pulsations in the Initial Phase of Flares

When analyzing light curves of hard X-ray bursts recorded by the Hard X-Ray Spectrometer on board the MTI satellite, we have found three events (all associated with major solar flares, two of them in the same active region) which show pulsations in the very initial phase of the burst. Periods of the pulsations range from 25 to 48 s. We compare them with other observations of pulsations of radio waves and in X-rays and conclude that pulsations of this kind have not been observed before. We mention several possible causes and prefer interactions between current-carrying loops as the most likely interpretation of the observed variations.     

Some features of Pc5 pulsations during a solar cycle

The morphological features of Pc5 pulsations during a solar cycle are studied using Fort Churchill data for the years 1962–1972. Some of the characteristics noted are as follows: (1) Increasing sunspot numbers show little influence on the diurnal variation of the occurrence, amplitude and the period except perhaps some noticeable change in the absolute magnitude of these parameters during different hours of the day. (2) The morning occurrence peak dominates during all phases of the solar cycle. (3) As noted earlier (Gupta 1973a), with increasing magnetic activity the day side region(s) of generation of Pc5 is found to shift closer to the subsolar point and in the midnight sector, the occurrence region (presumably the region of open and closed field lines) seemed to shift towards earlier hours with increasing magnetic activity and towards later hours with increasing sunspot numbers. (4) Despite the smaller number of data points for high magnetic activity levels the analysis indicates that the amplitude of Pc5 pulsations is directly related to all the levels of magnetic activity. (5) The periods of Pc5 pulsations show strong correlation with increasing sunspot numbers and the amplitude and occurrences are found to vary in accordance with the magnetic activity all through the cycle. (6) The annual and semi-annual variations of Pc5 parameters have been demonstrated especially for the pulsations occurring in the morning close to 8 ± 1 h LT and for those occurring near the midnight hours. (7) A suspected 27-day recurrence tendency has been clearly noticed for the occurrence, amplitude and period of Pc5 pulsations.     

Fine structures in solar radio bursts at a 21 cm wavelength and pulsation modulation

The solar burst of 13 July, 1986 at 21 cm wavelength was recorded with a time constant of 8 ms. In the course of the burst lasting for about 40 min there appeared distinct stages of the burst's evolution. They consisted of the pattern of energy release in flares which was proposed by Sturrock et al. (1984). There were pulsations with periodicities of 0.178 and 4 s superimposed on the flux density. The pulsations were quasiperiodical with features of almost unchanged mean periods. The relative amplitude of the pulsation modulation changed with the phase of the burst; in general, it reached 10–20% in the rising phase. The possible mechanisms of pulsations are discussed and some plasma parameters of oscillation sources are deduced.     

Quasi-Periodic Long-Term Solar Radio Pulsations During A Decimetric Type IV Burst

Long-periodic pulsations with a period of tens of seconds associated with a Type IV solar radio emission are found at 1420 and 2000 MHz. Some features (such as the bandwidth, periodicity, frequency drift, amplitude, and relative amplitude) of the pulsations are introduced and discussed in this paper.     

Location of Decimetric Pulsations in Solar Flares

This work investigates the spatial relation between coronal X-ray sources and coherent radio emissions, both generally thought to be signatures of particle acceleration. Two limb events were selected during which the radio emission was well correlated in time with hard X-rays. The radio emissions were of the type of decimetric pulsations as determined from the spectrogram observed by Phoenix-2 of ETH Zurich. The radio positions were measured from observations with the Nançay Radioheliograph between 236 and 432 MHz and compared to the position of the coronal X-ray source imaged with RHESSI. The radio pulsations originated at least 30?–?240 Mm above the coronal hard X-ray source. The altitude of the radio emission increases generally with lower frequency. The average positions at different frequencies are on a line pointing approximately to the coronal hard X-ray source. Thus, the pulsations cannot be caused by electrons trapped in the flare loops, but are consistent with emission from a current sheet above the coronal source.     

High resolution method of direct measurement of the magnetic field lines'' eigen frequencies

The simultaneous observations of Pc4 geomagnetic pulsations at the two temporary stations, located along the geomagnetic meridian 50 km to the North and South from the observatory Borok (L = 2.8), have been used for the investigation of amplitude gradients of both H- and D-components of these pulsations. It has been discovered that the direction of a meridional component of the gradient H (grad_MH) depends on the frequency ƒ of a spectral component of pulsations. The grad_MD is directed more or less permanently northward independently from the frequency ƒ These results are the consequence of a local amplification of geomagnetic pulsations due to Alfvén waves resonance along the magnetic field lines. It has been demonstrated that the frequencies ƒ_R for which the northward direction of grad_MH is replaced by the southward one (with increasing ƒ) can be interpreted as the eigen frequencies of the field line which intersects the meridian in the middle between two temporary stations, i.e. in Borok.

The possible applications of a gradient method of measurement of the magnetic field lines' eigen frequencies are discussed.