Some new Dy II identifications in the solar spectrum

Extension of the identification of singly ionized dysprosium lines in the solar chromosphere and disk has been made from a recently published laboratory analysis of the first and second spectrum.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Fe xiv and other line identifications in the solar EUV spectrum

A number of solar extreme ultraviolet lines, previously unidentified or given assignments at the time of observation, are found to be coincident in wavelength with transitions recently identified as aluminum-like or magnesium-like in the laboratory. Three tables summarize the results of this comparison, which does not imply positive identifications but suggests that several assignments may be valid. Additional assignments are proposed in other ions and a revised table of predicted and observed forbidden line wavelengths in the Ne i sequence is included.     

Proposed Mg V,Fe XIV and forbidden Fe XVII line identifications in the EUV solar spectrum

Some line identifications in solar disk and limb spectra are proposed on the basis of recent laboratory and theoretical results reported in the literature, including allowed lines of Mgi and Fexiv in the EUV spectrum and an expected forbidden line of Fexvii near 1190 Å.     

The spectrum of the inner corona observed during the total solar eclipse of 30 May 1965

A series of spectrograms of the inner solar corona were obtained at the total solar eclipse of 30 May 1965 using a fast spectrograph with a circular slit that recorded the spectrum from 3000 to 9000 at all position angles around the limb simultaneously. In this paper absolute intensity is given as a function of position angle for the stronger lines and the continuum. In the coronal enhancement or condensation centered at heliocentric position angle 293°, absolute intensity is given for 34 forbidden emission lines and the continuum.     

Continuous absorption and depression in the solar spectrum at wavelengths from 650 to 820 nm

Results of calculations of the cross-sections of the basic processes forming continuous absorption in the photospheres of solar-type stars in the visible and infrared spectral ranges are reported. (These processes are photoionization of H^– ions and excited hydrogen atoms, as well as absorption of photons by “free” electrons being in the partially ionized plasma of the photosphere.) The effective cross-section of hydrogen satisfying the observational data or the results of laboratory experiments was introduced, and its nonmonotonic behavior caused by photoionization of excited hydrogen atoms was ascertained in the spectral range of λ from 650 to 820 nm. For a plane-parallel model of the Sun, the continuous absorption coefficient κ _c (λ|z) was calculated as a function of the wavelength and coordinate. Its spectral features caused by the effective cross-section structure in the above-mentioned spectral range were for the first time analyzed. The spectral dependence of the radiation intensity in the solar disk center in the continuous spectral range of λ from 600 to 900 nm was studied. The calculation results were compared to the currently available data of observations. It has been shown that the deviation of the observed radiation intensity from the Planck distribution (i.e., the depression) is caused by the processes of photoionization of the excited hydrogen atoms in the states with a principal quantum number n = 3. In the range of λ from 650 to 820 nm, the mean relative deviation is approximately 4%. It has been established that the magnitude of the depression effect significantly depends on the effective temperature of the photosphere of a solar-type star.     

Parametric identification of solar series based on an adaptive parallel methodology

In this work we present an adaptive parallel methodology to optimize the identification of time series through parametric models, applying it to the case of sunspot series. We employ high precision computation of system identification algorithms, and use recursive least squares processing and ARMAX (Autoregressive Moving Average Extensive) parametric modelling. This methodology could be very useful when the high precision mathematical modelling of dynamic complex systems is required. After explaining the proposed heuristics and the tuning of its parameters, we show the results we have found for several solar series using different implementations. Thus, we demonstrate how the result precision improves.     

Magneto-sensitive lines in the solar spectrum

In this paper a numerical solution of the equations of transfer of the Stokes parameters in the presence of magnetic fields has been carried out. This yields the profiles of the Stokes parameters for three magneto-sensitive spectral lines (FEI λλ 6302.499, 6173.341, 5250.216). The magnetic broadening, temperature sensitivity and some other properties of these lines have also been investigated.In Unno's pioneering work, an algebraic solution of the equations of transfer of the Stokes parameters were obtained under a series of assumptions. Two of these are: 1) The source function B, varies linearly with the optical depth τ_λ; 2) The atmosphere follows the Milne-Eddington model. In this paper we have abandoned both these unrealistic assumptions. In consequence, our numerical solution agrees with observations better than the algebraic solution of Unno.     

Titan solar occultation observed by Cassini/VIMS: Gas absorption and constraints on aerosol composition

A solar occultation by Titan's atmosphere has been observed through the solar port of the Cassini/VIMS instrument on January 15th, 2006. Transmission spectra acquired during solar egress probe the atmosphere in the altitude range 70 to 900 km at the latitude of 71° S. Several molecular absorption bands of CH₄ and CO are visible in these data. A line-by-line radiative transfer calculation in spherical geometry is used to model three methane bands (1.7, 2.3, 3.3 μm) and the CO 4.7 μm band. Above 200 km, the methane 2.3 μm band is well fit with constant mixing ratio between 1.4 and 1.7%, in agreement with in situ and other Cassini measurements. Under 200 km, there are discrepancies between models and observations that are yet fully understood. Under 480 km, the 3.3 μm CH₄ band is mixed with a large and deep additional absorption. It corresponds to the C-H stretching mode of aliphatic hydrocarbon chains attached to large organic molecules. The CO 4.7 μm band is observed in the lower stratosphere (altitudes below 150 km) and is well fit with a model with constant mixing ratio of 33±10 ppm. The continuum level of the observed transmission spectra provides new constraints on the aerosol content of the atmosphere. A model using fractal aggregates and optical properties of tholins produced by Khare et al. [Khare, B.N., Sagan, C., Arakawa, E.T., Suits, F., Callcott, T.A., Williams, M.W., 1984. Icarus 60, 127-137] is developed. Fractal aggregates with more than 1000 spheres of radius 0.05 μm are needed to fit the data. Clear differences in the chemical composition are revealed between tholins and actual haze particles. Extinction and density profiles are also retrieved using an inversion of the continuum values. An exponential increase of the haze number density is observed under 420 km with a typical scale height of 60 km.     

Satellite lines in the solar X-ray spectrum

Observations of solar X-ray line emission using crystal spectrometers during a large chromospheric flare have provided a list of wavelengths with a precision of 0.003 Å in first order of diffraction and correspondingly better in higher orders. In addition to the resonance, intersystem (1 ¹ S ₀-2 ³ P ₁) and forbidden (1 ¹ S ₀-2 ³ S ₁) transitions of ions of the Hei isoelectronic sequence, we have recorded satellite lines arising from ions in the Lii, Bei and Bi isoelectronic sequences. These satellite features are most prominent in the iron spectrum. Apparent decreases in the ratio of forbidden and intersystem line intensities of Mgxi and Sixiii during the flare are used to derive electron densities possibly as high as 1 × 10¹³ cm^–3 in the Mgxi emitting region and 1 × 10¹⁴ cm^–3 in the Sixiii region during the event. A search for satellite lines on the long-wavelength side of the Lyman-alpha line of Hi-like ions has yielded no positive identifications.     

Dynamics of the energy spectra of solar proton events observed in solar cycle 23

The proton energy spectra I(E, t) as functions of time were obtained and analyzed in the energy range of a few tens of MeV on the basis of GOES observations of proton enhancements during solar cycle 23. The energy spectra were approximated by power-law functions. We found a wide variety of functions I(E, t) for studied events. The spectra cannot be described by a universal function of time, although three groups of proton events seem to have some common features. This allows us to outline an approach to their empirical classification in future using a number of dimensionless scaling parameters. The regularities we observe may be partly due to the dynamical processes occurring on the Sun, in the heliosphere, and magnetosphere.     

The spectrum of Nixix in the solar corona

The wavelengths and intensities of the stronger transitions in the spectrum of Ni xix are reduced from measurements of the X-ray spectra of three coronal active regions. The new measured wavelengths are consistent with prediction by isoelectronic extrapolation from the wavelengths of well established transitions but are about 0.01 Å longer than previously accepted laboratory measurements. This difference appears to be crucial to the correct assignment of features in the coronal spectrum to Ni xix. The relative intensities of our new assignments to Ni xix are in broad agreement with the Loulergue-Nussbaumer calculations.     

Secular variations in the spectrum of solar p-modes

The solar p-mode spectrum of very low I is measured with high accuracy for a long enough period of time so as to allow the search for solar cycle variations. In this paper solar cycle variations of the frequency and energy of the modes are confirmed. Moreover, a slight variation,within errors, of its rotational splitting with the solar cycle, is suggested.     

H and K (Ca II) emissions as observed in coronal spectrum in the July 20, 1963 solar eclipse

From a detailed analysis of a coronal spectrum taken from a DC-8 jet airplane during the Eclipse of 20 July, 1963 a rough model of a coronal cold region (T 10⁵ K) has been obtained.The model explains the presence of the abnormal H and K (Ca II) emissions and the large amount of F corona present in the spectrum.     

Methane absorption variations in the spectrum of Pluto

Absolute spectrophotometry of Pluto in the wavelength range of 5600 to 10,500 Å was obtained on 4 nights covering lightcurve phases of 0.18, 0.35, 0.49, and 0.98. The four phases included minimum light (0.98) and one near maximum light (0.49). The spectra reveal significant variations in the absorption depths of the methane bands at 6200, 7200, 7900, 8400, 8600, 8900, and 10,000 Å. The minimum amount of absorption was found to occur at minimum light. This variation would imply a 30° change in the column abundance of methane within 3 days. A model employing an anisotropic surface distribution of methane frost and a clear layer of CH₄ gas was developed to explain the variation in absorption strength with rotational phase. The fit to the overall spectrum requires the presence of a frost with particle sizes on the order of a few millimeters. An upper limit of 5.5 m-am is derived for the one-way column abundance of CH₄ gas. An equally good fit to the variation of the 7200-Å band is obtained if the atmosphere is removed from the model entirely.     

Relation of the observed far ultraviolet solar irradiance to the solar magnetic sector structure

Comparison of the observed solar far ultraviolet irradiance and the observed solar sector structure during 1969 through 1972 shows a tendency for EUV maxima to be located near sector boundaries.     

24MgH+ in the solar photospheric spectrum

The²⁴MgH⁺ (A ¹⁺ –X ¹⁺) molecular lines have been identified in the photospheric spectrum. The rotational excitation temperature determined from the analysis of molecular line intensities of²⁴MgH⁺ is found to be of the order of 4850 K which corresponds to the photospheric temperature of the Sun. The CNDO/2 dipole moments of²⁴MgH⁺ for internuclear distance range: (1.3–2.1) Å in theX ¹⁺ state can be approximated byM(R)=4.92+1.33R. Estimations for the spontaneous emission Einstein coefficients (A _{v v} ) and the absorption oscillator strengths (f _{v v} ) for the (1, 0), (2, 0), and (2, 1) transitions in theX ¹⁺ state of the²⁴MgH⁺ ion are also made.Work partially supported by the CNPq, Brasilia under contract number 30.4076/77.