On the fine structure of the evershed effect

The fine structure of the Evershed effect was studied using spectrograms obtained on 3 July 1969 at the Pulkovo Observatory. The results of the study of Fei and Cai lines show that the outward motion in the penumbra is concentrated only in dark filaments. It is supposed that interfilamentary spaces are parts of the photosphere not covered by dark filaments. The velocity variation along a few dark filaments shows that maximum velocity is at a distance 0.8 Rs from the center of the sunspot. The mean velocity in the interfilamentary elements is of the same order as that in the photosphere directly adjoining the penumbra. The results of measurement in Ti ii, Fe ii and CH lines show that in the colder upper part of the penumbra (CH) the velocity is greater than the velocity measured in the deeper layers (Feii and Tiii). The mean velocity at the outer boundaries of the dark filaments (Tii) is 1.5–2.0 km/s.     

The spectrum of the manganese-scandium star ϕ Herculis

Among manganese stars, Herculis is of great interest because of the unusual strength of the scandium lines. We present intensity measurements for numerous lines ofCii, Mgi, Mgii, Siii, Caii, Scii, Tiii, Crii, Mni, Mnii, Fei, Feii, Coii, Srii,Yii, and Zrii.     

Temporal variations of the magnetic field in sunspots

We obtained simultaneous spectra with a spatial resolution of 1/2 and a temporal resolution of 15 s in H, Ca ii-K, Caii 8542 Å, and three Fei lines of the sunspot group responsible for the large flares of August, 1972 (McMath No. 11976). A time series taken 1972, August 3 in the Fei 6173 Å Zeeman sensitive line was analyzed for oscillations of field strength and the angle between the field and the line of sight, and for changes of the field associated with the Ca ii-K umbral flashes discovered by Beckers and Tallant (1969). The power spectra show no significant peaks, conflicting with the results of Mogilevskii et al. (1972) who reported oscillations in the longitudinal component of the field strength with periods of 56, 90, and 150 s. Changes in the field were not observed to be correlated with the occurrence of umbral flashes. These results place restrictions on magnetic modes of energy transport between the photospheric layers and the chromospheric layers where the umbral flashes are observed.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

The center-to-limb wavelength shift of a number of Fraunhofer lines

The center-to-limb wavelength shifts of the cores of faint, medium and strong Fraunhofer lines are presented: Fei 3767, Caii 3968, Ceii 4222, Cai 4227, Nai 5896, Baii 6497, and Ki 7699.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Motions in solar magnetic tubes

The line-centre-magnetogram technique has been used to measure the average velocity in magnetic elements in plages and isolated magnetic elements (including dipoles) in Ca ii 8542, Mg i 5183, Fe i 8688 and C i 9111. The velocities vary from 0.6 km s^–1 downflow in the line of deepest origin to zero in the highest. The smooth curve obtained by combining these with the results of other investigators is in conformity with Giovanelli's (1977) theory of inflow in the neighborhood of the temperature minimum.This material is based upon research supported by the National Science Foundation under its contract No. AST 74-04129 with the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., for management, operation and maintenance of the Kitt Peak National Observatory.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory.     

On spatial characteristics of five-minute oscillations in the sunspot umbra

Using a differential method we have carried out observations of oscillations in six sunspots. Spectral lines Fe i 5434 Å and Fe i 5576 Å were used. Horizontal waves are not observed in the sunspot umbra photosphere. Results obtained indicate that, at least, the sunspot umbra oscillates as a single whole.     

Wave propagation in the photosphere

Using a 32 minutes sequence of observation, brightness and velocity fluctuations in the wings of the Mgi line at 5172.7 Å and Fe ii line at 5197.578 Å are analysed. The analysis of phase shifts and amplitude ratios leads to the following conclusions:

Do polar faculae on the sun predict a sunspot cycle?

The paper reports the results of the analysis of the data on polar faculae for three solar cycles (1960–1986) at the Kislovodsk Station of the Pulkovo Observatory and on polar bright points in Ca ii K line for two solar cycles (1940–1957) at the Kodaikanal Station of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics. We have noticed that the monthly numbers of polar faculae and polar bright points in Ca ii K line and monthly sunspot areas in each hemisphere of the following solar cycle have a correlation with each other. A new cycle of polar faculae and polar bright points in the Ca ii K line begins after the polar magnetic field reversal. We find that the smaller the period between the ending of the polar field reversal and the beginning of a new sunspot cycle is, the more intense is the cycle itself. The intensity of the forthcoming solar cycle (cycle 22) and the periods of strong fluctuations in activity expected in this cycle are also discussed.     

Planetary nebula with a neutral envelope?

IUE ultraviolet spectral recording for a low excitating planetary nebula NGC 6369 is obtained. The very strong doublet 2800 Mgii in emission as well as not less strong absorption line 2852 Mgi are discovered in the spectrum of this nebula. It is shown that the resonance line 2852 Mgi may originate only in a neutral envelope, around the nebula, consisting of neutral hydrogen, neutral magnesium, and dust particles (Hi+Mgi). The importance of this absorption line as a powerful indicator of the discovery of neutral envelopes around the planetary nebulae is outlined.The possibility of the existence of one more envelope—transition zone—immediately contacting with the bright that is ionized part of nebula (Hii+Mgii) is also shown. The transition zone consists of neutral hydrogen, ionized magnesium, and dust particles (Hi+Mgii), main parameters of this zone are also obtained (Table IV).The temperature of the central star of this nebula is obtained for the first time:T _*=48000 K. Continuous background in the interval 2600–3000 Å is identified with Balmer continuum with electron temperatureT _e =12500 K.     

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.     

The Solar Spectral Irradiance as a Function of the Mg <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis> Index for Atmosphere and Climate Modelling

We present a new method to reconstruct the solar spectrum irradiance in the Ly α – 400 nm region, and its variability, based on the Mg ii index and neutron-monitor measurements. Measurements of the solar spectral irradiance available in the literature have been made with different instruments at different times and different spectral ranges. However, climate studies require harmonised data sets. This new approach has the advantage of being independent of the absolute calibration and aging of the instruments. First, the Mg ii index is derived using solar spectra from Ly α (121 nm) to 410 nm measured from 1978 to 2010 by several space missions. The variability of the spectra with respect to a chosen reference spectrum as a function of time and wavelength is scaled to the derived Mg ii index. The set of coefficients expressing the spectral variability can be applied to the chosen reference spectrum to reconstruct the solar spectra within a given time frame or Mg ii index values. The accuracy of this method is estimated using two approaches: direct comparison with particular cases where solar spectra are available from independent measurements, and calculating the standard deviation between the measured spectra and their reconstruction. From direct comparisons with measurements we obtain an accuracy of about 1 to 2%, which degrades towards Ly α. In a further step, we extend our solar spectral-irradiance reconstruction back to the Maunder Minimum introducing the relationship between the Mg ii index and the neutron-monitor data. Consistent measurements of the Mg ii index are not available prior to 1978. However, we remark that over the last three solar cycles, the Mg ii index shows strong correlation with the modulation potential determined from the neutron-monitor data. Assuming that this correlation can be applied to the past, we reconstruct the Mg ii index from the modulation potential back to the Maunder Minimum, and obtain the corresponding solar spectral-irradiance reconstruction back to that period. As there is no direct measurement of the spectral irradiance for this period we discuss this methodology in light of the other proposed approaches available in the literature. The use of the cosmogenic-isotope data provides a major advantage: it provides information about solar activity over several thousands years. Using technology of today, we can calibrate the solar irradiance against activity and thus reconstruct it for the times when cosmogenic-isotope data are available. This calibration can be re-assessed at any time, if necessary.     

Lα, Lβ (of Hi), k and h (of Mgii), K and H (of Ca ii) observations in a quiescent prominence with the OSO-8 LPSP instrument

A sequence of images taken at different positions in the resonance lines of Ca ii, Mg ii, and H i was obtained over a quiescent prominence with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8. Ca ii K (and H) profiles are reconstructed at different locations in the prominence with a (10 × 5) arc sec² resolution. Significant variations of FWHM and line shifts are found: FWHM range from 0.14 Å to 0.5 Å; blue shifts reach about 14 km s^-1. The ratio of K to H absolute intensities shows a large spread around the average value of 1.2. The same ratio for the Mg ii lines in the whole prominence is higher (1.7), a fact already noticed at the edge of an active prominence (Vial et al., 1979). The ionization degree, as measured by the L/Ca K ratio, shows noticeable variations within the prominence. The L intensity is about 0.3 times the intensity measured in the quiet Sun, and the L/L ratio is less than one half the disk value. These results indicate important variations of the thermal conditions inside the prominence.DASOP, Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France.     

A Contribution to the Understanding of Chromospheric Oscillations

We present SUMER/SOHO UV measurements of chromospheric oscillations of intensity, velocity, and linewidth observed in C i, S i, O i, and C ii lines, which are formed in the altitude range from 1000 km to 2000 km above τ ₅₀₀=1. Oscillations in lines originating at similar altitudes exhibit different behaviors which we discuss in terms of the formation of the lines.     

On the unusual H∈ emission in a sunspot umbra spectrum

A study is made of characteristics of the oscillatory process in a sunspot where, in addition to the high brightness in the cores of the H and K Caii lines, the H∈ line was also in emission. A bright H∈ emission persisted during six days at least. An analog of the behaviour of the Caii and H∈ lines can be seen, presumably, on dwarf stars dKe and dMe.     

Forbidden lines of Ca II in the photospheric spectrum

On scans obtained with the Oxford photoelectric spectrometer, the [Ca ii] transition 4s ²S_1/2-3d ²D_3/2; is identified with a weak Fraunhofer line. It is argued that the strength of the line is consistent with the abundance of calcium which is derived from the permitted lines of Ca i and Ca ii.     

High-chromosphere and low-transition-region network: A different organization in an equatorial coronal hole?

In order to investigate the high chromosphere and the low transition region in a coronal hole, we have analysed Ca ii, Mg ii and hydrogen resonance lines, recorded by the OSO-8 spectrometer in 1975. We present the comparison between average profiles observed in and out of the equatorial coronal hole which was at the center of the solar disk between 27 and 29 November, 1975. We separate internetwork and quiet-Sun (network+internetwork) profiles: for the internetwork, we observe that the hydrogen and Mg ii profiles recorded in the hole are stronger than the profiles recorded out of the hole; a similar result, but with a much lower contrast, is found for the quiet Sun. We discuss this surprising result.     

Physical properties of solar chromospheric plages

We compute a new grid of plage models to determine the difference in temperature versus mass column density structure T(m) between plage regions and the quiet solar chromosphere, and to test whether the solar chromosphere is geometrically thinner in plages. We compare partial redistribution calculations of Mg ii h and k and Ca ii K to NRL Skylab observations of Mg ii h and k in six active regions and Ca ii K intensities obtained from spectroheliograms taken at approximately the same time as the Mg ii observations. We find that the plage observations are better matched by models with linear (in log m) temperature distributions and larger values of m ₀ (the mass column density at the 8000 K layer in the chromosphere), than by models with larger low chromosphere temperature gradients but values of m ₀ similar to the quiet Sun. Our derived temperature structures are in agreement with the grid originally proposed by Shine and Linsky, but our analysis is in contrast to the study by Kelch which implies that stellar chromospheric geometrical thickness is not affected by chromospheric activity. We conclude that either the stellar Mg ii observations upon which the Kelch study was based are of poorer quality than had been assumed, or that the spatial averaging of inhomogeneous structures, which is inherent in the stellar data, does not lead to a best fit one-component model similar in detail to that of a stellar or a solar plage.Visiting Astronomer at Kitt Peak National Observatory, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.Staff member, Quantum Physics Division, National Bureau of Standards.     

The supergranule velocity field

A study of supergranule motions confirms horizontal velocities with peak values of typically 0.36 km s^–1 as observed in Fe i 8688 Å. These show no significant variation with height over the range of formation of C i 9111, Fe i 8688, and Mg i 8806, but there is a substantial reduction to about one-half of this at the level of Ca ii 8542.Near disk center, supergranule vertical velocities in Fe i 8688 have rms values ±0.01 km ^–1, after allowance for the residual effects of the line-of-sight component of the horizontal supergranule motions, the five-minute oscillations, granule motions, and detector drift. There is a marginally-significant association of magnetic elements, and hence of cell boundaries, with downward motions; but this requires further testing.Measurements of downward velocities 0.1 km^–1 in regions of strong magnetic field when using unpolarized light are attributed to the much higher downflow inside the elements themselves and have nothing to do with supergranule motions.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

The He <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis> Lines in the Lyman Series Profiles of Solar Prominences

The hydrogen and helium lines are the most prominent lines in the solar prominences spectra. Observations with the SUMER spectrometer onboard SOHO showed that there are weak lines in the blue wings of the Lyman series which affect their profiles. They were all identified as He ii lines in the Lyman series wings, except for the Lα line whose profile was affected by the use of an attenuator. The He ii lines are the even Balmer lines of the He ii system, a set of lines that we complete with the odd ones. We characterize them by comparison with the blue wings of the Lyman series in order to improve the H Lyman series observations and modeling, on one hand and to provide He ii lines observations for further combined H – He i – He ii modeling, on the other hand.     

Evolution du spectre de la Nova Delphini 1967 en 1971 et 1972

Continued spectroscopic observations of Nova Del 67 during 1971 and 1972 show a general decrease of the nebular and coronal emission with respect to the local continuum. The continuous spectrum exhibits a strong Balmer emission (figure 1). Equivalent widths of Hi, Hei, Heii, Oi, [Oi], Oii, [Oii], Oiii, [Oiii], Niii, [Sii], [Aiii], [Neiii], [Nev], [Fevi], [Fevii], [Fex], [Fexi], [Fexiv], [Nixvi], [Nixv] are listed in tables 1 and 2.Figures 5 to 10 show several line profiles, which can be interpreted in terms of a model proposed by Hutchings (1972). Kinematical properties of the nova envelope do not seem to have changed in the 1968–1972 time interval. However, a study of the [Oiii] (4959 Å) line indicates that the physical conditions in the polar blobs in 1972 (T _e=10 660 K,N _e=5,5×10⁵ cm^–3) are different from those prevailing in equatorial rings (T _e=9×100 K,N _e=7×10⁵ cm^–3).

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Le matérial d'observation utilisé pour cette étude a été obtenu à l'aide de téléscopes de 120 cm, 152 cm et 193 cm de l'Observatoire de Haute-Provence (CNRS).