When and where are solar cosmic rays accelerated most efficiently?

The acceleration of particles by solar flares with extremely large proton fluxes whose energies exceed 100 MeV is considered. Most importantly, the location of the source of such acceleration in the flare of July 14, 2000, is determined assuming that the acceleration time coincides with the observed burst of hard line and continuous gamma-ray emission. The onset of this event corresponds to 10:19 UT, when data taken by the TRACE space observatory show that one of the flare ribbons reached a large sunspot in a group. The time interval for the development of the flare, 10:20–10:28 UT, is associated with the beginning of an increasing proton flux at the Earth. The region of efficient acceleration is estimated to be approximately two to three times higher than the height where the hard X-ray pulse usually originates (about 7000 km). The results are generalized for 28 powerful flares with extremely efficient acceleration of relativistic particles—in particular, for the well-studied events of June 15, 1991, and May 24, 1990—and are compared with the results of a statistical analysis of over 1100 increasing-proton-flux events. Efficient particle acceleration seems to be associated with the powerful impulsive episodes of the large flares analyzed. The results suggest that, along with sources of local (as in impulsive flares) and post-eruptive acceleration, there is an additional, very efficient, moderate-scale “accelerator” in tenuous regions with fairly strong magnetic fields and magnetic-field gradients.     

High-energy solar gamma rays in solar cycle 22: Data from the Gamma-1 experiment

We present an analysis of the temporal and spectral characteristics of high-energy (E>30 MeV) gamma-ray emission from solar flares in the 22nd solar-activity cycle obtained in the Gamma-1 experiment. The powerful flares of March 26, June 15, and October 27, 1991, are examined, as well as the weaker events of October 29 and December 8, 1991. Two emission phases are revealed in these flares: an active phase with individual, short bursts of radiation and a slow phase without such bursts. A qualitative scenario for the development of a solar gamma-ray flare is presented, based on the common temporal and spectral features of the observed flares and of simulation results.     

Sources of efficient acceleration of solar flare particles: Observational aspects

This work continues earlier statistical analyses of catalogued proton events in cosmic rays. The spectra of proton enhancements identified from the logarithm of the ratio of the proton fluxes with energies exceeding 100 and 10 MeV, δ = log(F ₁₀₀/F ₁₀), are studied focusing on 172 powerful events with favorable conditions for escaping from the corona and subsequent propagation in the interplanetary space. The δ distribution for the flares is Gaussian, with a comparatively weak spread in δ. The distribution maximum corresponds to an excess of the 10 MeV flux over the 100 MeV flux by a factor of 30. The fact such a frequent spectrum does exist supports the idea that both soft and hard protons are efficiently accelerated, probably by a single mechanism that operates during the explosive phases of the flares. The sizes of the loops of M2-X4 flares observed by the Yohkoh Hard X-Ray Telescope at energies exceeding 50 keV indicate low heights for the main acceleration regions. There is some excess over the Gaussian distribution for “softer” events. Some post-eruptive phenomena can be clearly distinguished in these events, and they display a correlation between δ and the total flare duration. Thus, there are two sources of the particle acceleration operating at low and high altitudes during the explosive and post-eruptive phases of the solar flares, respectively. The second source, which is manifested through some prolonged flares and filament-ejection phenomena, accelerates protons only to energies of 10–30 MeV.     

Curvature and non-resonance Compton gamma-ray emission of a radio pulsar with a non-dipolar magnetic field

We consider the influence of a non-dipolar magnetic field on the gamma-ray emission from the polar regions of a radio pulsar. The pulsar is treated in a Goldreich-Julian model with a free flow of charge from the surface of the neutron star. When finding the intensity of the gamma-ray radiation of the pulsar tube, both curvature gamma-ray radiation from the primary electrons and non-resonance inverse Compton scattering of thermal photons from the polar cap on primary electrons are taken into account. When finding the height of the upper plate of the pulsar diode, we included only positrons created by the curvature radiation of primary electrons. We assumed that the polar cap is heated by the return positron current. The influence on the gamma-ray emission of variations in both the radius of curvature of the magnetic force lines and in the electric field due to the non-dipolarity of the magnetic field were taken into account. The presence of even weak non-dipolarity of the magnetic field leads to a sharp decrease in the intensity of the gamma-ray emission from the pulsar tube at energies 1–100 MeV, while the intensity of the inverse Compton radiation (at energies 1–100 GeV) varies only relatively weakly.     

Gamma-ray radiation with energy 2.223 MeV and the density distribution in the solar atmosphere during flares

Interactions of particles accelerated in solar flares with matter in the solar atmosphere give rise to neutrons, which are efficiently captured on hydrogen nuclei as they are slowed to thermal velocities. This capture is accompanied by the emission of a gamma-ray with energy 2.223 MeV. Observational data for the temporal profiles of the gamma-ray fluxes in this line are used to study the plasma-density distribution in the solar atmosphere during the flares of December 16, 1988, March 22, 1991, and November 6, 1997. This analysis is based on comparisons between the observations and profiles computed taking into account a number of parameters describing the generation and transport of the flare neutrons in atmospheric layers of various densities. In three cases studied, the density of the material in the photosphere below the flare region is enhanced compared to the density in an unperturbed part of the solar atmosphere at the same height. In the case of the December 16, 1988 flare, we are able for the first time to relate the profile of the 2.223 MeV line with the shape of the accelerated particle (proton) spectrum. This opens new possibilities for studies of particle acceleration on the Sun based on observations of flare gamma-ray emission.     

On the correlation between spectra of solar microwave bursts and proton fluxes near the Earth

Studies of the extreme solar proton event of January 20, 2005 intensified the contest over of a long-standing problem: are solar cosmic rays arriving at the Earth accelerated by solar flares or by shocks preceding rapidly moving coronal mass ejections? Among the most important questions is the relationship between the energy spectra of the solar cosmic rays and the frequency spectra of flare microwave bursts. Some studies of previous solar-activity cycles have shown that such a relationship does exist, in particular, for protons with energies of tens of MeV. The present work analyzes this relation using data for 1987–2008. For flare events observed in the western half of the disk, there is a significant correlation between the index δ, which is equivalent to the power-law index of the integrated energy spectrum of 10–100 MeV protons detected near the Earth’s orbit, and radio burst parameters such as a ratio of peak fluxes S at two frequencies (for example, at 9 and 15 GHz) and a microwave peak frequency f _m . Proton fluxes with hard (flat) energy spectra (δ ≤ 1.5) correspond to hard microwave frequency spectra (S ₉/S ₁₅ ≤ 1 and f _m ≥ 15 GHz), while flares with soft radio spectra (S ₉/S ₁₅ ≥ 1.5 and f _m ≤ 5 GHz) result in proton fluxes with soft (steep) energy spectra (δ ≥ 1.5–2). It is also shown that powerful high-frequency bursts with the hardest radio spectra (f _m ≈ 30 GHz) can point at acceleration of significant proton fluxes in flares occurring in strong magnetic fields. These results argue that solar cosmic rays (or at least their initial impulses) are mainly accelerated in flares associated with impulsive and post-eruptive energy release, rather than in shocks driven by coronal mass ejections.     

Observation of line emission of the isotope <Superscript>22</Superscript>Na from a classical nova

Data on detections of gamma-ray line emission with COMPTEL experiment on board the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory in 1991–2000 are discussed and used to analyze the properties of classical novae. This emission is radiated during the decay of the radioactive isotope ²²Na, which should be synthesized in thermonuclear explosions occurring on these novae.     

Gamma-ray curvature radiation from the polar regions of a radio pulsar with an axisymmetric magnetic field

The influence of an axisymmetric magnetic field on the intensity, spectrum, and shape of a pulse of gamma-ray curvature radiation from the polar regions of a radio pulsar is investigated. The pulsar is considered in a Goldreich-Julian model with a free-electron emission from the neutron-star surface. The influence on the curvature radiation of variations of both the curvature of the magnetic field lines and the electric field due to the nondipolarity of the magnetic field are investigated. The presence of even modest nondipolarity (less than 10%) can lead to a sharp drop in the intensity of the gamma-ray curvature radiation, while the intensity of the X-ray curvature radiation (photon energies <100 keV) is affected only weakly.     

Tera-electron-volt radiation from the blazar 1ES 1959+650 in 2004

Observations of the blazar 1ES 1959+650, which has been identified as a point source of tera-electron-volt gamma-ray emission, were carried out on the GT-48 Cherenkov telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory from the middle of July to the middle of August 2004. Our analysis of data with an effective exposure time on-source of six hours under good weather conditions shows a clear excess of detected photons (with energies E ≥ 1 TeV) in the direction of this source, with a statistical significance of 5.2σ. Using observations of the Crab Nebula in 2002–2004 and the parameters of Cherenkov flashes similar to those observed for 1ES 1959+650 yields an estimated flux for this object of 2.0 ± 0.7 Crab (≥1 TeV). Comparison with the 2–12 keV emission of this source indicates a correlation between the mean fluxes in the two energy ranges in various observing periods.     

Integration of satellite remote sensing and geophysical techniques (electrical resistivity tomography and ground penetrating radar) for landslide characterization at Kunjethi (Kalimath), Garhwal Himalaya,India

Natural Hazards - During the extreme precipitation event of 15th–17th June 2013 in Garhwal Himalaya, glacial lake outburst flooding accompanied by numerous landslides and flash flood events...     

BL Lac: A new ultrahigh-energy gamma-ray source

The active galactic nucleus BL Lac was observed with the GT-48 atmospheric Cherenkov detector of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory from July 23–September 1, 1998, in order to search for ultrahighenergy gamma-ray (>1 TeV) emission. The object was in the field of view of the detector for more than 24 hours. The source was detected with a high level of confidence (7.2 σ) with a flux equal to (2.1±0.4)×10^?11 photons cm^?2 s^?1.     

Hard X-ray and gamma-ray flares on the Sun: Stereoscopic effects near the limb from observations on the 2001 <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mars Odyssey</Emphasis> spacecraft and near-Earth spacecraft

We present the first results of data on solar flares detected by the HEND instrument onboard the 2001 Mars Odyssey interplanetary spacecraft during its flight to Mars and in orbit around Mars. The instruments carried by the spacecraft, which was developed at the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, included a scintillation detector with two crystals, enabling the detection of photons with energies from tens of keV to 2.5 MeV with high time resolution. Several dozen flares were detected on both the sides visible from the Earth and back side of the Sun, supplementing other available data in a number of cases. A joint analysis of the HEND data together with data obtained in near-Earth orbits enabled the detection of variations in the integrated fluxes of photons with energies exceeding 80 keV during observations of flares near the limb from various directions. Two events were analyzed in great detail: the setting of a region displaying frequent very short flares on May 20, 2001, and the rising of the group 10486, which displayed numerous flare phenomena on the limb followed by extremely high activity in October–November 2003. These variations appear in simultaneous observations of limb M flares made at angles differing by only 8°–10°. Analyses of observations of rising sources obtained on two spacecraft lead to similar results. This indicates that the vast majority of emission at energies exceeding 80 keV arises at altitudes of no higher than seven to ten thousand kilometers. We briefly consider the powerful solar-disk gamma-ray flare of August 25, 2001. In this case, there are some differences in the behavior of the hard radiation in the decay phase for observations made at angles differing by 25°, which is most likely due to differences in the instrumental responses to radiation with this spectrum. The absence of hard radiation at great heights in the region of the “cusp” places some constraints on our picture of the physical processes occurring in powerful solar flares.     

X-Ray Flares and Activity Complexes on the Sun in Solar Cycle 24

The statistical relationship between activity complex (ACs) on the Sun and solar flares with GOES X-ray classes higher than M1.0 (744 events) is analyzed for the 24th solar-activity cycle (before January 2019). All groups of sunspots are divided into three classes, corresponding to those in cores and branches of ACs and those outside of ACs. It is shown that 78% of the flares considered occur predominantly in groups of sunspots in AC cores and branches. The specific number of flares in AC cores exceeds the corresponding number in AC branches and outside of ACs by a factor of 2.5. 87% of LDE flares of the indicated classes, 82% of all strong proton flares generating fluxes of energetic protons at the Earth’s orbit, and 74% of all gamma-ray flares in Cycle 24 were associated with ACs.     

A study of eruptive solar events with negative radio bursts

Solar events of June 15/16, 2000, June 1/2, 2002, February 6, 2002, and February 7, 2002, have been studied. These events probably belong to a poorly studied class of explosive eruptions. In such events disintegration of the magnetic structure of an eruptive filament and dispersing of its fragments as a cloud over a considerable part of the solar surface are possible. The analysis of SOHO/EIT extreme ultraviolet images obtained in the 195 Å and 304 Å channels has revealed the appearance of dimmings of various shapes and propagation of a coronal wave for June 1/2, 2002. In all the events the Nobeyama, Learmonth, and Ussuriysk observatories recorded negative radio bursts at several frequencies in the 1–10 GHz range. Most likely, these bursts were due to absorption of solar radio emission in clouds produced by fragments of filaments. Absorption of the solar background radiation can be observed as a depression of the emission in the 304 Å channel. A model has been developed, which permits one to estimate parameters of absorbing plasma such as temperature, optical thickness, area of the absorbing cloud, and its height above the chromosphere from the radio absorption observed at several frequencies. The obtained values of the temperature, 8000–9000 K, demonstrate that the absorber was the material of an erupted cool filament. The model estimate of the masses of the ejecta in the considered events were ～10¹⁵ g, which is comparable to masses of typical filaments and coronal mass ejections.     

The spectrum of solar cosmic rays: Data of observations and numerical simulation

Analysis of the relativistic proton spectra of solar flares occurring in the 23rd solar activity cycle derived from data of a worldwide neutron monitor network and numerical modeling both provide evidence for the acceleration of charged particles by an electric field that arises in coronal current sheets during reconnection. The method used to obtain the spectra is based on simulating the response of a neutron monitor to an anisotropic flux of relativistic solar protons with specified parameters and determining the characteristics of the primary relativistic solar protons by fitting model responses to the observations. Studies of the dynamics of the energy spectra distinguish two populations of relativistic protons in solar cosmic-ray events: the so-called fast component, which arrives at the flux front of the solar cosmic rays, followed by the delayed slow component. The fast component is characterized by strong anisotropy and an exponential energy spectrum, in agreement with the spectrum yielded by mathematical modeling of particle acceleration by an electric field directed along the X line of the magnetic field. The slow component, whose propagation is probably diffusive, has a power-law spectrum.     

GAMMA-400 Project

Extraterrestrial gamma-ray astronomy is now a source of a new knowledge in the fields of astrophysics, cosmic-ray physics, and the nature of dark matter. The next absolutely necessary step in the development of extraterrestrial high-energy gamma-ray astronomy is the improvement of the physical and technical characteristics of gamma-ray telescopes, especially their angular and energy resolutions. Such a new generation telescope will be GAMMA-400, currently under development. Together with an X-ray telescope, it will perform precise and detailed observations in the energy range of ~20 MeV to ~10 000 GeV and 3–30 keV the Galactic plane, especially, toward the Galactic Center, Fermi Bubbles, Crab, Cygnus, etc. The GAMMA-400 will operate in the highly elliptic orbit continuously for a long time with the unprecedented angular (~0.01? at E_γ = 100 GeV) and energy (~1% at E_γ = 100 GeV) resolutions, exceeding the Fermi-LAT as well as ground-based gamma-ray telescopes by a factor of 5–10. GAMMA-400 will permit resolving gamma rays from annihilation or decay of dark matter particles, identifyingmany discrete sources (many of which are variable), clarifying the structure of extended sources, specifying the data on the diffuse emission, as well as measuring electron + positron fluxes and specifying electron + positron spectrum in the energy range from 1 GeV to 10 000 GeV.     

Searching for Observational Evidence for Binary Star Systems in Gamma-ray Bursts

Astronomy Reports - We search for observational evidence that is in agreement with the model of a binary star system in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), as presented in [1–3]. The model predicts...     

岩质边坡声发射特征及失稳预报判据研究

在分析岩质边坡失稳过程中岩体力学性质和声发射产生的微观机理基础上,通过岩石声发射试验和岩质边坡声发射监测实例,研究了岩质边坡声发射特征,提出了岩质边坡失稳破坏的基本力学分类及其声发射的监测预报方法和判据,实现对岩质边坡失稳的预测预报。研究结果表明,边坡破坏前存在一次或多次声发射高峰。应用AE技术可以确定边坡在变形过程中应力集中活跃区;以抗滑力减小为主的岩质边坡,其失稳预报判据为大事件率在15次/ min以上,预报时间为几分钟至数小时。以下滑力增大为主的岩质边坡失稳的预报判据为大事件率在26次/ min以上,破坏时间为第一次声发射峰值期后的30～45 d。     

The active galaxy 3C 66A: A variable source of very high-energy gamma-rays

Observations of the very-high-energy gamma-ray flux of the blazar 3C 66A (z=0.444) carried out at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory with the GT-48 atmospheric Cerenkov detector are reported. The gamma-ray fluxes in 1997 and 1998 were lower than in 1996. The optical luminosity of the object in 1997–1998 also decreased in comparison with its value in 1996. If the emission is isotropic, the very-high-energy gamma-ray power is 10⁴⁶ erg/s.     

Identification of sources of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays

The arrival directions of extensive air showers with energies 4×10¹⁹<E≤3×10²⁰ eV detected by the AGASA, Yakutsk, Haverah Park, and Fly’s Eye arrays are analyzed in order to identify possible sources of cosmic rays with these energies. We searched for active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, and X-ray pulsars within 3-error boxes around the shower-arrival directions and calculated the probabilities of objects being in the 3 error boxes by chance. These probabilities are small in the case of Seyfert galaxies with redshifts z<0.01 and BL Lac objects, corresponding to P>3σ (σ is the parameter of Gaussian distribution). The Seyfert galaxies are characterized by moderate luminosities (L<10⁴⁶ erg/s) and weak radio and X-ray emission. We also analyzed gamma-ray emission at energies E>10¹⁴ eV recorded by the Bolivian and Tian Shan arrays. The source identifications suggest that the gamma rays could have been produced in interactions of cosmic rays with the microwave background radiation and subsequent electromagnetic cascades in intergalactic space. We estimate the strength of intergalactic magnetic fields outside galaxy clusters to be B≤8.7×10^?10 G.