Turbulence and Heating in the Flank and Wake Regions of a Coronal Mass Ejection

As a coronal mass ejection (CME) passes, the flank and wake regions are typically strongly disturbed. Various instruments, including the Large Angle and Spectroscopic Coronagraph (LASCO), the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), and the Coronal Multi-channel Polarimeter (CoMP), observed a CME close to the east limb on 26 October 2013. A hot (\({\approx}\,10~\mbox{MK}\)) rising blob was detected on the east limb, with an initial ejection flow speed of \({\approx}\, 330~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\). The magnetic structures on both sides and in the wake of the CME were strongly distorted, showing initiation of turbulent motions with Doppler-shift oscillations enhanced from \({\approx}\, \pm 3~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\) to \({\approx}\, \pm 15~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\) and effective thermal velocities from \({\approx}\,30~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\) to \({\approx}\,60~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\), according to the CoMP observations at the Fe?xiii line. The CoMP Doppler-shift maps suggest that the turbulence behaved differently at various heights; it showed clear wave-like torsional oscillations at lower altitudes, which are interpreted as the antiphase oscillation of an alternating red/blue Doppler shift across the strands at the flank. The turbulence seems to appear differently in the channels of different temperatures. Its turnover time was \({\approx}\,1000\) seconds for the Fe 171 Å channel, while it was \({\approx}\,500\) seconds for the Fe 193 Å channel. Mainly horizontal swaying rotations were observed in the Fe 171 Å channel, while more vertical vortices were seen in the Fe 193 Å channel. The differential-emission-measure profiles in the flank and wake regions have two components that evolve differently: the cool component decreased over time, evidently indicating a drop-out of cool materials due to ejection, while the hot component increased dramatically, probably because of the heating process, which is suspected to be a result of magnetic reconnection and turbulence dissipation. These results suggest a new turbulence-heating scenario of the solar corona and solar wind.     

Secular resonances between bodies on close orbits: a case study of the Himalia prograde group of jovian irregular satellites

The gravitational interaction between two objects on similar orbits can effect noticeable changes in the orbital evolution even if the ratio of their masses to that of the central body is vanishingly small. Christou (Icarus 174:215–229, 2005) observed an occasional resonant lock in the differential node \(\varDelta \varOmega \) between two members in the Himalia irregular satellite group of Jupiter in the N-body simulations (corresponding mass ratio \(\sim 10^{-9}\)). Using a semianalytical approach, we have reproduced this phenomenon. We also demonstrate the existence of two additional types of resonance, involving angle differences \(\varDelta \omega \) and \(\varDelta (\varOmega +\varpi )\) between two group members. These resonances cause secular oscillations in eccentricity and/or inclination on timescales \(\sim \)1 Myr. We locate these resonances in (a, e, i) space and analyse their topological structure. In subsequent N-body simulations, we confirm these three resonances and find a fourth one involving \(\varDelta \varpi \). In addition, we study the occurrence rates and the stability of the four resonances from a statistical perspective by integrating 1000 test particles for 100 Myr. We find \(\sim \)10 to 30 librators for each of the resonances. Particularly, the nodal resonance found by Christou is the most stable: 2 particles are observed to stay in libration for the entire integration.     

Relative equilibria of the restricted three-body problem in curved spaces

We use a formulation of the N-body problem in spaces of constant Gaussian curvature, \({\kappa }\in \mathbb {R}\), as widely used by A. Borisov, F. Diacu and their coworkers. We consider the restricted three-body problem in \(\mathbb {S}^2\) with arbitrary \({\kappa }>0\) (resp. \(\mathbb {H}^2\) with arbitrary \({\kappa }<0\)) in a formulation also valid for the case \({\kappa }=0\). For concreteness when \({\kappa }>0\) we restrict the study to the case of the three bodies at the upper hemisphere, to be denoted as \(\mathbb {S}^2_+\). The main goal is to obtain the totality of relative equilibria as depending on the parameters \({\kappa }\) and the mass ratio \(\mu \). Several general results concerning relative equilibria and its stability properties are proved analytically. The study is completed numerically using continuation from the \({\kappa }=0\) case and from other limit cases. In particular both bifurcations and spectral stability are also studied. The \(\mathbb {H}^2\) case is similar, in some sense, to the planar one, but in the \(\mathbb {S}^2_+\) case many differences have been found. Some surprising phenomena, like the coexistence of many triangular-like solutions for some values \(({\kappa },\mu )\) and many stability changes will be discussed.     

A Possible Cause of the Diminished Solar Wind During the Solar Cycle 23 – 24 Minimum

Interplanetary magnetic field and solar wind plasma density observed at 1 AU during Solar Cycle 23?–?24 (SC-23/24) minimum were significantly smaller than those during its previous solar cycle (SC-22/23) minimum. Because the Earth’s orbit is embedded in the slow wind during solar minimum, changes in the geometry and/or content of the slow wind region (SWR) can have a direct influence on the solar wind parameters near the Earth. In this study, we analyze solar wind plasma and magnetic field data of hourly values acquired by Ulysses. It is found that the solar wind, when averaging over the first (1995.6?–?1995.8) and third (2006.9?–?2008.2) Ulysses’ perihelion (\({\sim}\,1.4~\mbox{AU}\)) crossings, was about the same speed, but significantly less dense (\({\sim}\,34~\%\)) and cooler (\({\sim}\,20~\%\)), and the total magnetic field was \({\sim}\,30~\%\) weaker during the third compared to the first crossing. It is also found that the SWR was \({\sim}\,50~\%\) wider in the third (\({\sim}\,68.5^{\circ}\) in heliographic latitude) than in the first (\({\sim}\,44.8^{\circ}\)) solar orbit. The observed latitudinal increase in the SWR is sufficient to explain the excessive decline in the near-Earth solar wind density during the recent solar minimum without speculating that the total solar output may have been decreasing. The observed SWR inflation is also consistent with a cooler solar wind in the SC-23/24 than in the SC-22/23 minimum. Furthermore, the ratio of the high-to-low latitude photospheric magnetic field (or equatorward magnetic pressure force), as observed by the Mountain Wilson Observatory, is smaller during the third than the first Ulysses’ perihelion orbit. These findings suggest that the smaller equatorward magnetic pressure at the Sun may have led to the latitudinally-wider SRW observed by Ulysses in SC-23/24 minimum.     

Dynamics of Large-Scale Solar-Wind Streams Obtained by the Double Superposed Epoch Analysis: 3. Deflection of the Velocity Vector

This work is a continuation of our previous articles (Yermolaev et al. in J. Geophys. Res.120, 7094, 2015 and Yermolaev et al. in Solar Phys.292, 193, 2017), which describe the average temporal profiles of interplanetary plasma and field parameters in large-scale solar-wind (SW) streams: corotating interaction regions (CIRs), interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs, including both magnetic clouds (MCs) and ejecta), and sheaths as well as interplanetary shocks (ISs). Changes in the longitude angle, \(\varphi\), in CIRs from ?2 to \(2^{\circ}\) agree with earlier results (e.g. Gosling and Pizzo, 1999). We have also analyzed the average temporal profiles of the bulk velocity angles in sheaths and ICMEs. We have found that the angle \(\varphi\) in ICMEs changes from 2 to \(-2^{\circ}\), while in sheaths it changes from ?2 to \(2^{\circ}\) (similar to the change in CIRs), i.e. the angle in CIRs and sheaths deflects in the opposite sense to ICMEs. When averaging the latitude angle \(\vartheta\) on all the intervals of the chosen SW types, the angle \(\vartheta\) is almost constant at \({\sim}\,1^{\circ}\). We made for the first time a selection of SW events with increasing and decreasing \(\vartheta\) and found that the average \(\vartheta\) temporal profiles in the selected events have the same “integral-like” shape as for \(\varphi\). The difference in \(\varphi\) and \(\vartheta\) average profiles is explained by the fact that most events have increasing profiles for the angle in the ecliptic plane as a result of solar rotation, while for the angle in the meridional plane, the numbers of events with increasing and decreasing profiles are equal.     

Secular tidal changes in lunar orbit and Earth rotation

Small tidal forces in the Earth–Moon system cause detectable changes in the orbit. Tidal energy dissipation causes secular rates in the lunar mean motion n, semimajor axis a, and eccentricity e. Terrestrial dissipation causes most of the tidal change in n and a, but lunar dissipation decreases eccentricity rate. Terrestrial tidal dissipation also slows the rotation of the Earth and increases obliquity. A tidal acceleration model is used for integration of the lunar orbit. Analysis of lunar laser ranging (LLR) data provides two or three terrestrial and two lunar dissipation parameters. Additional parameters come from geophysical knowledge of terrestrial tides. When those parameters are converted to secular rates for orbit elements, one obtains dn/dt = \(-25.97\pm 0.05 ''/\)cent\(^{2}\), da/dt = 38.30 ± 0.08 mm/year, and di/dt = ?0.5 ± 0.1 \(\upmu \)as/year. Solving for two terrestrial time delays and an extra de/dt from unspecified causes gives \(\sim \) \(3\times 10^{-12}\)/year for the latter; solving for three LLR tidal time delays without the extra de/dt gives a larger phase lag of the N2 tide so that total de/dt = \((1.50 \pm 0.10)\times 10^{-11}\)/year. For total dn/dt, there is \(\le \)1 % difference between geophysical models of average tidal dissipation in oceans and solid Earth and LLR results, and most of that difference comes from diurnal tides. The geophysical model predicts that tidal deceleration of Earth rotation is \(-1316 ''\)/cent\(^{2}\) or 87.5 s/cent\(^{2}\) for UT1-AT, a 2.395 ms/cent increase in the length of day, and an obliquity rate of 9 \(\upmu \)as/year. For evolution during past times of slow recession, the eccentricity rate can be negative.     

A study of the geomagnetic indices asymmetry based on the interplanetary magnetic field polarities

Data of geomagnetic indices (aa, Kp, Ap, and Dst) recorded near 1 AU over the period 1967–2016, have been studied based on the asymmetry between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) directions above and below of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS). Our results led to the following conclusions: (i) Throughout the considered period, 31 random years (62%) showed apparent asymmetries between Toward (\(\mathbf{T}\)) and Away (\(\mathbf{A}\)) polarity days and 19 years (38%) exhibited nearly a symmetrical behavior. The days of \(\mathbf{A}\) polarity predominated over the \(\mathbf{T}\) polarity days by 4.3% during the positive magnetic polarity epoch (1991–1999). While the days of \(\mathbf{T}\) polarity exceeded the days of \(\mathbf{A}\) polarity by 5.8% during the negative magnetic polarity epoch (2001–2012). (ii) Considerable yearly North–South (N–S) asymmetries of geomagnetic indices observed throughout the considered period. (iii) The largest toward dominant peaks for \(aa\) and \(Ap\) indices occurred in 1995 near to minimum of solar activity. Moreover, the most substantial away dominant peaks for \(aa\) and \(Ap\) indices occurred in 2003 (during the descending phase of the solar cycle 23) and in 1991 (near the maximum of solar activity cycle) respectively. (iv) The N–S asymmetry of \(Kp\) index indicated a most significant away dominant peak occurred in 2003. (v) Four of the away dominant peaks of Dst index occurred at the maxima of solar activity in the years 1980, 1990, 2000, and 2013. The largest toward dominant peak occurred in 1991 (at the reversal of IMF polarity). (vi) The geomagnetic indices (aa, Ap, and \(Kp\)) all have northern dominance during positive magnetic polarity epoch (1971–1979), while the asymmetries shifts to the southern solar hemisphere during negative magnetic polarity epoch (2001–2012).     

Average Magnetic Field Magnitude Profiles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wind</Emphasis> Magnetic Clouds as a Function of Closest Approach to the Clouds’ Axes and Comparison to Model

We examine the average magnetic field magnitude (\(| \boldsymbol{B} | \equiv B\)) within magnetic clouds (MCs) observed by the Wind spacecraft from 1995 to July 2015 to understand the difference between this \(B\) and the ideal \(B\)-profiles expected from using the static, constant-\(\alpha\), force-free, cylindrically symmetric model for MCs of Lepping, Jones, and Burlaga (J. Geophys. Res. 95, 11957, 1990, denoted here as the LJB model). We classify all MCs according to an assigned quality, \(Q_{0}\) (\(= 1, 2, 3\), for excellent, good, and poor). There are a total of 209 MCs and 124 when only \(Q_{0} = 1\), 2 cases are considered. The average normalized field with respect to the closest approach (\(\mathit{CA}\)) is stressed, where we separate cases into four \(\mathit{CA}\) sets centered at 12.5 %, 37.5 %, 62.5 %, and 87.5 % of the average radius; the averaging is done on a percentage-duration basis to treat all cases the same. Normalized \(B\) means that before averaging, the \(B\) for each MC at each point is divided by the LJB model-estimated \(B\) for the MC axis, \(B_{0}\). The actual averages for the 209 and 124 MC sets are compared to the LJB model, after an adjustment for MC expansion (e.g. Lepping et al. in Ann. Geophys. 26, 1919, 2008). This provides four separate difference-relationships, each fitted with a quadratic (Quad) curve of very small \(\sigma\). Interpreting these Quad formulae should provide a comprehensive view of the variation in normalized \(B\) throughout the average MC, where we expect external front and rear compression to be part of its explanation. These formulae are also being considered for modifying the LJB model. This modification will be used in a scheme for forecasting the timing and magnitude of magnetic storms caused by MCs. Extensive testing of the Quad formulae shows that the formulae are quite useful in correcting individual MC \(B\)-profiles, especially for the first \({\approx\,}1/3\) of these MCs. However, the use of this type of \(B\) correction constitutes a (slight) violation of the force-free assumption used in the original LJB MC model.     

$$M_{\bullet } - \sigma $$ relation in spherical systems

To investigate the \(M_\bullet -\sigma \) relation, we consider realistic elliptical galaxy profiles that are taken to follow a single power-law density profile given by \(\rho (r) = \rho _{0}(r/ r_{0})^{-\gamma }\) or the Nuker intensity profile. We calculate the density using Abel’s formula in the latter case by employing the derived stellar potential; in both cases. We derive the distribution function f(E) of the stars in the presence of the supermassive black hole (SMBH) at the center and hence compute the line-of-sight (LoS) velocity dispersion as a function of radius. For the typical range of values for masses of SMBH, we obtain \(M_{\bullet } \propto \sigma ^{p}\) for different profiles. An analytical relation \(p = (2\gamma + 6)/(2 + \gamma )\) is found which is in reasonable agreement with observations (for \(\gamma = 0.75{-}1.4\), \(p = 3.6{-}5.3\)). Assuming that a proportionality relation holds between the black hole mass and bulge mass, \(M_{\bullet } =f M_\mathrm{b}\), and applying this to several galaxies, we find the individual best fit values of p as a function of f; also by minimizing \(\chi ^{2}\), we find the best fit global p and f. For Nuker profiles, we find that \(p = 3.81 \pm 0.004\) and \(f = (1.23 \pm 0.09)\times 10^{-3}\) which are consistent with the observed ranges.     

Influence of the Atmospheric Model on Hanle Diagnostics

We clarify the uncertainty in the inferred magnetic field vector via the Hanle diagnostics of the hydrogen Lyman-\(\upalpha\) line when the stratification of the underlying atmosphere is unknown. We calculate the anisotropy of the radiation field with plane-parallel semi-empirical models under the nonlocal thermal equilibrium condition and derive linear polarization signals for all possible parameters of magnetic field vectors based on an analytical solution of the atomic polarization and Hanle effect. We find that the semi-empirical models of the inter-network region (FAL-A) and network region (FAL-F) show similar degrees of anisotropy in the radiation field, and this similarity results in an acceptable inversion error (e.g., \({\sim}\, 40~\mbox{G}\) instead of 50 G in field strength and \({\sim}\,100^{\circ}\) instead of \(90^{\circ}\) in inclination) when FAL-A and FAL-F are swapped. However, the semi-empirical models of FAL-C (averaged quiet-Sun model including both inter-network and network regions) and FAL-P (plage regions) yield an atomic polarization that deviates from all other models, which makes it difficult to precisely determine the magnetic field vector if the correct atmospheric model is not known (e.g., the inversion error is much larger than 40% of the field strength; \({>}\,70~\mbox{G}\) instead of \(50~\mbox{G}\)). These results clearly demonstrate that the choice of model atmosphere is important for Hanle diagnostics. As is well known, one way to constrain the average atmospheric stratification is to measure the center-to-limb variation of the linear polarization signals. The dependence of the center-to-limb variations on the atmospheric model is also presented in this paper.     

Two-Step Filament Eruption During 14 – 15 March 2015

We present here an interesting two-step filament eruption during 14?–?15 March 2015. The filament was located in NOAA AR 12297 and associated with a halo Coronal Mass Ejection (CME). We use observations from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and Heliospheric Magnetic Imager (HMI) instruments onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO), and from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO). We also use \(\mbox{H}\upalpha\) data from the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG) telescope and the Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory. The filament shows a first step eruption on 14 March 2015 and it stops its rise at a projected altitude \({\approx}\,125~\mbox{Mm}\) on the solar disk. It remains at this height for \({\approx}\,12~\mbox{hrs}\). Finally it erupts on 15 March 2015 and produces a halo CME. We also find jet activity in the active region during both days, which could help the filament de-stabilization and eruption. The decay index is calculated to understand this two-step eruption. The eruption could be due to the presence of successive instability–stability–instability zones as the filament is rising.     

Predictions on the core mass of Jupiter and of giant planets in general

More than 80 giant planets are known by mass and radius. Their interior structure in terms of core mass, number of layers, and composition however is still poorly known. An overview is presented about the core mass M _core and envelope mass of metals M _Z in Jupiter as predicted by various equations of state. It is argued that the uncertainty about the true H/He EOS in a pressure regime where the gravitational moments J ₂ and J ₄ are most sensitive, i.e. between 0.5 and 4 Mbar, is in part responsible for the broad range \(M_{\mathit{core}}=0{-}18\:M_{\oplus }\), \(M_{Z}=0{-}38\:M_{\oplus }\), and \(M_{\mathit{core}}+M_{Z}=14{-}38\:M_{\oplus }\) currently offered for Jupiter. We then compare the Jupiter models obtained when we only match J ₂ with the range of solutions for the exoplanet \(\mathrm{GJ}\:436\mathrm{b}\), when we match an assumed tidal Love number k ₂ value.     

First integrals for the Kepler problem with linear drag

In this work we consider the Kepler problem with linear drag, and prove the existence of a continuous vector-valued first integral, obtained taking the limit as \(t\rightarrow +\infty \) of the Runge–Lenz vector. The norm of this first integral can be interpreted as an asymptotic eccentricity \(e_{\infty }\) with \(0\le e_{\infty } \le 1\). The orbits satisfying \(e_{\infty } <1\) approach the singularity by an elliptic spiral and the corresponding solutions \(x(t)=r(t)e^{i\theta (t)}\) have a norm r(t) that goes to zero like a negative exponential and an argument \(\theta (t)\) that goes to infinity like a positive exponential. In particular, the difference between consecutive times of passage through the pericenter, say \(T_{n+1} -T_n\), goes to zero as \(\frac{1}{n}\).     

A Check on the Validity of Magnetic Field Reconstructions

We investigate a method to test whether a numerically computed model coronal magnetic field \({\boldsymbol {B}}\) departs from the divergence-free condition (also known as the solenoidality condition). The test requires a potential field \({\boldsymbol {B}}_{0}\) to be calculated, subject to Neumann boundary conditions, given by the normal components of the model field \({\boldsymbol {B}}\) at the boundaries. The free energy of the model field may be calculated using \(\frac{1}{2\mu _{0}}\int ({\boldsymbol {B}}-{\boldsymbol {B}}_{0})^{2}\mathrm{d}V\), where the integral is over the computational volume of the model field. A second estimate of the free energy is provided by calculating \(\frac{1}{2\mu _{0}}\int {\boldsymbol {B}}^{2}\,\mathrm{d}V-\frac{1}{2\mu _{0}}\int {\boldsymbol {B}}_{0}^{2}\,\mathrm{d}V\). If \({\boldsymbol {B}}\) is divergence free, the two estimates of the free energy should be the same. A difference between the two estimates indicates a departure from \(\nabla \cdot {\boldsymbol {B}}=0\) in the volume. The test is an implementation of a procedure proposed by Moraitis et al. (Solar Phys.289, 4453, 2014) and is a simpler version of the Helmholtz decomposition procedure presented by Valori et al. (Astron. Astrophys.553, A38, 2013). We demonstrate the test in application to previously published nonlinear force-free model fields, and also investigate the influence on the results of the test of a departure from flux balance over the boundaries of the model field. Our results underline the fact that, to make meaningful statements about magnetic free energy in the corona, it is necessary to have model magnetic fields that satisfy the divergence-free condition to a good approximation.     

Ratio of the Core to the Extended Emissions in the Comoving Frame for Blazars

In a two-component jet model, the emissions are the sum of the core and extended emissions: \(S^{\mathrm{ob}}=S_{\mathrm{core}}^{\mathrm{ob}}+S_{\mathrm{ext}}^{\mathrm{ob}}\), with the core emissions, \(S_{\mathrm{core}}^{\mathrm{ob}}= f S_{\mathrm{ext}}^{\mathrm{ob}}\delta ^{q}\) being a function of the Doppler factor \(\delta \), the extended emission \(S_{\mathrm{ext}}^{\mathrm{ob}}\), the jet type dependent factor q, and the ratio of the core to the extended emissions in the comoving frame, f. The f is an unobservable but important parameter. Following our previous work, we collect 65 blazars with available Doppler factor \(\delta \), superluminal velocity \(\beta _{\mathrm{app}}\), and core-dominance parameter, R, and calculated the ratio, f, and performed statistical analyses. We found that the ratio, f, in BL Lacs is on average larger than that in FSRQs. We suggest that the difference of the ratio f between FSRQs and BL Lacs is one of the possible reasons that cause the difference of other observed properties between them. We also find some significant correlations between \(\log f\) and other parameters, including intrinsic (de-beamed) peak frequency, \(\log \nu _{\mathrm{p}}^{\mathrm{in}}\), intrinsic polarization, \(\log P^{\mathrm{in}}\), and core-dominance parameter, \(\log R\), for the whole sample. In addition, we show that the ratio, f, can be estimated by R.     

Catalogue of ${>}\,55$ MeV Wide-longitude Solar Proton Events Observed by SOHO,ACE, and the STEREOs at ≈1${\approx}\,1$ AU During 2009 – 2016

Based on energetic particle observations made at \({\approx}\,1\) AU, we present a catalogue of 46 wide-longitude (\({>}\,45^{\circ}\)) solar energetic particle (SEP) events detected at multiple locations during 2009?–?2016. The particle kinetic energies of interest were chosen as \({>}\,55\) MeV for protons and 0.18?–?0.31 MeV for electrons. We make use of proton data from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Energetic and Relativistic Nuclei and Electron Experiment (SOHO/ERNE) and the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory/High Energy Telescopes (STEREO/HET), together with electron data from the Advanced Composition Explorer/Electron, Proton, and Alpha Monitor (ACE/EPAM) and the STEREO/Solar Electron and Proton Telescopes (SEPT). We consider soft X-ray data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) and coronal mass ejection (CME) observations made with the SOHO/Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) and STEREO/Coronagraphs 1 and 2 (COR1, COR2) to establish the probable associations between SEP events and the related solar phenomena. Event onset times and peak intensities are determined; velocity dispersion analysis (VDA) and time-shifting analysis (TSA) are performed for protons; TSA is performed for electrons. In our event sample, there is a tendency for the highest peak intensities to occur when the observer is magnetically connected to solar regions west of the flare. Our estimates for the mean event width, derived as the standard deviation of a Gaussian curve modelling the SEP intensities (protons \({\approx}\,44^{\circ}\), electrons \({\approx}\,50^{\circ}\)), largely agree with previous results for lower-energy SEPs. SEP release times with respect to event flares, as well as the event rise times, show no simple dependence on the observer’s connection angle, suggesting that the source region extent and dominant particle acceleration and transport mechanisms are important in defining these characteristics of an event. There is no marked difference between the speed distributions of the CMEs related to wide events and the CMEs related to all near-Earth SEP events of similar energy range from the same time period.     

Measurement of coronal properties of Seyfert galaxies from NuSTAR’s hard X-ray spectrum

Precise measurement of the coronal properties of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) requires the availability of high signal-to-noise ratio data covering a wide range of X-ray energies. The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR) which is highly sensitive to earlier missions in its operational energy range of 3–79 keV, allows us to arrive at precise estimates of the coronal parameters such as cut-off energy (\(E_\mathrm{cut}\)), coronal temperature (\(\textit{kT}_e\)) and geometry of the corona at least for sources that have \(E_\mathrm{cut}\) within the energy range of NuSTAR. In this paper, we present our preliminary results on the spectral analysis of two Seyfert galaxies namely 3C 120 and NGC 4151 using NuSTAR observations in the 3–79 keV band. We investigated the continuum and coronal parameters, the photon index \(\Gamma \), \(E_\mathrm{cut}\) and \(\textit{kT}_{e}\). By fitting the X-ray spectrum of 3C 120 and NGC 4151 with a simple phenomenological model, we found that both the sources showed a clear cut-off in their spectrum.     

Observations of Excitation and Damping of Transversal Oscillations in Coronal Loops by AIA/SDO

The excitation and damping of the transversal coronal loop oscillations and quantitative relation between damping time, damping property (damping time per period), oscillation amplitude, dissipation mechanism and the wake phenomena are investigated. The observed time series data with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) telescope on NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) satellite on 2015 March 2, consisting of 400 consecutive images with 12 s cadence in the 171 \(\mathring{\mathrm{A}}\) pass band is analyzed for evidence of transversal oscillations along the coronal loops by the Lomb–Scargle periodgram. In this analysis signatures of transversal coronal loop oscillations that are damped rapidly were found with dominant oscillation periods in the range of \(\mathrm{P}=12.25\,\text{--}\,15.80\) min. Also, damping times and damping properties of the transversal coronal loop oscillations at dominant oscillation periods are estimated in the range of \({\tau_{\mathrm{d}}=11.76}\,\text{--}\,{21.46}\) min and \({\tau_{\mathrm{d}}/\mathrm{P}=0.86}\,\text{--}\,{1.49}\), respectively. The observational results of this analysis show that damping properties decrease slowly with increasing amplitude of the oscillation, but the periods of the oscillations are not sensitive functions of the amplitude of the oscillations. The order of magnitude of the damping properties and damping times are in good agreement with previous findings and the theoretical prediction for damping of kink mode oscillations by the dissipation mechanism. Furthermore, oscillations of the loop segments attenuate with time roughly as \(t^{-\alpha}\) and the magnitude values of \(\alpha\) for 30 different segments change from 0.51 to 0.75.     

Relating Solar Energetic Particle Event Fluences to Peak Intensities

Recently we (Kahler and Ling, Solar Phys.292, 59, 2017: KL) have shown that time–intensity profiles [\(I(t)\)] of 14 large solar energetic particle (SEP) events can be fitted with a simple two-parameter fit, the modified Weibull function, which is characterized by shape and scaling parameters [\(\alpha\) and \(\beta\)]. We now look for a simple correlation between an event peak energy intensity [\(I_{\mathrm{p}}\)] and the time integral of \(I(t)\) over the event duration: the fluence [\(F\)]. We first ask how the ratio of \(F/I_{\mathrm{p}}\) varies for the fits of the 14 KL events and then examine that ratio for three separate published statistical studies of SEP events in which both \(F\) and \(I_{\mathrm{p}}\) were measured for comparisons of those parameters with various solar-flare and coronal mass ejection (CME) parameters. The three studies included SEP energies from a 4?–?13 MeV band to \(E > 100~\mbox{MeV}\). Within each group of SEP events, we find a very robust correlation (\(\mathrm{CC} > 0.90\)) in log–log plots of \(F\)versus\(I_{\mathrm{p}}\) over four decades of \(I_{\mathrm{p}}\). The ratio increases from western to eastern longitudes. From the value of \(I_{\mathrm{p}}\) for a given event, \(F\) can be estimated to within a standard deviation of a factor of \({\leq}\,2\). Log–log plots of two studies are consistent with slopes of unity, but the third study shows plot slopes of \({<}\,1\) and decreasing with increasing energy for their four energy ranges from \(E > 10~\mbox{MeV}\) to \({>}\,100~\mbox{MeV}\). This difference is not explained.     

Interplanetary and Geomagnetic Consequences of Interacting CMEs of 13 – 14 June 2012

We report on the kinematics of two interacting CMEs observed on 13 and 14 June 2012. The two CMEs originated from the same active region NOAA 11504. After their launches which were separated by several hours, they were observed to interact at a distance of \(100~R_{\odot}\) from the Sun. The interaction led to a moderate geomagnetic storm at the Earth with minimum \(\mathrm{D}_{\mathrm{st}}\) index of approximately ?86 nT. The kinematics of the two CMEs is estimated using data from the Sun Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) instrument onboard the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO). Assuming a head-on collision scenario, we find that the collision is inelastic in nature. Further, the signatures of their interaction are examined using the in situ observations obtained by Wind and the Advance Composition Explorer (ACE) spacecraft. It is also found that this interaction event led to the strongest sudden storm commencement (SSC) (\({\approx\,}150\) nT) of the present Solar Cycle 24. The SSC was of long duration, approximately 20 hours. The role of interacting CMEs in enhancing the geoeffectiveness is examined.