The temperature structure and pressure balance of magnetic loops in active regions

EUV observations show many active region loops in lines formed at temperatures between 10⁴K and 2×l0⁶K. The brightest loops are associated with flux tubes leading to the umbrae of sunspots. It is shown that the high visibility of certain loops in transition region lines is due principallly to a sharp radial decrease of temperature to chromospheric values toward the loop axis. The plasma density of these cool loops is not significantly greater than in the hot gas immediately surrounding it. Consequently, the internal gas pressure of the cool material is clearly lower. The hot material immediately surrounding the cool loops is generally denser than the external corona by a factor 3–4. When the active region is examined in coronal lines, this hot high pressure plasma shows up as loops that are generally parallel to the cool loops but significantly displaced laterally. In general the loop phenomenon in an active region is the result of temperature variations by two orders of magnitude and density variations of around a factor five between adjacent flux tubes in the corona.     

The three-dimensional structure of atmospheric magnetic fields in two active regions

The magnetic field above two unrelated active regions on 11 and 12 September, 1974 has been studied using magnetograms obtained in C I 9111, Fe I 8688, Ca II 8542, and H. In C I 9111, originating low in the photosphere, the fields are strong and sharply defined. In Ca II 8542 and H they are very diffuse, with significant diffuseness also in Fe I 8688, due to the spreading of the field with height to form almost horizontal magnetic canopies over regions free of field at lower levels.Within a region between two small sunspots some 140 Mm apart, the canopy height found is typically 300–400 km. Within a small superpenumbra, the canopy height is 150–250 km. In extensive areas surrounding the active regions, over one-half the canopy bases are less than 400–500 km above the _c = 1 level, and over 80% less than 700 km.Arguments are given that the chromospheric fibrils (e.g., in H), taken to delineate the field configuration, are not due primarily to lateral variations in field but rather to differences in density or excitation of gas across the lines of force.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

On the electron density in an active region observed by SERTS

Emission lines from an active region, observed by SERTS, have been used to determine electron densities from theoretical curves for Mgvii, Siviii, and Siix density-sensitive line ratios. Density diagnostics of Alviii 285.46/323.52 line emissivity ratio has also been investigated.     

Preflare characteristics of active regions observed in soft X-rays

X-ray images from the AS&E telescope on Skylab are used to investigate coronal conditions in solar active regions during the 20-min periods preceding the X-ray onsets of small flares. The preflare or precursor phase is defined as a phase with a characteristic length or time scale significantly different from that of the rise phase. We show that there is no observational evidence of a requirement for a coronal preflare heating phase with a time scale longer than 2 min for small flares characterized by one or two loops. In 18 out of 25 cases the flaring X-ray structure was not the brightest feature in the preflare active region. The electron densities are estimated for preflare loops.     

Radio spectrum of two active regions

The results of the total solar eclipse of November 12, 1966, observed at 8 different wave-lengths between 3 and 21 cm, are studied and the spectrum of two active regions present on the disk is deduced. It is shown that the observed increase of the flux of the most intense source in the range 3–10 cm is due to geometrical effects. Neglecting the influence of the magnetic field, the following quantities are deduced.

1. the mean and central temperature of the coronal condensation.
2. the ∫ _corona N ²dh (N = electron density).

Both these quantities are in good agreement with optical observations.     

Measuring electron density in coronal active regions

In order to study the electron density at the scale of the most encountered structures in coronal active regions a new multichannel coronagraph associated with a photoelectric spectrograph is now used at the Pic-du-Midi Observatory. In its quasi-routine mode this instrument, which is described in this paper, works with a 30 field aperture in a parallel manner with aK-polarimeter. On each observed region it obtains maps of intensities of the 3388, 10747, and 10798 Å emission lines due to Fexiii ion. Each measurement point is associated with a quasi-simultaneous image of the emission corona structures viewed in the light of the5303 Å line of Fexiv. Three examples of observations are given and the capabilities are discussed.Measuring electron density in coronal active regions. II A multichannel photoelectric coronagraph with a photo-electric spectrograph and a reflex monitor at5303 Å.LA du CNRS No. 040285.     

Measuring electron density in coronal active regions

The new coronameter described in this paper, now in service at Pic du Midi Observatory, has been designed for the study of coronal condensations with a 30 spatial resolution. The instrument associates measurements of the K-corona polarized light with simultaneous pictures of the coronal structures as seen in the light of the green emission line of Fe xiv (5303 Å). It has allowed us to engage in an extensive program of observation devoted to the study of electron density in active coronal regions. As an example we present results concerning a coronal condensation observed on 1980 February 15, which is some hours before the time of the India-Kenya total eclipse.L. A. du C.N.R.S. No. 040285.     

The coronal structure of active regions

A four-parameter model which assumes a Gaussian dependence of both temperature and pressure on distance from center is used to fit the compact part of coronal active regions as observed in X-ray photographs from a rocket experiment. The four parameters are the maximum temperature T _M, the maximum pressure P _M= 2N_MkT_M, the width of the pressure distribution σ _P, and the width of the temperature distribution σ _T = α^1/2σ_P. The maximum temperature T _M ranges from 2.2 to 2.8 × 10⁶K, and the maximum density N _M from 2 to 9 × 10⁹cm^?3. The range of σ _P is from 2 to 4 × 10⁹ cm and that of α from 2 to 7.     

Large-scale structure of background fields and active regions

An attempt is made to study the relations between emergence of active regions and the solar background large-scale structures on the basis of Solar Geophysical Data, including Kitt-Peak magnetograms, H filtergrams, and Ca images.The emergence of 217 active regions (a.r.s) that have appeared on the solar disk not farther than ± 60° from the central meridian is studied. The a.r.s are divided into two classes A and B according to their birth location. Class A contains a.r.s emerged far (8–10°) from the background field boundaries, and class B- those emerged near to (55°) or just at the boundaries.It was found that a.r.s of class A differ appreciably from those of class B; in particular, the dimensions and the intensity (S, I) of class B a.r.s are nearly twice as large as those of class A. For class A a.r.s some alterations of the solar large-scale structure boundaries were found in 15% of all the cases, whereas for those of class B in 60%.     

Steady flows in the chromosphere and transition-zone above active regions as observed by OSO-8

Two years of data from the University of Colorado ultraviolet spectrometer aboard OSO-8 were searched for steady line-of-sight flows in the chromosphere and transition-zone above active regions. The most conspicuous pattern that emerges from this data set is that many sunspots show persistent blueshifts of transition-zone lines indicating velocities of about 20 km s^–1 with respect to the surrounding plage areas. The data show much smaller shifts in ultraviolet emission lines arising from the chromosphere: the shifts are frequently to the blue, but sometimes redshifts do occur. Plage areas often show a redshift of the transition-zone lines relative to the surrounding quiet areas, and a strong gradient of the vertical component of the velocity is evident in many plages. One area of persistent blueshift was observed in the transition-zone above an active region filament. The energy requirement of these steady flows over sunspots is discussed.     

Ultraviolet brightenings in active regions as observed from OSO-8

Repeated raster images of solar active regions taken at the line centers of the Si iv and C iv resonance lines using the University of Colorado (CU) ultraviolet spectrometer aboard OSO-8 reveal dramatic transient brightenings of up to factors of 10. These brightenings last several minutes and frequently show a repetitive character. Inspection of simultaneous H flare patrol records show that these transition zone events are often associated with subflare-like brightenings in the chromosphere. These observations indicate that direct excitation or heating of material already at transition zone temperatures caused by non-thermal particle streams is inadequate to explain the degree of brightening of these lines. The measurements suggest that some process that enhances density of material at 10⁵ K is occurring during these events.     

The XUV structure of solar active regions

XUV spectroheliograms of 2 active regions are studied. The images are due to lines emitted at temperatures between 8 x 10⁴ K and 2 x 10⁶ K and thus are indicative of transition region and coronal structures. The hot coronal lines are formed solely in loop structures which connect regions of opposite photospheric magnetic polarity but are not observed over sunspots. Transition region lines are emitted in plages overlying regions of intense photospheric magnetic field and in loops or loop-segments connecting such regions. The hot coronal loops are supported hydrostatically while only some of the transition zone loops are. The coronal and transition zone loops are distinctly separated and are not coaxial. A comparison of direct measurements of electron densities using density sensitive line ratios with indirect measurements using emission measures and path lengths shows the existence of fine structures of less than a second of arc in transition region loops. From a similar analysis, hot coronal loops do not have any fine structure below about 2 seconds of arc.     

Magnetic and microwave structure in solar active regions

The structure of six active regions observed at 2.8 cm with the Stanford interferometer is compared with the configuration of the underlying photospheric magnetic fields, as given by the Kitt Peak magnetograph.The similar resolution and accuracy on the measured positions of both instruments allowed us to establish a more detailed spatial correspondence between radio and magnetic features than previously reached.The radio features which correspond to the cores of the active sources are always found to overlay regions of enhanced magnetic fields. Different spatial associations have been found depending on the brightness temperature of the sources. The possibility that this effect might be due to the development of the active region is also considered.     

The height structure of solar active regions at X-ray wavelengths as deduced from OSO-8 limb crossing observations

Twenty limb crossing light curves of solar active region emission in the 1–4 keV energy band have been constructed from data gathered by the Lockheed Mapping X-Ray Heliometer experiment on OSO-8. These light curves indicate that 50% of the observed counts arise from heights below 20 000 km and 90% from heights below 57 000 km. The best fit is obtained for a model in which the emission density increases steadily down to the lowest observable levels, but the possibility of a small emission free gap at the base cannot be ruled out. On the average, the temperature of the plasma appears to be slightly higher at the base of a region than in its upper levels.     

A quantity characterizing variation of observed magnetic twist in solar active regions

An alternative parameter R_J_z is introduced as the ratio of one of two kinds of opposite-sign current to the total current and is used to investigate the relationship between this quantity and the hemispheric helicity sign rule(HSR) that has been established by a series of previous statistical studies. The classification of current in each hemisphere obeys the following rule: if the product of the current and the corresponding longitudinal field component contributes a consistent sign with respect to the HSR,it is called "HSR-compliant" current,otherwise it is called "HSR-noncompliant" current. Firstly,consistency between the butterfly diagram of R_J_z and current helicity was obtained in a statistical study.Active regions with R_J_zsmaller than 0.5 tend to obey the HSR whereas those with R_J_z greater than 0.5 tend to disobey it. The "HSR-compliant" current systems have a 60% probability of realization compared to 40% for "HSR-noncompliant" current systems. Overall,the HSR is violated for active regions in which the "HSR-noncompliant" current is greater than the "HSR-compliant" current. Secondly,the parameter R_J_z was subsequently used to study the evolution of current systems in the case analyses of flare-productive active regions NOAA AR 11158 and AR 11283. It is found that there is a "R_J_z-quasistationary" phase that is relatively flare quiescent and "R_J_z-dynamic" phase that is characterized by the occurrence of large flares.     

Steady flows in active regions observed with the HeI 10830 Å line

We show that the He i 10830 A line gives reliable Doppler shift measurements in the upper chromosphere above active regions. Persistent flow patterns in active regions observed near the solar limb show features previously noted in Dopplergrams using the Civ transition region ultraviolet emission line. Unlike the Civ measurements, however, the He i absorption shows a strong correlation with the line-of-sight velocity images in certain regions of some active regions.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract AST 78-17292 with the United States National Science Foundation.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is operated by the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research under sponsorship of the National Science Foundation.Visiting Astronomers, Sacramento Peak Observatory.     

On the causes of the observed magnetic field imbalance in solar active regions

Based on a topological magnetic field model for active region (AR) 8086 observed on September 15–21, 1997, we calculate the evolution of the magnetic flux imbalance during its disk passage. We have established possible causes of the observed imbalance. Using model ARs produced by perfectly balanced magnetic field sources as examples, we show that even in this case, the observed imbalance can reach a significant value, depending on the AR size and location. The peculiar properties of the magnetic field imbalance in ARs predicted by the topological model must be taken into account when present-day magnetographic observations of the Sun are interpreted.     

An investigation of the structure of coronal active regions

The temperature and density structure of a typical coronal active region is deduced from X-ray observations of several active regions. Observations of the limb transits of three regions from OSO-5 indicate that the X-ray emission originates between 2 × 10⁴ km and 1.5 × 10⁵ km. An emission measure-temperature distribution is deduced from high resolution X-ray spectra obtained with a rocket observation of two similar regions. These observations are combined to give a model of a typical active region, the temperature varying from 2 to 6 × 10⁶ K with corresponding densities between 2 × 10⁹ and 10¹⁰ cms^–3.