Toward high spatial resolution in solar observations

To achieve high spatial resolution capability for IR solar observations, we suggest the use of a special mask placed before the entrance aperture of large conventional optical telescopes. Such a mask would match well the resolution of a non-redundant array and would provide safe operation of a large telescope used for solar observations. The proposed solution has the additional advantage of relatively low cost because already-existing optical telescopes are used.     

New vacuum solar telescope and observations with high resolution

The New Vacuum Solar Telescope(NVST) is a one meter vacuum solar telescope that aims to observe fine structures on the Sun. The main goals of NVST are high resolution imaging and spectral observations, including measurements of the solar magnetic field. NVST is the primary ground-based facility used by the Chinese solar research community in this solar cycle. It is located by Fuxian Lake in southwest China, where the seeing is good enough to perform high resolution observations. We first introduce the general conditions at the Fuxian Solar Observatory and the primary science cases of NVST. Then, the basic structures of this telescope and instruments are described in detail. Finally, some typical high resolution data of the solar photosphere and chromosphere are also shown.     

Radio and X-ray observations of a multiple impulsive solar burst with high time resolution

A well-developed multiple impulsive microwave burst occurred on February 17, 1979 simultaneously with a hard X-ray burst and a large group of type III bursts at metric wavelengths. The whole event is composed of several subgroups of elementary spike bursts. Detailed comparisons between these three classes of emissions with high time resolution of 0.5 s reveal that individual type III bursts coincide in time with corresponding elementary X-ray and microwave spike bursts. It suggests that a non-thermal electron pulse generating a type III spike burst is produced simultaneously with those responsible for the corresponding hard X-ray and microwave spike bursts. The rise and decay characteristic time scales of the elementary spike burst are 1 s, 1 s and 3 s for type III, hard X-ray and microwave emissions respectively. Radio interferometric observations made at 17 GHz reveal that the spatial structure varies from one subgroup to others while it remains unchanged in a subgroup. Spectral evolution of the microwave burst seems to be closely related to the spatial evolution. The spatial evolution together with the spectral evolution suggests that the electron-accelerating region shifts to a different location after it stays at one location for several tens of seconds, duration of a subgroup of elementary spike bursts. We discuss several requirements for a model of the impulsive burst which come out from these observational results, and propose a migrating double-source model.     

A multibeam antenna for solar MM-wave burst observations with high spatial and temporal resolution

In this paper a new method for the determination of the position of microwave burst sources on the Sun, its implementation and first observational results, are presented. The 13.7 m antenna at Itapetinga with a five-channel receiver operating at 48 GHz and with a time resolution of 1 ms is used. Five horn antennas clustered around the focus of the Cassegrain reflector provide 5 beams diverging by about 2. This configuration allows the observation of different parts of an active region and the determination of the center of the burst position with an accuracy of 5 to 20 depending on the angular distance relative to the antenna axis. The field of view is 2 by 4. The time resolution of 1 ms is suitable to search for fast structures at 48 GHz. A total bandwidth of 400 MHz is used in order to achieve a sensitivity of 0.04 s.f.u. sufficient for the detection of weak bursts. First observational results of the flare on May 11, 1991 show a well-located source position during all stages.Paper presented at the 4th CESRA workshop in Ouranopolis (Greece) 1991.     

Spectral radio observations of a solar eclipse

Measurements were made of the 7 March, 1970 solar eclipse by the AFCRL Sagamore Hill Radio Observatory in Hamilton, Massachusetts, on the wavelengths of 0.86, 1.95, 3.4, 6.0, 11.1, 21.2, 49.5, and 122.5 cm. Near-total obscuration (m=0.96) occurred at eclipse maximum. Source flux spectra for the intense sources located in McMath plages 10 618(SE), 10617(NE), and 10 607(NW) show gyro-resonance spectral peaking, whereas the less intense bremsstrahlung emission is observed for the weaker sources in plages 10 614 and 10 619. Associated one-dimensional source sizes for these regions vary from 0.8 arc min (at 3.4 cm) to 5.4 arc min (at 49.5 cm); with sizes at a particular wavelength increasing with intensity of the source. An estimated flux spectrum of the undisturbed radio Sun for 7 March, 1970 is given and compared to the spectrum for the solar minimum of 1964. In plage 10 607 a weak halo emission was isolated from the intense emission from the central source over the spot. The measure of emission from the halo above plage 10 607 was calculated to be 7 × 10²⁷ electron²/cm⁵.     

Digital multichannel spectrometer for solar microwave observations

Observations of solar microwave bursts have shown fine structures (e.g., the millisecond spikes), not resolvable in time and frequency by existing instruments. In order to investigate these features in greater detail we have developed a spectrometer with high temporal and spectral resolution. The frequency range from 3000 to 4000 MHz is covered by 32 channels with different bandwidths (0.1, 5, and 20 MHz). The instrument is fully controlled by a multiprocessor computer system and allows the recording of about 200 000 measurements per second. Thus it is possible to observe the intensity and the circular polarization of all the 32 channels with a time resolution of about 350 s. A very flexible frequency selection system allows the use of many different observation modes.     

Using scintillation measurements to achieve high spatial resolution in photometric solar observations

The RISE/PSPT (Radiative Inputs from the Sun to the Earth/Precision Solar Photometric Telescopes) experiment will attain high differential photometric precision in full-disk solar images with 1 arc sec pixels. To achieve this spatial resolution it will be necessary to use frame selection techniques to minimize the effects of atmospheric seeing. We report here on experiments to use a simple scintillation monitor as a trigger or veto for imaging observations.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Multiple wavelength observations of a solar active region

The Solar Maximum Mission Satellite, the Sacramento Peak Vacuum Tower Telescope, the Very Large Array and the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope have been used to observe active region AR 2490 on two consecutive days at soft X-ray, ultraviolet, optical and radio wavelengths (2, 6, and 20 cm), with comparable angular resolution (2 to 15) and field of view (4 × 4). The radio emissions at = 6 cm and 20 cm show a double structure in which one component is associated with bright H plage, C iv and soft X-ray emission, and the other component is associated only with sunspots. No radiation at = 2 cm is detected in this latter component. Coronal temperature and emission measure derived from X-ray lines indicate that the dominant radiation mechanism of the plage-associated component is due to thermal bremsstrahlung while the gyroresonance absorption coefficient must be invoked to account for the high brightness temperature (T _b 2×10⁶K) observed in the sunspot associated component. The high magnetic field strength needed (600 G at a level where T2×10⁶K) is explained assuming a thin transition zone, in order to reach a high electron temperature close to the sunspot, where the magnetic fields are stronger. A higher temperature gradient above sunspots is also consistent with the absence of detectable C iv emission.Cooperative study of the SMY-FBS Project.On leave from the University of Napoli.On leave from the University of Torino.On sabbatical leave 1980–81 at the Arcetri Observatory.On leave from Toyokawa Observatory, Japan.     

Antenna performance analysis for decameter solar radio observations

Decameter wavelength radio emission is finely structured in solar bursts. For their research it is very important to use a sufficient sensitivity of antenna systems. In this paper we study an influence of the radiotelescope‐antenna effective area on the results of decameter solar radio observations. For this purpose we compared the solar bursts received by the array of 720 ground‐based dipoles and the single dipole of the radiotelescope UTR‐2. It is shown that a larger effective area of the ground‐based antenna allows us to measure a weaker solar emission and to distinguish a fine structure of strong solar events. This feature has been also verified by simultaneous ground‐ and space‐based observations in the overlapping frequency range (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

THz photometers for solar flare observations from space

The search for the still unrevealed spectral shape of the mysterious THz solar flare emissions is one of the current most challenging research issues. The concept, fabrication and performance of a double THz photometer system, named SOLAR-T, is presented. Its innovative optical setup allows observations of the full solar disk and the detection of small burst transients at the same time. The detecting system was constructed to observe solar flare THz emissions on board of stratospheric balloons. The system has been integrated to data acquisition and telemetry modules for this application. SOLAR-T uses two Golay cell detectors preceded by low-pass filters made of rough surface primary mirrors and membranes, 3 and 7 THz band-pass filters, and choppers. Its photometers can detect small solar bursts (tens of solar flux units) with sub second time resolution. Tests have been conducted to confirm the entire system performance, on ambient and low pressure and temperature conditions. An artificial Sun setup was developed to simulate performance on actual observations. The experiment is planned to be on board of two long-duration stratospheric balloon flights over Antarctica and Russia in 2014–2016.     

Modern observations of solar prominences

We review observational studies of solar prominences with some reference to theoretical understandings. We lay emphasis on the following findings: (1) An important discovery was made by Leroy, Bommier, and Sahal-Bréchot concerning the direction of the magnetic field inside some high-altitude, high-latitude prominences, where the field vector points in the opposite direction from the one which would be expected from the potential field calculated from the observed photospheric magnetic field. (2) Landman suggests the possibility of a high total density of 10^–11 g cm ^–3 for the main body of quiescent prominences, 50 times higher than the value hitherto believed. (3) Flow patterns, nearly parallel to the magnetic neutral lines, were detected in the 10⁵ K plasma near and in prominences. (4) Coronal loop structures were found overlying prominences as viewed from X-ray photographs. We propose also an evolutionary scheme by taking the magnetic field topologies into account.The fundamental question why a prominence is present remains basically unanswered.     

High-energy observations of solar flares

Extensive observations of solar flares made in high energy bands during the maximum of the present solar cycle are discussed with a special reference to the results from HINOTORI, and with attention to the relevant flare models. The hard X-ray (HXR) images from HINOTORI showed mostly coronal emission at 20–25 keV suggesting that the HXR is emitted from multiple coronal loops, consistent with the non-thermal electron beam model in a high density corona. The thermal HXR model seems to be inconsistent with some observations. Three types of flares which have been classified from the Hinotori results are described, along with newly discovered hot thermal component of 30–40 million K which contributes thermal HXR emission. A summary is given for the characteristics of the energy release in an impulsive burst; and an empirical model is described, which explains simultaneous energy releases in multiple loops and successive movements of the release site as suggested from the HXR morphology. The discovery of large blue-shifted hot plasma from the soft X-ray line spectrum leads to some quantitative arguments for the evaporating flare model. An electron-heated flare atmosphere appears to explain various observations consistently.Invited paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984.     

Balloon observations of solar ultraviolet irradiance at solar minimum

Balloon observations of solar irradiance between 200 and 240 nm have been performed in 1976 and 1977 corresponding to minimum conditions of solar activity. Ultraviolet spectra have been recorded for different zenith angles at an altitude of 41 km by means of a spectrometer with a spectral bandpass of 0.4 nm. Solar irradiances at 1 a.u. confirm previous values obtained by balloon. They are compared with other measurements and discussed in term of possible long-term variability.     

Direct observations of low-energy solar electrons associated with a type III solar radio burst

A highly anisotropic packet of solar electron intensities was observed on 6 April 1971 with a sensitive electrostatic analyzer array on the Earth-orbiting satellite IMP-6. The anisotropies of intensities at electron energies of several keV were factors 10 favoring the expected direction of the interplanetary magnetic lines of force from the Sun. The directional, differential intensities of solar electrons were determined over the energy range 1–40 keV and peak intensities were 10² cm^–2 s^–1 sr^–1 eV^–1 at 2–6 keV. This anisotropic packet of solar electrons was detected at the sattelite for a period of 4200 s and was soon followed by isotropic intensities for a relatively prolonged period. This impulsive emission was associated with the onsets of an optical flare, soft X-ray emission and a radio noise storm at centimeter wavelengths on the western limb of the Sun. Simultaneous measurements of a type III radio noise burst at kilometric wavelengths with a plasma wave instrument on the same satellite showed that the onsets for detectable noise levels ranged from 500 s at 178 kHz to 2700 s at 31.1 kHz. The corresponding drift rate requires a speed of 0.15c for the exciting particles if the emission is at the electron plasma frequency. The corresponding electron energy of 6 keV is in excellent agreement with the above direct observations of the anisotropic electron packet. Further supporting evidence that several-keV solar electrons in the anisotropic packet are associated with the emission of type III radio noise beyond 50R is provided by their time-of-arrival at Earth and the relative durations of the radio noise and the solar electron packet. Electron intensities at E 45 keV and the isotropic intensities of lower-energy solar electrons are relatively uncorrelated with the measurements of type III radio noise at these low frequencies. The implications of these observations relative to those at higher frequencies, and heliocentric radial distances 50R , include apparent deceleration of the exciting electron beam with increasing heliocentric radial distance.Research supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under contracts NAS5-11039 and NAS5-11074 and grant NGL16-001-002 and by the Office of Naval Research under contract N000-14-68-A-0196-0003.     

On the instrumental and atmospheric stray-light for solar observations

From aureole measurements made with a 40 cm-Vacuum-Telescope at Izaña (Tenerife) in the wavelength region 417 nm < λ < 785 nm and from a comparison with other aureole measurements we conclude the following: (a) Within one solar radius from the limb, the aureole is mostly of instrumental origin, (b) Beyond that distance, the contribution of atmospheric stray-light becomes noticeable, (c) The atmospheric contribution to the aureole intensity is, under good conditions at mountain stations, a very slowly decreasing function, and amounts to some 10^?5 of the solar disk intensity. A procedure is given to separate the variable atmospheric component of the stray-light from the constant instrumental one.     

Stokes II — A new polarimeter for solar observations

A Stokes polarimeter has been built at the High Altitude Observatory to obtain line profiles in both linear and circular polarization in solar spectral lines. These measurements are interpreted using the theory of radiative transfer in the presence of a magnetic field to obtain vector magnetic fields on the solar disk and using the theory of resonance scattering and the Hanle effect to obtain vector magnetic fields in prominences. The polarimeter operates on the Sacramento Peak Observatory 40 cm coronagraph. It is an extensively modified and improved version of an earlier instrument.Polarization modulation is achieved by two KD^*P Pockels cells at the coronagraph prime focus and demodulation is by a microprocessor. The instrument control and data handling is done by a minicomputer. Silicon photodiode 128 element line array detectors have replaced the two photomultipliers used on the earlier instrument. This gives a speed increase of a factor of 50.A polarization scrambler provides a chop to a reference beam of unpolarized light by time scrambling the polarization of the solar beam. This device improves sensitivity to polarizations less than 0.01%. The polarization measurements are photon noise limited in most cases. This noise is 0.1% for a typical three second observation which is about one gauss on the longitudinal field and 10 gauss on the transverse field.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by The National Science Foundation.     

Very Large Array-RATAN 600 observations of a solar active region

The Very Large Array (VLA) and the RATAN 600 were used to observe a solar active region on two consecutive days around the time of a partial solar eclipse in July 1990. VLA synthesis maps at 2.0, 3.5, and 6.2 cm wavelength reveal bright (T _b = 0.2 – 2.2 × 10⁶ K), compact ( = 10–40) sources above the penumbra of the leading sunspot while maps at 20 cm wavelength reveal an extended ( 4.5) looplike structure (T _b 10⁶ K) between the dominant spots. Total flux and brightness temperature spectra of both components were obtained by the RATAN at nine wavelengths between 1.7 and 21 cm. The relatively-flat spectrum of the extended emission is attributed to the optically thin thermal brems Strahlung of electrons trapped in a magnetic loop at coronal temperatures. Step-spectrum sunspot-associated emission is attributed to thermal gyroresonance radiation at different heights along the leg of a loop joining regions of opposite magnetic polarity. Comparisons with predicted distributions of gyroresonance radiation indicate that the compact sunspot-associated sources lie at heights of h = 2500–17500 km above the photosphere. Although potential fields of sufficient strength appear to exist at coronal heights, differences n the observed and predicted brightness distributions suggest some role for non-potential fields or for an inhomogeneous distribution of electron density or temperature above the sunspot.