Time delay between Hα and hard X-ray emissions during impulsive solar flares

This investigation shows that statistically there are significant time delays between H and hard X-ray (HXR) emissions during solar flares; most impulsive flares produce HXR emissions up to 1 min before and up to 2 min after the onset of H emission. HXR emissions are also found to be peaked up to 2 min before the H emissions.     

Hα and hard X-ray development in two-ribbon flares

Morphological features of two-ribbon flares have been studied, using simultaneous ISEE-3 hard X-ray records and high-resolution Big Bear H movies for more than 20 events. Long-lasting and complex hard X-ray bursts are almost invariably found associated with flares of the two-ribbon type. We find at least three events, namely March 31, 1979, April 10, 1980, and July 1, 1980, where the occurrence of individual spikes in hard X-ray radiation coincides with suddenly enhanced H emission covering the sunspot penumbra. There definitely exist important ( 1B) two-ribbon H flares without significant hard X-ray emission.     

High resolution observation of Hα solar flares and temporal relation between Hα and X-ray,microwave emission

We studied the evolutional characteristics of fine structures in H flare emitting regions and their relation to X-ray and microwave emissions for selected events observed with the 60 cm Domeless Solar Telescope at Hida Observatory, University of Kyoto. The principal conclusions of this investigation are: (1) H kernel consists of some finer bright points or Hflare points whose individual size is less than 1 arc sec. (2) Impulsive brightnenings of H flare points occurred simultaneously with the spikes of the hard X-ray and microwave bursts within the time resolution of our H observations which varied from 1 to 10 s. (3) It is concluded that fast electron beams must be the principal mechanism of heating H flares during the impulsive phase of a flare.Paper presented at the IAU Third Asian-Pacific Regional Meeting, held in Kyoto, Japan, between 30 September–6 October, 1984. Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 265.     

A comparison of Hα and soft X-ray characteristics of spotless and spot group flares

A comparative analysis of spotless and spot group flares recorded at Hvar and Kanzelhöhe Observatories during the 21st cycle of solar activity is presented. The rate of occurrence of two-ribbon flares was found to be significantly higher for the spotless flares. In comparison with spot group flares of corresponding H importance, the soft X-ray peak values have been systematically lower for the spotless flares. The highest peak values and the energy released in soft X-rays was found for flares with a H ribbon protruding over a major spot umbra. It was found that the effective plasma temperatures in spotless flares have been considerably lower than the temperatures in spot group flares.     

Hα surges and associated Soft X-ray loops

A recurrent H surge was observed on 7 October, 1991 on the western solar limb with the Meudon MSDP spectrograph. The GOES satellite recorded X-ray subflares coincident with all three events. During two of the surges high-resolutionYohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) images have been taken. Low X-ray loops overlying the active region where the surges occurred were continuously restructuring. A flare loop appeared at the onset of each surge event and somewhat separated from the footpoint of the surge. The loops are interpreted as causally related to the surges. It is suggested that surges are due to magnetic reconnection between a twisted cool loop and open field lines. Cold plasma bubbles or jets squeezed among untwisting magnetic field lines could correspond to the surge material. No detection was made of either X-ray emission along the path of the surges or X-ray jets, possibly because of the finite detection threshold of theYohkoh SXT.     

Hα intensity oscillations in large flares

We reinvestigate the problem of Hα intensity oscillations in large flares, particularly those classified as X-class flares. We have used high spatial and temporal resolution digital observations obtained from Udaipur Solar Observatory during the period 1998–2006 and selected several events. Normalized Lomb-Scargle periodogram method for spectral analysis was used to study the oscillatory power in quiet and active chromospheric locations, including the flare ribbons.     

Hα profiles from electron-heated solar flares

We briefly review the status of models of optical flare heating by electron bombardment. We recompute Brown's (1973a) flare model atmospheres using considerably revised radiative loss rates, based on Canfield's (1974b) method applied to , L, and H^–. Profiles of are computed and compared with observation. The computed profiles agree satisfactorily with those observed during the large 1972 August 7 flare, if spatial and velocity inhomogeneities are assumed. The electron injection rate inferred from is one order of magnitude less than that inferred from hard X-rays, for this event. This may be due to either (1) the neglect of a mechanism that reduces the thick-target electron injection rate or (2) failure to incorporate important radiative loss terms.     

Hα red asymmetry of solar flares

The evolutional characteristics of the red asymmetry of H flare line profiles were studied by means of a quantitative analysis of H flare spectra obtained with the Domeless Solar Telescope at Hida Observatory. Red-shifted emission streaks of H line are found at the initial phase of almost all flares which occur near the disk center, and are considered to be substantial features of the red asymmetry. It is found that a downward motion in the flare chromospheric region is the cause of the red-shifted emission streak. The downward motion abruptly increases at the onset of a flare, attains its maximum velocity of about 40 to 100 km s^-1 shortly before the impulsive peak of the microwave burst, and rapidly decreases before the intensity of H line reaches its maximum. Referring to the numerical simulations made by Livshits et al. (1981) and Somov et al. (1982), we conclude that the conspicuous red-asymmetry or the red-shifted emission streak of H line is due to the downward motion of the compressed chromospheric flare region produced by the impulsive heating by energetic electron beam or thermal conduction.Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 258.     

Electron acceleration and heating in solar flares: Interpretation of Hα signatures

Vector magnetogram, H, and hard X-ray observations of flares are reviewed which show that nonthermal electron signatures in H are never cospatial with regions of maximum current density for the small number of flares analyzed, but lie to the sides of these regions. By considering electron acceleration and transport requirements, four conditions are found that must be fulfilled to observe nonthermal electron signatures in H: (1) The plasma beta 0.3 in the acceleration region. (2) The energy flux of electrons above 20 keV is greater than 10¹⁰ erg cm^–2 s^–1. (3) The column densityN 10²⁰ cm^–2 between the electron source and the chromosphere. (4) The coronal pressure in the flux tube connecting to the H layerp 100 dyne cm^–2. Condition 2 can be most easily met in the initial stages of flares. In contrast, the only condition for a high-pressure H signature isp 1000 dyne cm^–2, which is most easily met in a region of maximum current density or heating and far enough into the flare for significant heating to have occurred. Thus, high-pressure signatures should be expected to occur more frequently than nonthermal electron signatures and to occur generally later in time.Also Guest Worker at NOAA Space Environment Laboratory Boulder Colorado U.S.A.     

Associations of decimetric type Ⅲ bursts with coronal mass ejections and Hα flares

We present a statistical study of decimetric type Ⅲ radio bursts,coronal mass ejections(CMEs),and Hα flares observed in the period from July 2000 to March2005.In total,we investigated 395 decimetric type Ⅲ radio burst events,21% of which showed apparent correlation to CMEs that were associated with Hα flares.We noticed that the Hα flares which were strongly associated with CMEs were gradual events,and82% of them took place before CMEs appeared in the field of view of LASCO C2;that most of the CME-associated radio bursts started in the frequency range around750 MHz with a frequency drifting rate of several hundred MHz s-1,of which both positive and negative ones were recognized; and that the correlation of type Ⅲ radio bursts to CMEs without associated flares is fairly vague,less than 9%.     

Observation of Hα line impact polarization in solar flares

We present the results of studying the impact linear polarization of 32 solar flares of X-ray classes C, M, and X (two flares) observed with the Large Solar Vacuum Telescope. It has turned out that there is evidence for impact polarization only in 13 of them. The newly obtained data have confirmed that the linear Stokes parameters are predominantly 2–7%, while the spatial sizes of flaring points with nonzero Stokes parameters are small (1″-2″). Two features of the manifestation of impact polarization in flares revealed by these studies are of greatest interest: (1) at the two foot points of a single flare loop or an arcade of loops, both the Hα intensity profiles and the Stokes profiles differ in behavior; (2) based on the Hα line, we have found for the first time that the sign of the Stokes parameters changes not only across the flare ribbon but also with depth of the chromosphere.     

Comparison of Prominences in Hα and He II 304 Å

In this letter, we bring attention to prominences which show different morphology in H and Heii 304 Å, as observed simultaneously by BBSO and EIT on board SOHO. Those two lines have been thought to represent similar chromospheric structures although they are formed at significantly different temperatures. We give two examples representing two kinds of anomaly: (1) prominences showing strong H emissions in the lower part and strong Heii emissions in the upper part, and (2) erupting prominences showing extensive Heii emission, but nothing in H. Our results indicate that a part or the whole of a prominence may be too hot to emit H radiation, possibly due to heating or thermal instability. Please note that these are not just two isolated cases, many other prominences show the similar differences in H and Heii 304 Å.     

Hα, hard X-ray,and microwave emissions in the impulsive phase of solar flares

I have studied the observational relationship between the location of flare sites in active regions and three other observables, viz., H line width, hard X-ray burst parameters, and peak microwave fluxes. Results suggest that the strength of the magnetic field plays a role in governing the magnitudes of these emissions. Qualitative relationships are derived on the assumption of proportionality between the spectral maximum frequency of the associated microwave burst and the field strength in the microwave source.The relationship inferred between the power in thick target electrons (derived from the hard X-ray burst) and the column density of second-level hydrogen atoms (derived from the H line widths) is compared with calculations by Brown (1973) and Canfield (1974).The line widths observed for two white light flares suggest that a criterion for detectable continuum emission in disk flares is an H line width 20 Å.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Precise determination of cooling times of post-flare loops from the detailed comparison between Hα and soft X-ray images

A detailed study of the evolution and cooling process of post-flare loops is presented for a large X9.2 solar flare of 2 November 1992 by using H images obtained with Domeless Solar Telescope at Hida Observatory and soft X-ray images of Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT). The detailed analysis with a new method allows us to determine more precise values of the cooling times from 10⁷ K to 10⁴ K plasma in the post-flare loops than in previous works. The subtraction of sequential images shows that soft X-ray dimming regions are well correlated to the H brightening loop structure. The cooling times between 10⁷ K and 10⁴ K are defined as the time difference between the start of soft X-ray intensity decrease and the end of H intensity increase at a selected point, where the causal relation between H brightening and soft X-ray dimming loops is confirmed. The obtained cooling times change with time; about 10 min at the initial stage and about 40 min at the later stage. The combined conductive and radiative cooling times are also calculated by using the temperature and density obtained from SXT data. Calculated cooling times are close to observed cooling times at the beginning of the flare and longer in the later stage.     

Solar flares： radio and X-ray signatures of magnetic reconnection processes

This review summarizes new trends in studies of magnetic reconnection in solar flares. It is shown that plasmoids play a very important role in this primary flare process. Using the results of magnetohydrodynamic and particle-in-cell simulations, we describe how the plasmoids are formed, how they move and interact, and how a flare current sheet is fragmented into a cascade of plasmoids. Furthermore, it is shown that during the interactions of these plasmoids electrons are not only very efficiently accelerated and heated, but electromagnetic（radio） emission is also produced.We also describe possible mechanisms for the triggering of magnetic reconnection.The relevant X-ray and radio signatures of these processes（such as radio drifting pulsation structures, narrowband dm-spikes, and the loop-top and above-the-loop-top X-ray sources） are then described. It is shown that plasmoids can also be formed in kinked magnetic ropes. A mapping of X-points of the magnetic reconnection on the chromosphere（as e.g. a splitting of flare ribbons） is mentioned. Supporting EUV and white-light observations of plasmoids are added. The significance of all these processes for the fast magnetic reconnection and electron acceleration is outlined. Their role in fusion experiments is briefly mentioned.     

A Correlation between Proton Events and Hα Flares and its Possible Interpretation

1 INTRoDUCTIONIt is well known that solar proton flares are maiuly correlated with strong, bright H. flares,in particular, with two ribbon flares. Ellison et al. (l961) were the first to draw attelltion tothe faCt that all cosndc-ray flares had the typical two-ribbon shape. Then, Svestka and Simon(1976) drew uP the "Catalog of Solar Particle Evellts, 195ty1969", and using this Catalog,Dodson and Hedeman could safely identify the flare sources for 50 proton events. Out of the 50idellti…     

Coronal X-ray enhancements associated with Hα filament disappearances

A survey of soft X-ray images from Skylab has revealed a class of large-scale transient X-ray enhancements in the lower corona which are typically associated with the disappearance of H filaments away from active regions. Contemporary with the H filament disappearance, X-ray emitting structures appeared at or near the filament location with shape and size resembling the filament. Eventually these structures faded, but the filament cavity was no longer obvious. Typically the peak of the X-ray event lagged the end of the filament disappearance by tens of minutes. The durations of the coronal X-ray enhancements were considerably longer than the associated H filament disappearances. Major flare effects, such as chromospheric brightenings, typically were not associated with these X-ray events.One event analyzed quantitatively had a peak temperature between 1.8 and 2.7 × 10⁶ K, achieved a peak density of 10⁹ cm^–3 and resulted in an enhancement in the plasma pressure over the conditions of the preexisting coronal cavity of at least a factor of 7. The mass of the coronal X-ray emitting material was about 10% that of the preexisting filament and the thermal energy of the coronal event was on the order of 10²⁹ erg, about 10% of the mechanical energy of the H filament eruption. The event appeared to cool by radiative losses and not by thermal conduction. It is likely that the coronal enhancements are caused by heating of an excess of previously cooler material, either from the filament itself, or by compression of coronal material by a changing magnetic field.     

Hα emission line profiles of solar flares with turbulent velocity fields

The H line profile in a flare atmospheric model superposed by a spatially correlated velocity field is studied in detail in this paper. The computations are carried out with the assumption that the velocity field is represented by a Kubo-Anderson process. It is found that the shape and the intensity of the H line profile depend greatly on the parameters of the velocity field. The variation of the profile and its relative deviation with respect to different correlation lengths is more complex than in the case of absorption lines. It is also shown that such a profile cannot be matched by those produced in the usually-used micro- and macro-turbulent approaches, especially for the velocity field with an intermediate correlation length. The results imply that the flare atmosphere should be highly turbulent in order to explain the observed H line profile with only weak central reversal in the flare spectra. Particularly, the effects of meso-turbulent fields should be taken into account in order to improve the spectral diagnostics and modelling of the flare atmosphere.     

Hα line profile observations of solar flares with high temporal resolution

H line profile observations of solar flares with high temporal resolution are an important tool for the analysis of the energy transport mechanism from the site of the flare energy release to the chromosphere. A specially designed instrument (imaging spectrograph) allows two-dimensional imaging of an active region simultaneously in 15 spectral channels along the H line profile with a temporal resolution of 5.4 s. Two flares have been observed in November 1982. The first one shows H signatures which one would typically expect in the case of explosive chromospheric evaporation produced by massive injection of non-thermal electrons. The observations of the other flare indicate that the heating of the upper chromosphere is dominated by thermal conduction, although during the impulsive hard X-ray burst there are also signatures of heating by non-thermal electrons.     

Comparison between Finite-amplitude SKAWs and KdV Solitons

In the small-amplitude limit,the solution of SKAWs (Solitary Kinetic Alfven Waves) can be expressed by the KdV soliton solution.However,some recent observations from the Freja spacecraft showed that the strong electromagnetic spikesin the auroral should be finite-amplitude SAWs.Here,the comparison between the finite-amplitued and the small amplitude SKAWs is made,and their main characteristics are presented,by use of the analystical solution of finite-amplitude SKAWs obtained by Wu et al.(Ref.[8]) and the KdV soliton solution.