The Zeeman broadening of high n solar recombination lines

The Zeeman broadening of high n lines is derived. While in areas of the quiet Sun with field strengths of 1 G the upper boundary of the observable frequency region of recombination lines is defined by electron impact broadening, in active regions with field strengths 25 G the Zeeman broadening will shift this boundary to higher frequencies. The frequency region most favourable for observations is derived and the corresponding Doppler, electron impact and Zeeman broadening are discussed. The strengths of the recombination lines obtained in earlier calculations is reduced when one considers besides the Doppler broadening the electron impact and Zeeman broadening also. The frequency region favourable for observations is compared with the atmospheric transparency of the microwave region; it is found that observations require at least high altitude stations or space-based platforms. Details of using the Zeeman broadening of high n recombination lines for mapping (coronal) magnetic fields are given.     

Evidence for thin-target X-ray emission in a small solar flare on 26 February 1972

We compare solar X-ray observations from the UCSD experiment aboard OSO-7 with high resolution energetic electron observations from the UCAL experiment on IMP-6 for a small solar flare on 26 February 1972. A proportional counter and NaI scintillator covered the X-ray energy range 5–300 keV, while a semiconductor detector telescope covered electrons from 18 to 400 keV. A series of four non-thermal X-ray spikes were observed from 1805 to 1814 UT with average spectrum dJ/d (hv) (hv)^–4.0 over the 14–64 keV range. The energetic electrons were observed at 1 AU beginning 1840 UT with a spectrum dJ/dE E ^–3.1. If the electrons which produce the X-ray emission and those observed at 1 AU are assumed to originate in a common source, then these observations are consistent with thin target X-ray production at the Sun and inconsistent with thick target production. Under a model consistent with the observed soft X-ray emission, we obtain quantitative estimates of the total energy, total number, escape efficiency, and energy lost in collisions for the energetic electrons.     

Review of optical observations of solar flares

The recent observations of solar flares, made with a Lyot filter and a spectrograph in Hα, HeD3, higher Balmer lines, metallic lines, and continuum, are discussed. It is important to study the energy supply of non thermal particle/ conduction/ irradiation into the lower atmosphere from the optical observations with high temporal and spatial resolutions. Simultaneous observations from ground-based observatories and instruments on board satellites are necessary for understanding flare plasma of low and high energy.

     

Solar limb effect and meridional flows

Results of observations of the solar limb effect in the non-magnetic lines Fei 512.4, 543.4, and 709.0 nm are presented. The detailed form of the limb-effect curves depends on the line strength. The weakest line, 709.0, shows a relative blueshift with respect to heliocentric angle from disc center to = 0.8 ( = cos(heliocentric angle)). With increasing line strength the relative blueshift disappears and the redshift increases monotonically from the disc center to the limb. The strongest line, 543.4, shows a nearly linear redshift with decreasing , indicating little influence from horizontal motions.Small, but systematic differences are found for all three lines between the line-shift measurements along the north-south and east-west diameters. The latitudinal variation of the limb effect is largest for the lines formed lowest in the atmosphere. The observations of the strongest line suggest the existence of a poleward meridional flow of 20–25 m s^–1. Based on the measurements of the weaker lines a latitude variation in the granulation is suggested. One explanation is that the size of the granulation is about 5% larger at high latitudes as compared to the equatorial region.     

The interpretation of hydrogen radio recombination lines

Computations of the high level populations of hydrogen in gaseous nebulae are used to compare observations of radio recombination lines with theoretical predictions based on possible line enhancement. Attempts to confirm the existence of maser action from electron temperatures derived on the assumption of thermodynamic equilibrium are inconclusive. There is evidence that most of the low (5000 K) derived temperatures can be increased by at most a few percent by allowing for line enhancement. Measured ratios of the peak temperatures of lines of the same frequencies originating from different upper quantum levels, indicate maser action if Stark broadening is not taken into account. The inclusion of Stark broadening allows confirmation of maser action only in the central regions of the Orion Nebula in the case of the 137/109 ratio, and in Orion, and, possibly, IC 1795 and M17, in the case of the 197/156 ratio.     

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.     

Modelling OH in regions of star formation

There is a large, diverse and rapidly growing body of OH observations from regions associated with star formation, the physical conditions of which are of great interest. To interpret these observations we need to calculate the populations of the OH energy levels using as accurate a model as is feasible. We have developed a large velocity gradient (LVG) model using the lowest 48 hyperfine states of OH and including the phenomenon of far-infrared line overlap using a new theory which treats all thermal and velocity overlaps. If we use a theory of maser propagation (Field and Gray, 1988) we are then able to see how competing maser lines develop.The generic behaviour which we find is in good agreement with the extensive maser observations of Gaume and Mutel 1987 and our calculations allow us to associate general physical conditions with the four ground state maser frequencies. In addition we are able to present preliminary results of the interpretation of the OH absorption observations of Guilloteauet al. (1984) and Walmsleyet al. (1986) for the compactHII region DR21.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain     

On helium-like 1s2l−1snl′ transitions in solar flare spectra

Expected wavelengths and intensities are computed for 1s2l–1snl transitions in helium-like ions of the abundant elements from oxygen to iron, under coronal conditions. Probable observations of some of these lines, in the spectra of solar flares, are discussed and attention is called to a possible reversal of singlet and triplet intensities as compared to laboratory observations.     

The interpretation of absorption-line shifts in the solar spectrum

The shifts of Fraunhofer lines of different chemical elements in a homogeneous medium with a plane monochromatic progressive adiabatic sound waves are derived. The calculations indicate that lines of neutral elements (6 ₀ 14) with lower excitation potentials ₀ i= 0–2 eV are red shifted, those with excitation potential ₀ i= 4–12 eV are blue shifted, and with ₀ i= 3 eV are both blue and red shifted. The lines of ions are shifted toward the blue. The shifts of Fraunhofer lines are found to decrease from the centre of the solar disk to the limb. These results agree qualitatively and quantitatively with observations.     

Features of the Energy Distribution in the Spectrum of the Symbiotic Star CH Cyg in Different Brightness States

The results of spectrophotometric observations of CH Cyg in an active phase and during emergence from it are given: the spectral energy distribution in the 3225-7500 range with 23 resolution, the absolute monochromatic illuminances at eight selected wavelengths in the 3225-8015 , and the emission fluxes in the H and H lines. The features of the energy distribution in the stellar spectrum and the observed forms of variability, different between the short-wavelength and red parts of the spectrum, are determined by the instability of both of the system's components. In the active phase, CH Cyg's emission in the observed spectral range can be represented as the total emission from a cool M6 III giant and a hot hydrogen gas with a temperature T _e = 10,000-15,000 K. In the low-brightness state, the star's energy distribution fully corresponds to that of a cool giant, the spectrum of which varies from M6 III to M7 III. The photometric variability of the cool component in the 8015 range is 0 ^m .3-0 ^m .4. An increase in the brightness of the cool giant preceded a bright outburst of the hot component.     

Quiet Sun observations of the Ali autoionization lines λ1932 and λ1936

We present quiet Sun observations obtained during a rocket flight of the Al i autoionization lines 1932 and 1936 at solar pointings ranging from = 0.73 out to the visible limb. Absolute intensities are estimated to be accurate to approximately ±20%. These lines progressively weaken with decreasing but never go into emission before finally disappearing with the continuum just beyond the visible solar limb. The observations are compared with LTE line profiles computed through the quiet Sun atmosphere of Vernazza et al. (1976). We discuss several areas of disagreement between the synthetic and observed profiles.     

Enhancement of solar heavy nuclei at high energies in the 4 July 1974 event

Relative abundances of energetic nuclei in the 4 July 1974 solar event are presented. The results show a marked enhancement of abundances that systematically increase with nuclear charge numbers in the range of the observation, 6 Z 26 for energies above 15 MeV nucl.^–1 While such enhancements are commonly seen below 10 MeV nucl^–1, most observations at higher energies are found to be consistent with solar system abundances. The energy spectrum of oxygen is observed to be significantly steeper than most other solar events studied in this energy region. It is proposed that these observations are characteristic of particle populations at energies 1 MeV nucl^–1, and that the anomalous features observed here may be the result of the high energy extension of such a population that is commonly masked by other processes or populations that might occur in larger solar events.     

On the variability timescales and magnetic field in OJ 287

The continuum spectrum of OJ 287, like most other BL Lac objects, is featureless- no emission or absorption lines are observed. However, OJ 287 shows variations at different timescales in flux and polarization at various wavelength bands. Using the available variability data one can estimate the sizes of the emission regions in the source from light travel time arguments. We assume the emission mechanism to be synchrotron radiation by high energy electrons with single power law energy distribution. Theoretical synchrotron spectrum in the frequency range 10¹¹–10¹⁷ H _z is compared with the observed spectral shape, obtained from new multifrequency quasi-simultaneous observations, to estimate the lower and upper cut off frequencies. These frequencies are used to obtain theoretical values of the variability timescales and magnetic field in the emission region. We obtain a value of 0.93 G for the magnetic field and 5.184×10⁴ sec for the cooling time from the quiescent continuum spectrum. The shock-in-jet model explains the spectrum where shocks accelerate the particles and amplify the magnetic field in the jet. This timescale is compared with the one obtained from observed short timescale variability (20 minutes) with proper beaming correction. The short timescale variations (200 minutes in the source frame), possibly caused by an additional, flaring, component of the source, are also used to calculate compressed magnetic field. The observed and theoretically estimated variability timescales and the shape of the spectrum suggest that there are more than one emission components in OJ 287.     

The center-to-limb variations of four Ca i lines in the photospheric spectrum at λ6500

We study the center-limb (CL) variation of the average profiles of four Ca i lines near 6500 and compare these observations with synthetic data obtained from several line formation models having different thermal structures, line parameters, LTE and non-LTE conditions, and micro and macroturbulence values, to assess the formation characteristics of our Ca i lines in the solar photosphere.Comparison of numerical results with observations indicates that non-LTE is indispensable to fit the CL variation of the central residual intensity for the line 6493, and anisotropic microturbulence is indispensable to improve the CL behavior of the equivalent widths for all lines. The Ca i line analysis favors a cool photospheric model, but this cannot be disentangled clearly from the effects of non-LTE and small-scale velocity fields on the grounds of the present line formation models.     

The solar abundance of silver

Low noise, high resolution spectral scans have been obtained for the resonance lines of silver 3280.7 and 3382.9, observed at the centre of the solar disk. A double pass-monochromator is used in conjunction with the Snow telescope at Mount Wilson; the transparency of the sky is monitored during the observations in order to achieve required accuracy. The data are analyzed by the method of spectral synthesis wherein we employ a model atmosphere resembling Elste's (1968) model and checked by limb-darkening observations. The present kinematical model adopts a macroturbulent velocity of 2.2 km s^–1 and no microturbulence. With this model line profiles can be reproduced without invoking implausibly large collisional damping constants.The silver abundance turns out to be {Ag}=log[N(Ag)/N(H)]+12;=0.85, a factor of four under the value found from the Type I carbonaceous chondrites.     

High resolution observations of small-scale magnetic elements and interpretation

This contribution deals with the properties of small-scale magnetic elements in plages. Spectro-polarimetric observations, obtained with the highest possible spatial resolution with the German solar telescopes at the Observatorio del Teide on Tenerife, were analysed. We conclude from the spread of line parameters measured in the Stokes I and V profiles of Fe I and Fe II lines that a wide range of magnetic properties is realised in the solar atmosphere. The flow velocities in small-scale magnetic flux tubes, deduced from the zero-crossing of the V profiles at high spatial resolution, show a fluctuation of v _Doppler = 580 m s^-1. This is substantially smaller than the turbulent broadening velocities of v _Doppler = 2 – 3 km s^–1 commonly derived by fitting V profiles from flux tube models to low spatial resolution data, e.g. from a Fourier Transform Spectrometer. Attempts to explain the high resolution I and V profiles by models of hydrostatic flux tubes are discussed. It appears impossible to accomplish agreement between the modeled and observed radiation of lines with strong and weak magnetic sensitivity at the same time. We suggest a scenario in which small-scale magnetic elements possess substructure and are dynamic, with gas flows and magnetic field strengths varying in space and time.     

The properties of large particles in the zodiacal cloud and in the interstellar medium,and their relation to recent IRAS observations

To explain the scattering of sunlight observed from theF-corona and from the zodiac, the scattering particles must have radii of order 15 m, and must have an imaginary component of the refractive index that requires the presence of from 5 to 10% of free carbon. The particles, therefore, have a composition very like the material of C 1 carbonaceous chondrites and like extraterrestrial particles which have been recovered from the high atmosphere.Such particles absorb sunlight, the absorbed solar energy being reradiated in the infrared with a close approximation to black-body emission, even as far into the infrared as 100 m, a deduction in good agreement with recently published observations from the IRAS satellite.The IRAS observations at high ecliptic latitudes require similar particles to be present in large quantity in the interstellar medium, 10⁶ solar masses or more of them. The presence of such a quantity of material with properties very like the material of the C 1 carbonaceous chondrites is a remarkable outcome of the IRAS observations and is likely to have profound implications in many directions.     

Synthesis of line profiles from models of structured winds

On the basis of a a careful analysis of resonance line formation (both for singlets and doublets) in structured winds, presenttime dependent models of the line driven winds of hot stars (Owocki et al., this volume; Feldmeier, this volume) are shown to be able to explain a number of observational features with respect to variability and structure: they are (in principle) able to reproduce theblack andbroad troughs (without any artificial turbulence velocity) and the blue edge variability observed in saturated resonance lines; they might explain the long lived narrow absorption components often observed in unsaturated lines at high velocities; they predict a relation between the edge velocity of UV-lines and the radiation temperature of the observed X-ray emission.As a first example of the extent to which theoretical models can be constrained by comparisons between observations and profiles calculated by spectrum synthesis from structured winds, we show here that models with deep-seated onset of structure formation ( 1.1R _* ) produce resonance lines which agreequalitatively with observational findings; in contrast, the here presented models with structure formation only well out in the wind ( 1.6R _* ) fail in this respect.     

Observational aspects of wind variability

The observational methods to derive information about the instability and variability of winds of hot stars are discussed. The expected effects of blobs and shells in the winds on the P Cygni profiles of the UV resonance lines and on the wind emission lines such as H are described. The evidence for the variability and instability of the winds is derived from the UV observations of Discrete Absorption Components and their variability, the X-ray flickering in compact binaries and the H variations. The evidence for wind variations in Wolf-Rayet stars and Luminous Blue Variables is discussed briefly, as well as a possible explanation for the V/R variations of Be stars.     

Hydrogen-line profiles of six λ Bootis stars

Based on high resolution spectroscopic observations hydrogen-line profiles of six Bootis stars: HD 31295, HD 101108, HD 105058, HD 106223, HD 142703 and HD 183324 are presented. Peculiar line profiles with weak cores and broad but shallow wings are found for four of the stars. Influence of metallicity parameter [Z/H] and effective temperature on the appearance of the observed hydrogen lines is discussed.