Temporal variation of solar flare index during solar cycles 21–24

The present investigation attempts to quantify the temporal variation of Solar Flare Index(SFI)with other activity indices during solar cycles 21-24 by using different techniques such as linear regression,correlation,cross-correlation with phase lag-lead,etc.Different Solar Activity Indices(SAI)considered in this present study are Sunspot Number(SSN),10.7 cm Solar Radio Flux(F10.7),Coronal Index(CI)and MgⅡCore-to-Wing Ratio(MgⅡ).The maximum cycle amplitude of SFI and considered SAI has a decreasing trend from solar cycle 22,and cycle 24 is the weakest solar cycle among all other cycles.The SFI with SSN,F10.7,CI and MgⅡshows hysteresis during all cycles except for solar cycle 22 where both paths for ascending and descending phases are intercepting each other,thereby representing a phase reversal.A positive hysteresis circulation exists between SFI and considered SAI during solar cycles 22 and 23,whereas a negative circulation exists in cycles 21 and 24.SFI has a high positive correlation with coefficient values of 0.92,0.94,0.84 and 0.81 for SSN,F10.7,CI and MgⅡrespectively.According to crosscorrelation analysis,SFI has a phase lag with considered SAI during an odd-number solar cycle(solar cycles21 and 23)but no phase lag/lead during an even-numbered solar cycle(solar cycles 22 and 24).However,the entire smoothed monthly average SFI data indicate an in-phase relationship with SSN,F10.7 and MgⅡ,and a one-month phase lag with CI.The presence of those above characteristics strongly confirms the outcomes of different research work with various solar indices and the highest correlation exists between SFI and SSN as well as F10.7 which establishes that SFI may be considered as one of the prime activity indices to interpret the characteristics of the Sun’s active region as well as for more accurate short-range or long-range forecasting of solar events.     

Numerical simulations of kinetic Alfvén waves to study spectral index in solar wind turbulence and particle heating

We present numerical simulations of the modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation satisfied by kinetic Alfvén waves (KAWs) leading to the formation of magnetic filaments at different times. The relevance of these filamentary structures to solar wind turbulence and particle heating has also been pointed out.     

The solar radiation between 3300 and 12500 Å

Results are presented, which follow from the merging of: (a) our previously published absolute integrals of the disk-center intensity for 20 Å wide spectral bands; (b) the ratios of mean to central intensity derived from recent observations of the center-to-limb variation of those bands ( <6600 Å); (c) the ratios of mean to central intensity derived from the observations of the center-to-limb variation at continuum-wavelengths according to Pierce and Slaughter ( >6600 Å); (d) the high resolution Fourier transform spectra obtained by J. Brault at Kitt Peak for the disk-center and the irradiance; (e) some further auxiliary data, which served mainly to eliminate the local perturbations caused by lines of telluric molecular bands.The main result is the presentation of high precision radiation data for both the integrated disk and the disk-center, concerning the line-averaged radiation and the continuum (in UV: highest window-intensities) as well.The internal accuracy (the scatter) should not be worse than that of the FTS spectra, which is less than 0.2% (mean error); local systematic deviations exceeding 0.5% are not to be expected. The absence of a significant systematic error - neutral or wavelength-dependent - has been proven already elsewhere.     

The solar Lα flux near solar minimum

After being turned off in 1972 the OSO-5 satellite was reactivated during the summer of 1974 for one year. The University of Paris experiment designed to monitor the solar L flux operated almost perfectly during that period which occurred near a minimum in solar activity. This new set of data is presented here, showing that neither the total L flux nor the flux emitted at the center of the line correlate with the solar activity indices in the same manner as previously found at higher levels of activity.These new observations confirm that the solar L flux varies approximately by a factor of two from solar maximum to solar minimum.Furthermore, the lower boundary of the transition region seems to be strongly perturbated near solar minimum, since the flux variations observed at the center of the L line are drastically different from all those previously reported. This seems to be related to the presence of large coronal holes over the Sun.     

The α-Effect and proton acceleration in the solar wind

The quantum field model is used to study the correlation functions of velocity and magnetic fluctuations in helical developed MHD turbulence of solar wind which is generated by random forces with mixed noise correlators. The exponential increase of the magnetic fluctuations is stabilized by spontaneous symmetry breaking mechanism, which leads to the creation of homogeneous magnetic field 〈E〉, and consequently, gives rise to the α-effect. The maximum value of the α-effect is determined in the Kolmogorov universal regime and its contribution to the proton acceleration is estimated. The contribution of the α-effect to ∼100 MeV proton acceleration is discussed and compared with the 2nd Fermi acceleration mechanism. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Heating and acceleration of α-particles in the solar wind

The non-linear saturation of whistler mode instability in the solar wind is considered here. The resulting heating and acceleration are calculated. It is shown that this instability heats predominantly the -particles and the ratio of heating rates of -particles to ions have been calculated. This instability is shown to be effective in accelerating -particles than ions. However, this process cannot account for V /V _i 1.     

Preferred longitudes of sunspot groups and high-speed solar wind streams: Evidence for a ‘solar memory’

Correlation analysis of the mean longitude distribution of sunspot groups (taken from the Greenwich Photoheliographic Results) and high-speed solar wind streams (inferred from the C9 index for geomagnetic disturbances) with the Bartels rotation period P = 27.0 days shows anti-correlation for individual cycles.In particular, the longitudes of post-maximum stable streams of cycle 18 and 19 are well anticorrelated with the preferred longitudes of sunspot groups during the maximum activity periods of these cycles. This is further analyzed using the daily Zürich sunspot number, R, between 1932 and 1980, which reveals a conspicuous similarity of cycle 18 and 19 as well as cycle 20 and 21.We conclude that there is a solar memory for preferred longitudes of activity extending at least over one, probably two cycles (i.e. one magnetic cycle of 22 years). We conjecture that this memory extends over longer intervals of time as a long-term feature of solar activity.     

Editorial: solar radiophysics—recent results on observations and theories

Solar radiophysics is a rapidly developing branch of solar physics and plasma astrophysics. Solar radiophysics has the goal of analyzing observations of radio emissions from the Sun and understanding basic physical processes operating in quiet and active regions of the solar corona. In the near future, the commissioning of a new generation of solar radio observational facilities, which include the Chinese Spectral Radio Heliograph（CSRH） and the upgrade of the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope（SSRT）, and the beginning of solar observations with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array（ALMA）, is expected to bring us new breakthrough results of a transformative nature. The Marie-Curie International Research Staff Exchange（MC IRSES） “RadioSun” international network aims to create a solid foundation for the successful exploitation of upcoming solar radio observational facilities, as well as intensive use of the existing observational tools, advanced theoretical modeling of relevant physical processes and observables, and training a new generation of solar radio physicists. The RadioSun network links research teams from China,Czech Republic, Poland, Russia and the UK. This mini-volume presents research papers based on invited reviews and contributed talks at the 1st RadioSun workshop in China. These papers cover a broad range of research topics and include recent observational and theoretical advances in solar radiophysics, MHD seismology of the solar corona, physics of solar flares, generation of radio emission, numerical modeling of MHD and plasma physics processes, charged-particle acceleration and novel instrumentation.     

Structure of the region of solar wind—Interstellar medium interaction and its influence on H atoms penetrating the solar wind

The structure of the region of interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium in the two-shocks model (TSM), first suggested by Baranovet al. (1970), is numerically calculated.For this problem our model is true only for charged particles of the interstellar medium interacting with the solar wind, since the free paths of neutral particles are very long and any hydrodynamical approximation would be incorrect.The shapes of the outer and inner shocks, the shape of the contact surface and the distribution of the parameters inside the interaction region are calculated, and are universal and correct for other astrophysical applications such as interstellar bubbles (Weaveret al., 1977), the stellar wind flow around a globule (Dyson, 1975), the interaction of stellar winds in binaries (Prilutzky and Usov, 1976), and so on.The problem of the effect of the charge exchange of H atoms with interstellar gas protons decelerated by an outer shock on H atoms penetrating the solar system is considered using the calculated results (Wallis, 1975). This effect is shown to influence essentially the estimate of H-atom concentration in the interstellar medium based on theL -scattering data.     

The coupling of solar convection and rotation – (Invited Review)

In recent years, helioseismology has provided an unprecedented look at the dynamics of the solar interior. These new insights have been accompanied by tremendous advances in high-performance computing technology, prompting increasingly sophisticated and realistic numerical models of solar convection. Among the most important helioseismic constraints on global-scale convection models is the mean differential rotation profile of the solar envelope, which is established by convection under the influence of rotation. The highly turbulent nature of solar convection makes this rotational influence difficult to determine and model. I will begin this review by discussing the solar rotation profile inferred from helioseismic measurements and various theoretical and numerical approaches to account for it. Computational constraints limited early numerical models to relatively laminar flow regimes but more recent investigations have begun to explore the distinct nature of turbulent convection. After a brief overview of empirical and numerical results on the related Rayleigh-Bernard system, I will outline the current state of numerical modeling of turbulent convection in rotating, stratified fluids, first in Cartesian and then in spherical geometries. The emphasis throughout will be on how rotation influences the structure, evolution, and transport processes of turbulent convection and what type of differential rotation can result.     

Particle propagation effects on solar flare X- and γ-ray time profiles

Much of the evidence for second stage particle acceleration in solar flares lies in the temporal variation of solar X- and -ray emissions. However, the solar flare X- and -ray burst time-intensity profiles are governed not only by the production or acceleration of electrons and protons but by the propagation of these particles in the solar atmosphere. The effects of particle propagation on X-ray and -ray time profiles are illustrated and compared through the use of three models with the result that a variety of particle propagation schemes reproduce effects commonly associated with second stage acceleration. The first model is that of a closed uniform density trap. The other two models employ particle diffusion from a trap to denser regions of the solar atmosphere to produce the high energy radiation. These calculations show that delayed peaking of the photon flux with respect to particle production and reduction in the impulsiveness of the high energy emission is to be expected, effects commonly associated with second stage acceleration. Thus, well understood physical processes are capable of producing so-called time delays in the high energy emission independent of any delays produced by additional particle acceleration processes. Diagnostic differences between these models are also discussed.     

Secondary craters and ejecta across the solar system: Populations and effects on impact-crater–based chronologies

We review the secondary-crater research over the past decade, and provide new analyses and simulations that are the first to model an accumulation of a combined primary-plus-secondary crater population as discrete cratering events. We develop the secondary populations by using scaling laws to generate ejecta fragments, integrating the trajectories of individual ejecta fragments, noting the location and velocity at impact, and using scaling laws to estimate secondary-crater diameters given the impact conditions. We also explore the relationship between the impactor size–frequency distribution (SFD) and the resulting secondary-crater SFD. Our results from these analyses indicate that the “secondary effect” varies from surface to surface and that no single conclusion applies across the solar system nor at any given moment in time—rather, there is a spectrum of outcomes both spatially and temporally, dependent upon target parameters and the impacting population. Surface gravity and escape speed define the spatial distribution of secondaries. A shallow-sloped impactor SFD will cause proportionally more secondaries than a steeper-sloped SFD. Accounting for the driving factors that define the magnitude and spatial distribution of secondaries is essential to determine the relative population of secondary craters, and their effect on derived surface ages.     

Hard X-ray and γ-ray observations of solar flares with the Phebus experiment

The Phebus experiment on board the GRANAT satellite provides temporal and spectral observations of solar and cosmic -ray bursts in the 0.1 100 MeV nominal energy range. The experiment was turned on January 8, 1990 and is still in operation. In this paper we present the main characteristics of the Phebus experiment and we describe and discuss some of the observational properties of the 18 solar hard X-ray/-ray events detected during the first semester of the Phebus operation. It is found that: (i) events of a few minutes duration, detected above 100 keV, systematically show subsecond time variations; (ii) longer duration events (>5 min) do not exhibit fast time variations and generally consist of 1-min peaks superimposed on a less intense, sometimes harder, slowly varying component. In addition to these general trends we discuss in more detail three events for which significant count-rates have been detected above 10 MeV.     

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.     

‘Crossing’ method for studying the turbulence in solar and stellar atmospheres

A new crossing method for the study of turbulent velocities in solar and stellar photospheres is considered. The method does not need knowledge of the abundance and oscillator strengths for determining the microturbulent velocity, if the macroturbulent velocity is adopted; or it allows investigation of the micro- and macro-velocities simultaneously, if the abundance and oscillator strengths are known. Using the crossing method for 200 lines of neutral iron we obtain microturbulent velocities for a large range of depths in the solar photosphere. The distribution of macroturbulent velocities with depth is also investigated. The total velocity field calculated from the obtained micro- and macro-velocities agrees with previous results from independent methods. This demonstrates the reliability of using the crossing method for separate determination of the micro- and macroturbulent velocities in solar and stellar atmospheres.     

The nonlinear solar dynamo and differential rotation: A Taylor number puzzle?

We consider dynamically consistent mean-field dynamos in a spherical shell of incompressible fluid. The generation of magnetic field and differential rotation is parameterized by the - and -effects, respectively. Extending previous investigations, we include now the cases of moderate and rapid rotation in the sense that the inverse Rossby number can approach or exceed unity: This can lead to disk-shaped -contours, which are in better accordance with recent results of helioseismology than cylindrical -contours. On the other hand, in order to obtain -dynamo cycles the Taylor number has to be so large, that eventually cylindrical -contours become unavoidable (cf. Taylor-Proudman theorem). We discuss the different possibilities in a state diagram, where the inverse Rossby number and the relative correlation length are taken as the elementary parameters for mean-field dynamos.     

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.     

Are solar cycles predictable?

Various methods (or recipes) have been proposed to predict future solar activity levels – with mixed success. Among these, some precursor methods based upon quantities determined around or a few years before solar minimum have provided rather high correlations with the strength of the following cycles. Recently, data assimilation with an advection-dominated (flux-transport) dynamo model has been proposed as a predictive tool, yielding remarkably high correlation coefficients. After discussing the potential implications of these results and the criticism that has been raised, we study the possible physical origin(s) of the predictive skill provided by precursor and other methods. It is found that the combination of the overlap of solar cycles and their amplitude-dependent rise time (Waldmeier's rule) introduces correlations in the sunspot number (or area) record, which account for the predictive skill of many precursor methods. This explanation requires no direct physical relation between the precursor quantity and the dynamo mechanism (in the sense of the Babcock-Leighton scheme or otherwise). (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Interrelation between monthly mean values ofionospheric and solar parameters and their effect on 5577 Å night airglow emission

The paper presents the relations between different solar and ionospheric parameters. Variation of 5577 line intensity with the variation of solar and ionospheric parametersis also discussed. A study have been made and following important results are obtained:(i) Virtual height ofF layer is decreased exponentially with the increase of solar flare numbers, sunspot number and 10.7 cm solar flux.(ii) Linear relations between critical frequency ofF layer and different solar parameters are obtained.(iii) Empirical relations between ionospheric and solar parameters are established.(iv) It is concluded that airglow intensity will also be affected with the variation of different solar and ionospheric parameters.(v) It is concluded that airglow intensity is mainly affected by 10.7 cm solar flux among different solar parameters and virtual height plays important role than critical frequency ofF layer.