Fine structures in solar microwave flares

The pulsed electron acceleration and release from the energy release volume in solar flares implies that there is a possibility of interaction between a group of electrons reflected from the foot of a bipolar flux tube with a newly injected beam. It is shown that interaction can lead to the stoppage of the synchrotron maser instability caused by the loss cone distribution and hence can produce further millisecond fine structures in the solar microwave bursts.     

Homologous microwave bursts and associated solar flares

Homologous characteristics of radio bursts at 3000 MHz and associated optical flares are studied. It is found that flares associated with homologous radio bursts are also homologous optically.Published with the permission of the Director-General of Observatories, New Delhi.     

Evidence of harmonic microwave radiation during solar flares

First observational evidence of harmonic radiation at microwave frequencies during solar bursts is presented for the event of April 28, 1983. The recordings between 3.1 and 19.6 GHz show a typical continuum with a spectral maximum near 5.2 GHz. Superimposed fine structures with durations in the order of some seconds exhibit a very unusual spectral behaviour. Narrow-banded intensity peaks appeared at 5.2 and 11.8 GHz which were barely visible at 3.1, 8.4 and 19.6 GHz. These structures can be interpreted as harmonic emission. Harmonic radio emission can be generated either by plasma radiation, gyroradiation, electron-cyclotron maser or by nonlinear conversion processes. However, all of those mechanisms require extreme assumptions on the source and the ambient plasma in order to account for the observations.Proceedings of the Second CESRA Workshop on Particle Acceleration and Trapping in Solar Flares, held at Aubigny-sur-Nère (France), 23–26 June, 1986.     

Correlation between solar microwave bursts and hard X-ray flares

We compared the microwave bursts with short timescale fine structure observed at 2.84 GHZ at Beijing Astronomical Observatory with the hard X-ry bursts (HXB) observed by the YOHKOH satellite during the period 1991 Oct–1992 Dec, and found that of the 20 microwave events, 12 had HXB counterparts. For the typical event of 1992-06-07, we analyzed the common quasi-period oscillations on the order of 10² s and calculated the parameters of the source region, together with a brief discussion.     

Simultaneous microwave observations of solar flares at 6 and 20 cm wavelengths using the VLA

Using the Very Large Array, solar burst observations have been carried out simultaneously at 6 and 20 cm. Structural changes and preheating have been observed in the flaring regions on time scales of minutes to tens of minutes before the onset of the burst impulsive phase. The 6 cm burst sources are located close to the neutral line, or near the legs of a flaring loop. The 20 cm burst sources show complex and extended structures spatially separated from both the preburst emission and the gradual decay phase of the burst. We interpret the observations in terms of a two-component flare model (bulk heating as well as acceleration of particles) and derive the physical parameters of the burst sources.On leave of absence from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India.     

Observations and interpretation of solar decametric absorption bursts

The observations of intensity reductions or absorption bursts in the solar decametric radio-continuum are reported. The reductions are interpreted as the absorption of continuum radiation by a shock-generated ion-sound turbulence present in the layer above the continuum level. The duration of the absorption is attributed to the lifetime of the ion-sound turbulence while the depth of absorption is determined by the level of Langmuir waves generated as a result of absorption.     

Synchrotron or plasma emission in solar microwave flares?

The spectral indices of microwave and hard X-ray emissions of a solar flare are found to correlate. Their observed values are in agreement with the expected relation from synchrotron and bremsstrahlung theory. These results are considered as strong evidence for the synchrotron mechanism in the microwave flare, contrary to recent alternative suggestions.     

The interpretation of hard X-ray polarization measurements in solar flares

We review recent observations of polarization of moderately hard X-rays in solar flares and compare them with the predictions of recent detailed modeling of hard X-ray bremsstrahlung production by non-thermal electrons. We find that the recent advances in the complexity of the modeling lead to substantially lower predicted polarizations than in earlier models and more fully highlight how various parameters play a role in determining the polarization of the radiation field. The new predicted polarizations are comparable to those predicted by thermal modeling of solar flare hard X-ray production, and both are in agreement with the observations. In the light of these results, we propose new polarization observations with current generation instruments which could be used to discriminate between non-thermal and thermal models of hard X-ray production in solar flares.     

Soft X-ray and microwave observations of hot regions in solar flares

Hot regions in solar flares produce X-radiation and microwaves by thermal processes. Recent X-ray data make it possible to specify the temperature and emission measure of the soft X-ray source, by using, for instance, a combination of the 1–8 Å (peak response at about 2 keV) and the 0.5–3 Å (peak response at about 5 keV) broad-band photometers. The temperatures and emission measures thus derived satisfactorily explain the radio fluxes, within systematic errors of about a factor of 3. Comparison of 15 events with differing parameters shows that a hot solar flare region has an approximately isothermal temperature distribution. The time evolution of the correlation in a single event shows that the hot material originates in the chromosphere, rather than the corona. The density must lie between 10¹⁰ and 2 × 10¹¹ cm^–3. For an Importance 1 flare, this implies a stored energy of roughly 2 x 10³⁰-10²⁹ ergs. A refinement of the data will enable us to choose between conductive and radiative cooling models.     

Radial oscillations of coronal loops and microwave radiation from solar flares

We consider the damping mechanisms for the radial oscillations of solar coronal loops in the approximation of a thin magnetic flux tube. We show that the free tube oscillations can have a high Q if the plasma density inside the magnetic flux tube is much higher than the density outside. We analyze the effect of radial coronal-loop magnetic-field oscillations on the modulation of the microwave radiation from solar flares. In the case of a nonthermal gyrosynchrotron mechanism, the fluxes from optically thin and optically thick sources are modulated in antiphase. Based on our model, we diagnose the flare plasma. For the event of May 23, 1990, we estimate the spectral index for accelerated electrons, α≈4.4, and the magnetic-field strength in the region of energy release, B≈190 G.     

Flat microwave spectra seen at X-class flares

We report peculiar spectral activity of four large microwave bursts as obtained from the Solar Arrays at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory during observations of X-class flares on 1990 May 24 and 1991 March 7, 8, and 22. Main observational points that we newly uncovered are: (1) flat flux spectra over 1–18 GHz in large amounts of flux ranging from 10² to 10⁴ s.f.u. at the maximum phase, (2) a common evolutionary pattern in which the spectral region of dominant flux shifts from high frequencies at the initial rise to low frequencies at the decaying phase, and (3) unusual time profiles that are impulsive at high frequencies but more extended at lower frequencies.In an attempt to elucidate these new properties, we carry out the model calculations of microwave spectra under assumptions of gyrosynchrotron mechanism and a dipole field configuration to reproduce the observational characteristics. Our results are summarized as follows. First, a flat microwave spectrum reaching up to 10²–10⁴ s.f.u. may occur in a case where a magnetic loop is extended to an angular size of (0.7–7.0) × 10^–7 sterad and contains a huge number (N(E > 10 keV) 10³⁶– 10³⁸) of nonthermal electrons with power-law index 3–3.5 over the entire volume. Second, the observed spectral activity could adequately be accounted for by the shrinking of the region of nonthermal electrons to the loop top and by the softening of the power-law spectrum of electrons in a time scale ranging 3–45 min depending on the event. Third, the extended microwave activity at lower frequencies is probably due to electrons trapped in the loop top where magnetic fields are low. Finally, we clarify the physical distinction between these large, extended microwave bursts and the gradual/post-microwave bursts often seen in weak events, both of which are characterized by long-period activity and broadband spectra.     

Gamma-ray and microwave evidence for two phases of acceleration in solar flares

Relativistic electrons in large solar flares produce gamma-ray continuum by bremsstrahlung and microwave emission by gyrosynchrotron radiation. Using observations of the 1972, August 4 flare, we evaluate in detail the electron spectrum and the physical properties (density, magnetic field, size, and temperature) of the common emitting region of these radiations. We also obtain information on energetic protons in this flare by using gamma-ray lines. From the electron spectrum, the proton-to-electron ratio, and the time dependences of the microwave emission, the 2.2 MeV line and the gamma-ray continuum, we conclude that in large solar flares relativistic electrons and energetic nuclei are accelerated by a mechanism which is different from the mechanism which accelerates 100 keV electrons in flares.Research supported by NASA Grant 21-002-316 at the University of Maryland, College Park.     

Observations and interpretation of the slowly varying component of solar radio emission at decameter wavelengths

We have observed the slowly varying component of solar radio emission at a frequency of 34.5 MHz with half power beam widths of 26/40 in the east-west and north-south directions, respectively. It is found that the observed brightness temperatures vary within the limits of 0.3×10⁶K to 1.5×10⁶K, and the average half power widths of the brightness distribution on the Sun is about 3R . Thermal emission from coronal regions of various electron densities and temperatures with and without the magnetic field has been computed and compared with the observed results.     

Observations and interpretation of moving type IV solar radio bursts

Properties of 23 moving type IV bursts observed with the Culgoora Radioheliograph are summarized. Both shock and plasmoid models are examined. It is found that the theories invoking shocks have limited application and that plasmoid models have several problems with regard to plasmoid formation as well as with explanations for multiple sources and large values of circular polarization. While the synchrotron radiation mechanism is the most widely accepted for both shock and plasmoid models, it is possible that Langmuir wave emission processes may be important, at least in some events. To overcome some of the difficulties of the plasmoid theory, a new source model is proposed. This model involves synchrotron radiation from electror ; confined by rapid scattering through hydromagnetic wave particle interactions.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract AST-74-04129 with the National Science Foundation.     

Observations and interpretation of solar decameter type IIIb radio bursts

Solar decameter bursts of Type IIIb are observed with a multichannel radiometer at wavelengths around 12m. The time and frequency resolutions were 10 ms and 100 kHz. Observations on the time structure of these bursts are presented. A theoretical model which accounts for various aspects of these bursts is proposed.     

A comparison of the optical and microwave emissions of some major solar flares

In the first part of the paper, we study the relations between the frequency of maximum radio flux f _max and the magnetic field strength at the photosphere B _p and between the maximum radio flux F _max and the field and its scale L for two differing flares occurring above very different photospheric conditions. It is shown that the simple relations predicted by the gyro-synchrotron emission mechanism f _max B _p and F _max B ² L ² account for the fact that the flares produced microwave bursts of about the same F _max, but of differing f _max.The spectra of type IV radio bursts associated with three large proton flares with post-flare loops have been analyzed. It is found that the decimetric peak vanishes with the onset of the first optical loops. This is consistent with the model of Kopp and Pneuman (1976) which associates growing systems of loops with gradual fieldline reconnection above flaring regions.     

Peculiarities of the microwave emission from active regions generating intense solar flares

RATAN-600 multiwavelength observations of the Sun reveal sharp spectral inhomogeneities in the polarized radiation from active regions that produce intense flares. These events occur in a wide range of radio fluxes (0.05–10 s.f.u.) in a relatively narrow wavelength range (2–5 cm). They are detected on time scales from several hours to several days before and during an intense flare. We analyze the detected events and their relationship to the preliminary phase of intense flares. Significant statistical material was obtained in 2001. The new flare-plasma properties can be used to test existing solar-flare models and to develop new criteria of flaring activity.     

Stellar and solar flares

Some ideas are developed concerning solar flares which have been presented earlier by the author (Schatzman, 1966a). Emphasis is laid on the problem of energy transport; from the energy supply to the region of the optical flare, on the storage of low energy cosmic ray particles in a magnetic bottle before the beginning of the optical flare, and the mechanism which triggers both the optical flare, and the production of high-energy cosmic rays. The relation between solar and stellar flares is considered.Lecture given at Goddard Space Flight Center, November 4, 1966.     

Observations of the structure and evolution of solar flares with a soft X-ray telescope

132 soft X-ray flare events have been observed with The Aerospace Corporation/Marshall Space Flight Center S-056 X-ray telescope that was part of the ATM complement of instruments aboard Skylab. Analyses of these data are reported in this paper. The observations are summarized and a detailed discussion of the X-ray flare structures is presented. The data indicated that soft X-rays emitted by a flare come primarily from an intense well-defined core surrounded by a region of fainter, more diffuse emission. Loop structures are found to constitute a fundamental characteristic of flare cores and arcades of loops are found to play a more important role in the flare phenomena than previously thought. Size distributions of these core features are presented and a classification scheme describing the brightest flare X-ray features is proposed. The data show no correlations between the size of core features and: (1) the peak X-ray intensity, as indicated by detectors on the SOLRAD satellite; (2) the rise time of the X-ray flare event, or (3) the presence of a nonthermal X-ray component. An analysis of flare evolution indicates evidence for preliminary heating and energy release prior to the main phase of the flare. Core features are found to be remarkably stable and retain their shape throughout a flare. Most changes in the overall configuration seem to be the result of the appearance, disappearance or change in brightness of individual features, rather than the restructuring or re-orientation of these features. Brief comparisons with several theories are presented.     

Energy of microwave-emitting electrons and hard X-ray/microwave source model in solar flares

We present a new method of estimating the energy of microwave-emitting electrons from the observed rate of increase of the microwave flux relative to the hard X-ray flux measured at various energies during the rising phase of solar flares. A total of 22 flares observed simultaneously in hard X-rays (20–400 keV) and in microwaves (17 GHz) were analyzed in this way and the results are as follows:

1. The observed energy of X-rays which vary in proportion to the 17 GHz emission concentrates mostly below 100 keV with a median energy of 70 keV. Since the mean energy of electrons emitting 70 keV X-rays is ?130 keV or ?180 keV, depending on the assumed hard X-ray emission model (thin-target and thick-target, respectively), this photon energy strongly suggests that the 17 GHz emission comes mostly from electrons with an energy of less than a few hundred keV.
2. Correspondingly, the magnetic field strength in the microwave source is calculated to be 500–1000 G for the thick-target case and 1000–2000 G for the thin-target case. Finally, judging from the values of the source parameters required for the observed microwave fluxes, we conclude that the thick-target model in which precipitating electrons give rise to both X-rays and microwaves is consistent with the observations for at least 16 out of 22 flares examined.