Magnetic Properties of Metric Noise Storms Associated with Coronal Mass Ejections

Using Nancay Radioheliograph (NRH) imaging observations, combined with SOHO/Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) magnetogram observations and coronal magnetic field extrapolation, we studied the magnetic nature of metric noise storms that are associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Four events are selected: the events of 2000 July 14, 2001 April 26, 2002 August 16 and 2001 March 28. The identified noise storm sources cover or partially cover the active regions (ARs), but the centers of storm sources are offset from the ARs. Using extrapolated magnetic field lines, we find that the noise storm sources trace the boundary between the open and closed field lines. We demonstrate that the disappearance of noise storm source is followed by the appearance of the burst source. The burst sources spread on the solar disk and their distributions correspond to the extent of the CME in LASCO C2 field of view. All the SOHO/Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) dimmings associ- ated with noise storm sources are located at the periphery of noise storms where the magnetic lines of force were previously closed and low-lying. When the closed field becomes partially or fully open, the basic configurations of noise storm sources are changed, then the noise storm sources are no longer observed. These observations provide the information that the variations of noise storms manifest the restructuring or reconfiguring of the coronal magnetic field.     

Atmospheric Dynamics and Magnetic Activity Associated With A Coronal Mass Ejection

By using multi-wavelength observations, we explored the atmospheric dynamics and the surface magnetic activity in NOAA 9026, which were associated with the initiation of a halo coronal mass ejection (CME) on 6 June, 2000. In an interval of less than two hours, two X-class X-ray flares took place successively, each along with one eruption of a filament. However, only the second X-class flare which is characterized by a rather large-scale (larger than a general active region in area) EUV dimming was associated with the CME initiation. It seems that a flare with an extensive dimming is more likely to be CME-associated. We focused our study on the daily evolution of the vector magnetic field in this region from 4 to 9 June and have found the following results. (1) The gradual squeeze and cancellation of the opposite polarity magnetic fields are the main patterns of magnetic evolution. Moreover, there is a spatial coincidence between the sites of magnetic flux cancellation and the locations of the early filament activation and the flare brightenings. (2) The current system increased in the first two days and began to decrease at least ten hours before the CME initiation. It underwent dramatic disruption from 6 to 7 June. (3) The transverse component of the the vector magnetic field appeared helical in configuration. It changed from compact to loose and dissipated from a small to a large area. Here we suggest that although the first filament eruption and first flare were not in step with the CME initiation, they seem to be a part of the entire process. The observed evolution of the magnetic field implies a continuous transport of magnetic energy and complexity from the lower atmosphere to the corona. Moreover, the slow magnetic reconnection in the lower atmosphere, manifested as magnetic flux cancellation, and the helicity re-distribution, appear to play a key role in the energy build-up process of the flares and the initiation of the halo CME.     

EUV and Magnetic Activities Associated with Type-I Solar Radio Bursts

Type-I bursts (i.e. noise storms) are the earliest-known type of solar radio emission at the meter wavelength. They are believed to be excited by non-thermal energetic electrons accelerated in the corona. The underlying dynamic process and exact emission mechanism still remain unresolved. Here, with a combined analysis of extreme ultraviolet (EUV), radio and photospheric magnetic field data of unprecedented quality recorded during a type-I storm on 30 July 2011, we identify a good correlation between the radio bursts and the co-spatial EUV and magnetic activities. The EUV activities manifest themselves as three major brightening stripes above a region adjacent to a compact sunspot, while the magnetic field there presents multiple moving magnetic features (MMFs) with persistent coalescence or cancelation and a morphologically similar three-part distribution. We find that the type-I intensities are correlated with those of the EUV emissions at various wavelengths with a correlation coefficient of 0.7?–?0.8. In addition, in the region between the brightening EUV stripes and the radio sources there appear consistent dynamic motions with a series of bi-directional flows, suggesting ongoing small-scale reconnection there. Mainly based on the induced connection between the magnetic motion at the photosphere and the EUV and radio activities in the corona, we suggest that the observed type-I noise storms and the EUV brightening activities are the consequence of small-scale magnetic reconnection driven by MMFs. This is in support of the original proposal made by Bentley et al. (Solar Phys. 193, 227, 2000).     

Fourier Power Spectra of Solar Noise Storms

We analyzed three noise storms recorded on 200?–?400 MHz Trieste Callisto radio spectra on 2 July 2012, 8 July 2012, and 16 July 2012 by the Fourier method. We divided intervals of the noise storms into five-minute intervals, and in these intervals we computed the mean Fourier spectra as a function of the wave numbers in the frequency and height-scale spaces. We found that these Fourier spectra, where the spectrum from the quiet-activity interval was subtracted, are power-law spectra. The mean power-law index of these spectra in the range \(\ln(k_{z}) = [1.8, 2.9]\) (where \(k_{z}\) is the wave number in the height-scale space) is \(-1.7\pm0.14\), \(-1.6\pm0.14\), and \(-1.5 \pm0.12\) for the 2 July 2012, the 8 July 2012, and the 16 July 2012 noise storms, respectively. It appears that as the number of Type-I bursts in the studied interval increases, the power-law index becomes closer to \(-5/3\); this is known as the Kolmogorov spectral index. The power-law index of the noise storms is very similar to that of the narrowband dm-spikes found in our previous studies. Furthermore, we found a break in the power spectra at \(\ln(k_{z}) \approx2.9\), and the mean power-law index values above this break are \(-2.9\pm0.46\), \(-3.1\pm0.65\), and \(-3.4\pm0.98\), respectively.     

Spectrum of Fluctuations of Solar Noise Storms

The calculation of the Fourier transform of noise storm (NS) fluctuations showed that the power spectrum was adequately described by the expression G(F)∼1/F. Our results rule out the possibility that NS radiation is formed from random, short-term bursts (so-called type I bursts), since the spectrum of the sum of random short fluctuations is flat, but the real NS has a hyperbolic spectrum. This spectrum is monotonic and does not contain any components that exceed the level of the statistical fluctuations (i.e., the results of observations do not reveal the presence of periodic or resonant properties of the emission source). The hyperbolic shape of the spectrum shows that the main energy of a NS is contained in the slower temporal fluctuations.     

Density Depletion in a Coronal Flux Tube Associated With Solar Radio Emission

A discussion, which is motivated by recent study of solar radio emission, is presented to address the issue under what conditions the depletion of plasma density in a flux tube in the corona may take place. Two particular situations are of interest: One is that density is depleted due to the presence of beams of energetic particles, and the other is attributed to magnetic compression. The scenario discussed appears to be consistent with the occurrence type III solar radio bursts.     

Spectropolarimetric Observations of Solar Noise Storms at Low Frequencies

A new high-resolution radio spectropolarimeter instrument operating in the frequency range of 15?–?85 MHz has recently been commissioned at the Radio Astronomy Field Station of the Indian Institute of Astrophysics at Gauribidanur, 100 km north of Bangalore, India. We describe the design and construction of this instrument. We present observations of a solar radio noise storm associated with Active Region (AR) 12567 in the frequency range of \({\approx}\,15\,\mbox{--}\,85~\mbox{MHz}\) during 18 and 19 July 2016, observed using this instrument in the meridian-transit mode. This is the first report that we are aware of in which both the burst and continuum properties are derived simultaneously. Spectral indices and degree of polarization of both the continuum radiation and bursts are estimated. It is found that

1. i)
   Type I storm bursts have a spectral index of \({\approx}\,{+}3.5\),
    
2. ii)
   the spectral index of the background continuum is \({\approx}\,{+}2.9\),
    
3. iii)
   the transition frequency between Type I and Type III storms occurs at \({\approx}\,55~\mbox{MHz}\),
    
4. iv)
   Type III bursts have an average spectral index of \({\approx}\,{-}2.7\),
    
5. v)
   the spectral index of the Type III continuum is \({\approx}\,{-}1.6\), and
    
6. vi)
   the degree of circular polarization of all Type I (Type III) bursts is \({\approx}\,90\%\) (\(30\%\)).
    

The results obtained here indicate that the continuum emission is due to bursts occurring in rapid succession. We find that the derived parameters for Type I bursts are consistent with suprathermal electron acceleration theory and those of Type III favor fundamental plasma emission.

     

Further Constraints on Electron Acceleration in Solar Noise Storms

We reexamine the energetics of nonthermal-electron acceleration in solar noise storms. A new result is obtained for the minimum nonthermal-electron number density required to produce a Langmuir-wave population of sufficient intensity to power the noise-storm emission. We combine this constraint with the stochastic electron acceleration formalism developed by Subramanian and Becker (2005) to derive a rigorous estimate for the efficiency of the overall noise-storm emission process, beginning with nonthermal-electron acceleration and culminating in the observed radiation. We also calculate separate efficiencies for the electron acceleration–Langmuir wave generation stage and the Langmuir wave–noise-storm production stage. In addition, we obtain a new theoretical estimate for the energy density of the Langmuir waves in noise-storm continuum sources.     

Very Large Array and SOHO Observations of Type I Noise Storms,Large-Scale Loops and Magnetic Restructuring in the Corona

Very Large Array (VLA) observations at 91-cm wavelength are combined with data from the SOHO EIT, MDI and LASCO and used to study the evolving coronal magnetic environment in which Type I noise storms and large-scale coronal loops occur. On one day, we have shown the early evolution of a coronal mass ejection (CME) in projection in the disk by tracing its decimetric continuum emission. The passage of the CME and an associated EUV ejection event coincided with an increase in the 91-cm brightness temperature of an extended coronal loop located a significant distance away and with the displacement of the 91-cm source during the early stage of the CME. We suggest that the energy deposited into the corona by the CME may have caused a local increase in the thermal or nonthermal electron density or in the electron temperature in the middle corona resulting in a transient increase in the brightness of the 91-cm loop. On a second observing day, we have consolidated the known association between magnetic changes in the photosphere and low corona with noise storm enhancements in an overlying radio source well in advance of a flare event in the same region. We find anti-correlated changes in the brightness of a bipolar 91-cm Type I noise storm that appear to be associated with the cancellation and emergence of magnetic flux in the underlying photosphere. In this case, the evolving fields may have led to magnetic instabilities and reconnection in the corona and the acceleration of nonthermal particles that initiated and sustained the Type I noise storm.     

Very-Large-Array Observations of Evolving Type I Noise Storms and Nonthermal Bursts In Association With Flares And Coronal Mass Ejections

Very-Large-Array (VLA) observations of the Sun at 20, 91 and 400 cm have been combined with data from the SOHO, TRACE and Wind solar missions to study the properties of long-lasting Type I noise storms and impulsive metric and decimetric bursts during solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections. These radio observations provide information about the acceleration and propagation of energetic electrons in the low and middle corona as well as their interactions with large-scale magnetic structures where energy release and transport takes place. For one flare and its associated CME, the VLA detected impulsive 20 and 91 cm bursts that were followed about ten minutes later by 400 cm burst emission that appeared to move outward into the corona. This event was also detected by the Waves experiment on Wind which showed intense, fast-drifting interplanetary Type III bursts following the metric and decimetric bursts detected by the VLA. For another event, impulsive 91 cm emission was detected about a few minutes prior to impulsive bursts at 20.7 cm, suggesting an inwardly propagating beam of electrons that excited burst emission at lower levels and shorter wavelengths. We also find evidence for significant changes in the intensity of Type I noise storms in the same or nearby active region during impulsive decimetric bursts and CMEs. These changes might be attributed to flare-initiated heating of the Type I radio source plasma by outwardly-propagating flare ejecta or to the disruption of ambient magnetic fields by the passage of a CME.     

Circular Polarization Observed in Interplanetary Type III Radio Storms

We report the detection and analysis of circular polarization in solar type III radio storms at hectometric-to-kilometric wavelengths. We find that a small (usually less than 5%), but statistically significant, degree of circular polarization is present in all interplanetary type III radio storms below 1 MHz. The sense of the polarization, which is right-hand circular for some storms and left-hand circular for others, is maintained for the entire duration of the type III storm (usually many days). For a given storm, the degree of circular polarization peaks near central meridian crossing of the associated active region. At a given time, the degree of circular polarization is found to generally vary as the logarithm of the observing frequency. The radiation characteristics, including the polarization, for one interplanetary type III storm exhibits an unusual 1.6 hour oscillation. Based on the standard plasma emission theory of type III radiation, we discuss the implications of these observations for the magnitude and radial dependence of the solar magnetic field above active regions on the Sun.     

Dependence of Geomagnetic Storms on Their Associated Halo CME Parameters

We compare the geoeffective parameters of halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We consider 50 front-side full-halo CMEs (FFH CMEs), which are from the list of Michalek, Gopalswamy, and Yashiro (Solar Phys. 246, 399, 2007), whose asymmetric-cone model parameters and earthward-direction parameter were available. For each CME we use its projected velocity [V _p], radial velocity [V _r], angle between cone axis and sky plane [γ] from the cone model, earthward-direction parameter [D], source longitude [L], and magnetic-field orientation [M] of its CME source region. We make a simple linear-regression analysis to find out the relationship between CME parameters and Dst index. The main results are as follows: i) The combined parameters [(V _r D)^1/2 and V _r γ] have higher correlation coefficients [cc] with the Dst index than the other parameters [V _p and V _r]: cc=0.76 for (V _r D)^1/2, cc=0.70 for V _r γ, cc=0.55 for V _r, and cc=0.17 for V _p. ii) Correlation coefficients between V _r γ and Dst index depend on L and M; cc=0.59 for 21 eastern events [E], cc=0.80 for 29 western events [W], cc=0.49 for 17 northward magnetic-field events [N], and cc=0.69 for 33 southward magnetic-field events [S]. iii) Super geomagnetic storms (Dst≤?200 nT) only appear in the western and southward magnetic-field events. The mean absolute Dst values of geomagnetic storms (Dst≤?50 nT) increase with an order of E+N, E+S, W+N, and W+S events; the mean absolute Dst value (169 nT) of W+S events is significantly larger than that (75 nT) of E+N events. Our results demonstrate that not only do the cone-model parameters together with the earthward-direction parameter improve the relationship between CME parameters and Dst index, but also the longitude and the magnetic-field orientation of a FFH CME source region play a significant role in predicting geomagnetic storms.     

Relationships Among Magnetic Clouds, CMES, and Geomagnetic Storms

During solar cycle 23, 82 interplanetary magnetic clouds (MCs) were identified by the Magnetic Field Investigation (MFI) team using Wind (1995 – 2003) solar wind plasma and magnetic field data from solar minimum through the maximum of cycle 23. The average occurrence rate is 9.5 MCs per year for the overall period. It is found that some of the anomalies in the frequency of occurrence were during the early part of solar cycle 23: (i) only four MCs were observed in 1999, and (ii) an unusually large number of MCs (17 events) were observed in 1997, just after solar minimum. We also discuss the relationship between MCs, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and geomagnetic storms. During the period 1996 – 2003, almost 8000 CMEs were observed by SOHO-LASCO. The occurrence frequency of MCs appears to be related neither to the occurrence of CMEs as observed by SOHO LASCO nor to the sunspot number. When we included “magnetic cloud-like structures” (MCLs, defined by Lepping, Wu, and Berdichevsky, 2005), we found that the occurrence of the joint set (MCs + MCLs) is correlated with both sunspot number and the occurrence rate of CMEs. The average duration of the MCL structures is ~40% shorter than that of the MCs. The MCs are typically more geoeffective than the MCLs, because the average southward field component is generally stronger and longer lasting in MCs than in MCLs. In addition, most severe storms caused by MCs/MCLs with Dst _min≤ −100 nT occurred in the active solar period.     

Quasi-Periodicity in global solar radio flux at metric wavelengths during Noise Storms

We present observational results from studying the quasi-periodicities in global solar radio flux during periods of enhanced noise storm activity, over durations of 4 hr a day (`intra-day' variations), observed at 77.5 MHz with the newly commissioned log-periodic array tracking system at the Gauribidanur Radio Observatory. Positional information on the storm centers was obtained with the radio imaging data from the Nan\c cay Radio Heliograph (NRH), while their active region counterparts on the photosphere (and the overlying chromosphere ) were located from the H images of the Big Bear Solar Observatory. The quasi-periodicity in flux was found to be 110 min, with the fluctuation in flux being 3(±1.5) solar flux units (s.f.u.). The results of such pulsations are interpreted qualitatively as evidence for coronal seismology.     

伴随米波Ⅲ型爆发的快速脉动现象的观测分析

统计分析了太阳22周峰年期间云南天文台声光频谱仪在230—300MHz频率范围，记录到的Ⅲ型爆发和毫秒级快速脉动共存事件。发现有两种不同的脉动现象：(1)普通型脉动；(2)包迹型脉动，并在此基础上对Ⅲ型一脉动共存事件与之对应的光学活动及相关事件，脉动的形态、周期、带宽等观测特征作了分析和讨论。     

Long-Lived Microbursts in the Decimetric Wavelength Range and Their Connection with Noise Storms

In the present work a statistical analysis of long-lived microbursts (MBs) in the decimetric wavelength range was performed for the first time. Long-lived microbursts at decimetric wavelengths were observed with one-dimensional scans on the RATAN-600 radio telescope in intensity and circular polarization with a sensitivity of about 5 – 10 Jy. MBs have fluxes in the range of 0.001 – 0.1 s.f.u. and polarization degrees of 10 – 100%, and the duration of individual bursts is about 1 – 2 s. Microbursts and background sources exist for several days and appear at the sites of prolonged energy release. In this work MBs were compared with noise storms (NSs) in the metric wavelength range. Our analysis shows with high confidence that MBs are manifestation of NSs in the decimetric wavelength range. The reason for the significant difference in flux between MBs and NSs could be because MBs (unlike NSs) are related to incoherent generation of Langmuir waves. The nature of the MB emission is similar to the smoothly varying (background) emission of the NSs, butthe MB emission is impulsive because of the high rate of pitch-angle diffusion.     

A Statistical Analysis of Radio Pulsar Timing Noise

We present an analysis of the timing observations on 27 radio pulsars, collected at Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory (HartRAO), with time spans ranging between ～ 9 and 14yr. Our results show that the measured pulsar frequency second derivatives are non-stationary. Both the magnitude and the sign of the ■ values depend upon the choice of epoch and data span. A simple statistical analysis of the observed second time derivative of the pulse frequency (■obs) of a large sample of 391 (25 HartRAO and 366 Jodrell Bank Observatory) pulsars reveals that ■ is only marginally correlated with both the pulsar spin-d own rate ( ■) and the characteristic age (τc). We find correlation coefficients of ～ 0.20a nd-0.30 between the measured braking indices and, respectively, ■ and τc. This result reaffirms earlier conclusions that the braking indices of most radio pulsars, obtained through the standard timing technique, are strongly dominated by sustained random fluctuations in the observed pulse phase.     

Historical Auroras in the 990s: Evidence of Great Magnetic Storms

A significant carbon-14 enhancement has recently been found in tree rings for the year 994, suggesting an extremely strong and brief cosmic ray flux event. The origin of this particular cosmic ray event has not been confirmed, but one possibility is that it might be of solar origin. Contemporary historical records of low-latitude auroras can be used as supporting evidence of intense solar activity around that time. We investigate previously reported as well as new records that have been found in contemporary observations from the 990s to determine potential auroras. Records of potential red auroras in late 992 and early 993 were found around the world, i.e. in the Korean Peninsula, Saxonian cities in modern Germany, and the Island of Ireland, suggesting the occurrence of an intense geomagnetic storm driven by solar activity.     

日冕磁场和重联的射电信号

总结了近期用射电频谱仪（高时间和高频谱分辨）和野边山射电日像仪（高空间分辨）以及国内外其它空间和地面设备分析日冕磁场和重联的系列工作。主要结论可归纳为：1）在Dulk等人（1982）的近似下自恰计算射电爆发源区磁场的平行和垂直分量，并首次得到该磁场在日面的两雏分布。2）为了考虑非热电子低能截止的影响，必须采用更严格的回旋同步辐射理论来计算。结果表明：低能截止和日冕磁场对计算有明显的影响，而其它参数（包括背景温度、密度、高能截止和辐射方向）的影响均可忽略。因此，对低能截止和日冕磁场必须联立求解。3）射电爆发中的精细结构可能反映了射电爆发源比较靠近粒子加速（磁场重联）的区域，利用高时间和高频率分辨的频谱仪和高空间分辨的日像仪联合分析，可以确定精细结构的源区位置，从而确定粒子加速（磁场重联）的准确时间和地点。     

日冕物质抛射及其伴生的射电辐射观测特征

统计分析了太阳活动周下降段(2003～2005年)发生的76个共生CME的射电爆发事件.射电爆发资料来自国家天文台和Culgoora的微波和米波频谱仪.在76个事件中有50个快速CME和26个慢速CME.从中发现,快速CME和慢速CME的产率分别随着太阳活动周的降低而下降和上升,这可能说明CME的产率与太阳活动周中日冕磁结构的位形和位置变化有关.同时也发现,射电爆发的类型和寿命有一个变化规律,即随着频率的降低射电爆发的寿命变长,此特征支持了伴生CME的Ⅱ型爆发统一模型的思想.另外还发现在厘米一分米波范围,CME开始前后,容易发生射电Ⅲ型爆发或快速精细结构.这说明射电辐射的精细结构可能是CME的前兆现象或CME早期发展阶段由于磁重联引发的低日冕小尺度磁扰动的结果.