Yohkoh/SXT observations of a coronal mass ejection near the solar surface

We report the observations of a coronal mass ejection (CME) using the Soft X-ray Telescope on board the Yohkoh Mission. The CME had the familiar three part structure (frontal loop, prominence core and a cavity). The erupting prominence was observed by the Nobeyama radioheliograph. We were able to determine the mass of the CME (2.6 × 10¹⁴ g) from X-ray observations which seems to be at the lower end of the range of CME masses reported before from white light observations. This is the first time the mass of a CME has been determined from X-ray observations. The height of onset of the CME was 0.3R_⊙. The CME moved much faster than the erupting prominence while its acceleration was smaller than that of the erupting prominence.J. Leonard Culhane     

Simultaneous high spatial resolution observations of solar flares in X-rays and microwaves (review)

Results of simultaneous high-resolution microwave and X-ray two-dimensional imaging observations are briefly reviewed. It is shown that seven events published in the literature are not homogeneous but rather diverse with respect to spatial structure, mutual relations on position or shape. An outlook is presented for the next solar cycle to obtain a large data set for extensive study of energetic solar phenomena.

     

Long time delay between the peaks of intense solar hard X-ray and microwave bursts

New solar wind data from Helios-2 are used to study, in a statistical fashion, the relation between proton number density n, flow speed u and heliocentric distance r. It is shown that the average of nu ² r ² does not depend on flow speed nor on distance, verifying the previously established invariance of momentum flux density (mnu²) carried by the solar wind. Averages of mnu² from different spacecraft do not show correlation with the solar cycle. Rather, the close agreement (to within 1.8%) of values from Helios-1 and Helios-2 suggests that the momentum flux density carried by the solar wind may be also constant during the solar cycle.     

Spatial,spectral, and polarization properties of radio emission of the 3 February, 1983 proton flare

A complex analysis in different radio ranges of the evolutionary features of the 3 February, 1983 flare (0543-0619-0812 UT) has shown that the flare is a prolonged ( 15 hr) process of energy release and particle acceleration that gradually extends to still greater zones of the active region (AR) magnetosphere in both area and altitude. Observations from the Siberian Solar Radio Telescope obtained at = 5.2 cm indicate that the flare was preceded by quasi-periodical brightness enhancements with a period of 6–7 min of two sources of size 20 and with a brightness temperature of 107 K.During the flare maximum phase, a type II burst with harmonic structure and the subsequent type FC II continuum with fine structure were both observed in the meter band. It has been found that zebra-structure appearances correlate with the H-flare kernel brightenings at loop tops.The observed characteristics of the type II burst and of the type FC II continuum treated in this paper are interpreted in terms of the complex flare flow structure, involving forward and backward shock waves.     

Particle acceleration in flares

Particle acceleration is intrinsic to the primary energy release in the impulsive phase of solar flares, and we cannot understand flares without understanding acceleration. New observations in soft and hard X-rays, -rays and coherent radio emissions are presented, suggesting flare fragmentation in time and space. X-ray and radio measurements exhibit at least five different time scales in flares. In addition, some new observations of delayed acceleration signatures are also presented. The theory of acceleration by parallel electric fields is used to model the spectral shape and evolution of hard X-rays. The possibility of the appearance of double layers is further investigated.Report of Team 3, Flares 22 Workshop, Ottawa, May 25–28, 1993.     

Energy transport and dynamics

We report findings concerning energy transport and dynamics in flares during the impulsive and gradual phases based on new ground-based and space observations (notably fromYohkoh). A preheating sometimes occurs during the impulsive phase. Caxix line shifts are confirmed to be good tracers of bulk plasma motions, although strong blue shifts are not as frequent as previously claimed. They often appear correlated with hard X-rays but, forsome events, the concept that electron beams provide the whole energy input to the thermal component seems not to apply. Theory now yields: new diagnostics of low-energy proton and electron beams; accurate hydrodynamical modeling of pulse beam heating of the atmosphere; possible diagnostics of microflares (based on X-ray line ratio or on loop variability); and simulated images of chromospheric evaporation fronts. For the gradual phase, the continual reorganization of magnetic field lines over active regions determines where and when magnetic reconnection, the mechanism favoured for energy release, will occur. Spatial and temporal fragmentation of the energy release, observed at different wavelengths, is considered to be a factor as well in energy transport and plasma dynamics.Report of Team 4, Flares 22 Workshop, Ottawa, May 25–28, 1993.     

Microwave and Soft X-ray Study of Solar Active Region Evolution

We have studied the properties and evolution of several active regions observed at multiple wavelengths over a period of about 10 days. We have used simultaneous microwave (1.5 and 17 GHz) and soft X-ray measurements made with the Very Large Array (VLA), the Nobeyama Radio Heliograph (NRH) and the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on board the Yohkoh spacecraft, as well as photospheric magnetograms from KPNO. This is the first detailed comparison between observations at radio wavelengths differing by one order of magnitude. We have performed morphological and quantitative studies of active region properties by making inter-comparison between observations at different wavelengths and tracking the day-to-day variations. We have found good general agreement between the 1.5 and 17 GHz radio maps and the soft X-rays images. The 17 GHz emission is consistent with thermal bremsstrahlung (free-free) emission from electrons at coronal temperatures plus a small component coming from plasma at lower temperatures. We did not find any systematic limb darkening of the microwave emission from active regions. We discuss the difference between the observed microwave brightness temperature and the one expected from X-ray data and in terms of emission of a low temperature plasma at the transition region level. We found a coronal optical thickness of 10^-3 and 1 for radiation at 17 and 1.5 GHz, respectively. We have also estimated the typical coronal values of emission measure ( 5 × 10²⁸ cm^-5), electron temperature ( 4.5 × 10⁶6 K) and density ( 1.2 × 10⁹ cm₃). Assuming that the emission mechanism at 17 GHz is due to thermal free-free emission, we calculated the magnetic field in the source region using the observed degree of polarization. From the degree of polarization, we infer that the 17 GHz radiation is confined to the low-lying inner loop system of the active region. We also extrapolated the photospheric magnetic field distribution to the coronal level and found it to be in good agreement with the coronal magnetic field distribution obtained from microwave observations.     

Narrow-band decimeter bursts and X-ray emissions — possible evidence of negative absorption or maser effect

Bursts with peculiar time evolution and narrow-band microwave spectra are studied in detail based on X-ray data of HINOTORI and microwave data of Toyokawa Observatory. Discussions are given for emission mechanism and burst scenario.     

Simultaneous high spatial resolution observations of solar flares in X-rays and microwaves (review)

Results of simultaneous high-resolution microwave and X-ray two-dimensional imaging observations are briefly reviewed. It is shown that seven events published in the literature are not homogeneous but rather diverse with respect to spatial structure, mutual relations on position or shape. An outlook is presented for the next solar cycle to obtain a large data set for extensive study of energetic solar phenomena.