Diagnostics of non-thermal-distributions from solar flare EUV line spectra

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (S354) ◽  
pp. 414-417
Author(s):  
Elena Dzifčáková ◽  
Alena Zemanová ◽  
Jaroslav Dudík ◽  
Juraj Lörinčík

AbstractSpectral line intensities observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) during 2012 March 9 M6.3 flare were used to diagnose a presence of a non-thermal electron distribution represented by a κ-distribution. The diagnosed electron densities ($\approx 2 \times {10^{11}}{\rm{c}}{{\rm{m}}^{ - 3}}$) are affected only a little by the presence of the non-thermal distribution, and are within the uncertainties of observation. On the other hand, the temperature diagnostics based on the line ratios involving different ionization degrees is strongly affected by the type of the electron distribution. The distribution functions diagnosed from relative Fe line intensities demonstrate the presence of strongly non-thermal distributions during the impulsive phase of the flare and later their gradual thermalization.

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S320) ◽  
pp. 41-50
Author(s):  
Ryan O. Milligan

AbstractFor the past six years, the EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory has been monitoring changes in the Sun's extreme ultraviolet output over a range of timescales. Its primary function is to provide measurements of the solar spectral irradiance that is responsible for driving fluctuations in Earth's ionosphere and thermosphere. However, despite its modest spectral resolution and lack of spatial information, the EVE spectral range contains many lines and continua that have become invaluable for diagnosing the response of the lower solar atmosphere itself to an injection of energy, particularly during a flare's impulsive phase. In addition, high temperature emission lines can also be used to track changes in temperature and density of flaring plasma in the corona. The high precision of EVE observations are therefore crucial in helping us understand particle acceleration and energy transport mechanisms during solar flares, as well as the origins of the Sun's most geoeffective emission.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (S320) ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Thomas N. Woods ◽  
Francis G. Eparvier ◽  
James P. Mason

AbstractNew solar soft X-ray (SXR) and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) irradiance observations from NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) EUV Variability Experiment (EVE) provide full coverage from 0.1 to 106 nm and continuously at a cadence of 10 seconds for spectra at 0.1 nm resolution. These observations during flares can usually be decomposed into four distinct characteristics: impulsive phase, gradual phase, coronal dimming, and EUV late phase. Over 6000 flares have been observed during the SDO mission; some flares show all four phases, and some only show the gradual phase. The focus is on the newer results about the EUV late phase and coronal dimming and its relationship to coronal mass ejections (CMEs). These EVE flare measurements are based on observing the sun-as-a-star, so these results could exemplify stellar flares. Of particular interest is that new coronal dimming measurements of stars could be used to estimate mass and velocity of stellar CMEs.


2018 ◽  
Vol 615 ◽  
pp. A47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Srividya Subramanian ◽  
Vinay L. Kashyap ◽  
Durgesh Tripathi ◽  
Maria S. Madjarska ◽  
John G. Doyle

We study the thermal structure and energetics of the point-like extreme ultraviolet (EUV) brightenings within a system of fan loops observed in the active region AR 11520. These brightenings were simultaneously observed on 2012 July 11 by the High-resolution Coronal (Hi-C) imager and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We identified 27 brightenings by automatically determining intensity enhancements in both Hi-C and AIA 193 Å light curves. The energetics of these brightenings were studied using the Differential Emission Measure (DEM) diagnostics. The DEM weighted temperatures of these transients are in the range log T(K) = 6.2−6.6 with radiative energies ≈1024−25 ergs and densities approximately equal to a few times 109 cm−3. To the best of our knowledge, these are the smallest brightenings in EUV ever detected. We used these results to determine the mechanism of energy loss in these brightenings. Our analysis reveals that the dominant mechanism of energy loss for all the identified brightenings is conduction rather than radiation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. L5 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. P. Chitta ◽  
H. Peter ◽  
L. Li

A solar filament is a dense cool condensation that is supported and thermally insulated by magnetic fields in the rarefied hot corona. Its evolution and stability, leading to either an eruption or disappearance, depend on its coupling with the surrounding hot corona through a thin transition region, where the temperature steeply rises. However, the heating and dynamics of this transition region remain elusive. We report extreme-ultraviolet observations of quiescent filaments from the Solar Dynamics Observatory that reveal prominence spicules propagating through the transition region of the filament-corona system. These thin needle-like jet features are generated and heated to at least 0.7 MK by turbulent motions of the material in the filament. We suggest that the prominence spicules continuously channel the heated mass into the corona and aid in the filament evaporation and decay. Our results shed light on the turbulence-driven heating in magnetized condensations that are commonly observed on the Sun and in the interstellar medium.


2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (S286) ◽  
pp. 238-241
Author(s):  
Federico A. Nuevo ◽  
Alberto M. Vásquez ◽  
Richard A. Frazin ◽  
Zhenguang Huang ◽  
Ward B. Manchester

AbstractWe recently extended the differential emission measure tomography (DEMT) technique to be applied to the six iron bands of the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instrument aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). DEMT products are the 3D reconstruction of the coronal emissivity in the instrument's bands, and the 3D distribution of the local differential emission measure, in the height range 1.0 to 1.25 R⊙. We show here derived maps of the electron density and temperature of the inner solar corona during the rising phase of solar Cycle 24. We discuss the distribution of our results in the context of open/closed magnetic regions, as derived from a global potential field source surface (PFSS) model of the same period. We also compare the results derived with SDO/AIA to those derived with the Extreme UltraViolet Imager (EUVI) instrument aboard the Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory (STEREO).


2020 ◽  
Vol 638 ◽  
pp. A32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Q. M. Zhang ◽  
J. Dai ◽  
Z. Xu ◽  
D. Li ◽  
L. Lu ◽  
...  

Aims. We report our multiwavelength observations of two homologous circular-ribbon flares in active region 11991 on 2014 March 5, focusing on the transverse oscillations of an extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) loop excited by the flares. Methods. The flares were observed in ultraviolet and EUV wavelengths by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft. These flares were also observed in Hα line center by the 1 m New Vacuum Solar Telescope. Soft X-ray fluxes of the flares in 0.5–4 and 1–8 Å were recorded by the GOES spacecraft. Results. The transverse oscillations are of fast standing kink mode. The first-stage oscillation triggered by the C2.8 flare is decayless with lower amplitudes (310–510 km). The periods (115–118 s) in different wavelengths are nearly the same, indicating coherent oscillations. The magnetic field of the loop is estimated to be 65–78 G. The second-stage oscillation triggered by the M1.0 flare is decaying with larger amplitudes (1250–1280 km). The periods decrease from 117 s in 211 Å to 70 s in 171 Å, implying a decrease of loop length or an implosion after a gradual expansion. The damping time, which is 147–315 s, increases with the period, so that the values of τ/P are close to each other in different wavelengths. The thickness of the inhomogeneous layer is estimated to be ∼0″​​​.45 under the assumption of resonant absorption. Conclusions. This is the first observation of the excitation of two kink-mode loop oscillations by two sympathetic flares. The results are important to understand the excitation of kink oscillations of coronal loops and hence the energy balance in the solar corona. Our findings also validate the prevalence of significantly amplified amplitudes of oscillations by successive drivers.


Solar Physics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 294 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan G. Heinemann ◽  
Manuela Temmer ◽  
Niko Heinemann ◽  
Karin Dissauer ◽  
Evangelia Samara ◽  
...  

Abstract Coronal holes are usually defined as dark structures seen in the extreme ultraviolet and X-ray spectrum which are generally associated with open magnetic fields. Deriving reliably the coronal hole boundary is of high interest, as its area, underlying magnetic field, and other properties give important hints as regards high speed solar wind acceleration processes and compression regions arriving at Earth. In this study we present a new threshold-based extraction method, which incorporates the intensity gradient along the coronal hole boundary, which is implemented as a user-friendly SSW-IDL GUI. The Collection of Analysis Tools for Coronal Holes (CATCH) enables the user to download data, perform guided coronal hole extraction and analyze the underlying photospheric magnetic field. We use CATCH to analyze non-polar coronal holes during the SDO-era, based on 193 Å filtergrams taken by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) and magnetograms taken by the Heliospheric and Magnetic Imager (HMI), both on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Between 2010 and 2019 we investigate 707 coronal holes that are located close to the central meridian. We find coronal holes distributed across latitudes of about ${\pm}\, 60^{\circ}$±60∘, for which we derive sizes between $1.6 \times 10^{9}$1.6×109 and $1.8 \times 10^{11}\mbox{ km}^{2}$1.8×1011 km2. The absolute value of the mean signed magnetic field strength tends towards an average of $2.9\pm 1.9$2.9±1.9 G. As far as the abundance and size of coronal holes is concerned, we find no distinct trend towards the northern or southern hemisphere. We find that variations in local and global conditions may significantly change the threshold needed for reliable coronal hole extraction and thus, we can highlight the importance of individually assessing and extracting coronal holes.


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