Engineering topics

Aschwanden, Markus J.

Publications and source records attributed to Aschwanden, Markus J..

25 records · Page 2

NASA NTRS1992

The coevolution of decimetric millisecond spikes and hard X-ray emission during solar flares

Results are presented of an analysis of a comprehensive data set of 27 solar flares with decimetric millisecond spikes between 1980 and 1989, simultaneously observed with the Zuerich radio spectrometers and the Hard X-ray Burst Spectrometer on the SMM spacecraft. Two contradictory relationships of the coevolution of hard X-ray and spiky radio emissions during flares are found: the temporal evolution of both emissions reveals a close functional dependence, but there is a substantial time delay between the two emissions. Five possible scenarios for the hard-X-ray-associated radio spike emission which may account for both their detailed coevolution and their substantial intervening time delay are discussed. All five scenarios are able to explain both the close coevolution of hard X-ray and radio emission as well as their mutual delay to some degree, but none of them can explain all observational aspects in a simple way.

Aschwanden, Markus J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

3D reconstruction methods of coronal structures by radio observations

The ability to carry out the three dimensional (3D) reconstruction of structures in the solar corona would represent a major advance in the study of the physical properties in active regions and in flares. Methods which allow a geometric reconstruction of quasistationary coronal structures (for example active region loops) or dynamic structures (for example flaring loops) are described: stereoscopy of multi-day imaging observations by the VLA (Very Large Array); tomography of optically thin emission (in radio or soft x-rays); multifrequency band imaging by the VLA; and tracing of magnetic field lines by propagating electron beams.

Aschwanden, Markus J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Decimetric solar type U bursts - VLA and Phoenix observations

Observations of type U bursts, simultaneously detected by the VLA at 1.446 GHz and by the broadband spectrometer Phoenix in the 1.1-1.7 GHz frequency band on August 13, 1989 are reported. Extrapolations of the coronal magnetic field, assuming a potential configuration, indicate that the VLA 20 cm source demarcates an isodensity level. The source covers a wide angle of diverging magnetic field lines whose footpoints originate close to a magnetic intrusion of negative polarity into the main sunspot group of the active region with dominant positive polarity. The centroid of the 20-cm U-burst emission, which corresponds to the turnover frequency of the type U bursts and remains stationary during all U bursts, coincides with the apex of extrapolated potential field lines at a height of about 130,000 km. It is demonstrated that the combination of radio imaging and broadband dynamic spectra, combined with the magnetic field reconstruction from magnetograms, can constrain all physical parameters of a magnetic loop system.

Aschwanden, Markus J.↗

NASA NTRS1992

VLA, PHOENIX, and BATSE observations of an X1 flare

We present observations of an X1 flare (18 Jul. 1991) detected simultaneously with the Very Large Array (VLA), the PHOENIX Digital Radio Spectrometer and the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) aboard the Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO). The VLA was used to produce snapshot maps of the impulsive acceleration in the higher corona several minutes before the onset of the hard x ray burst detected by BATSE. Comparisons with high spectral and temporal observations by PHOENIX reveal a variety of radio bursts at 20 cm, such as type 3 bursts, intermediate drift bursts, and quasi-periodic pulsations during different stages of the X1 flare. From the drift rates of these radio bursts we derive information on local density scale heights, the speed of radio exciters, and the local magnetic field. Radio emission at 90 cm shows a type 4 burst moving outward with a constant velocity of 240 km/s. The described X1 flare is unique in the sense that it appeared at the east limb (N06/E88), providing the most accurate information on the vertical structure of different flare tracers visible in radio wavelengths.

Willson, Robert F.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Simultaneous observations of coronal bright points in X-ray and radio wavelengths

We present a first explicit comparison of coronal bright points in soft X-ray and radio wavelengths, using the Soft X-ray Telescope aboard the Yohkoh spacecraft and the Very Large Array. About half of the 33 compact sources identified in a 20-cm full-disk map appear as X-ray bright points in the X-ray data. The other half apparently corresponds to unipolar regions with enhanced magnetic fields. Thus, the identification of radio bright points alone cannot reliably serve as a proxy for X-ray bright points. A preliminary analysis reveals that bright points commonly observed at 20 cm and in X-rays have temperatures of (1.4-2.9) x 10 exp 6 K and emission measures of (0.4-2.5) x 10 exp 45/cu cm. The observed brightness temperatures at 20 cm (1-2.5) x 10 exp 5 K can be explained in terms of optically thin free-free emission from a plasma with these parameters.

Nitta, Nariaki↗

NASA NTRS1991

Solar and stellar radio spikes - Limits on the saturation of the electron-cyclotron maser

The solar millisecond radio 'spikes' have been explained in terms of X-mode radiation generated by a maser near the electron gyrofrequency, acting on fast coronal electrons with a loss cone. This maser is a phenomenon described by quasi-linear theory. It is sensitive to the small first-relativistic correction to the gyrofrequency. Thus, it might be disrupted rather easily by nonlinear effects. The maximum radiation density that can be reached before the radiation entrains (phase-locks) the electrons and saturates the maser is discussed. If the observed durations of solar radio spikes are a measure of the rate of scattering into the loss-cone, then the inferred energy density is at least two orders of magnitude less than the energy density at which entrainment sets in. Also, maser emission from auroral kilometric radiation does not reach wave energies critical for electron entrainment. Maser emissions from flare stars, however, show 3-4 orders of magnitude higher radio fluxes and brightness temperatures than for the solar case and are likely to be saturated by entrainment.

Wentzel, Donat G.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Relaxation of the loss-cone by quasi-linear diffusion of the electron-cyclotron maser instability in the solar corona

A self-consistent numeric two-dimensional code using kinetic-wave particle equations has been developed and applied to the maser dynamics of the solar corona. Time histories generated by the code reveal details of the evolution of the linear phase, the saturation and subsequent relaxation of the loss cone. Quantitative values are obtained for the saturation time, the amount of the converted free energy, the critical wave energy level for onset of maser diffusion, the velocity and pitch angle range of the resonant particles, and the relative importance of the different magnetoionic modes and harmonics. A wide range of initial conditions is covered by varying the loss-cone distribution and the ambient cold plasma parameters.

Aschwanden, Markus J.↗