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Athay, R. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Athay, R. G..

At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1986

Magnetic shear. III - Hale region 17255

Hale active region 17255, which in many respects was the most vigorous active region observed during the first operational period of SMM, appears to lie between two large areas of flow (observed in C IV) converging toward the major axis of the region. In the 6-day period from November 6-12, 1980, the major axis of the region rotates by about 25 deg. Several segments of the magnetic neutral line show C IV flow velocities of opposite sign on either side of the neutral line. Those segments whose orientation is favorable for measuring velocity components parallel to the neutral line show evidence that such flow is present, which is interpreted as evidence for magnetic shear. This, together with other evidence, suggests that magnetic shear is widespread in this region, as in the two previous regions studied. It is concluded that magnetic shear is often associated with flaring activity but is not a sufficient condition for flaring to occur.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Magnetic shear. IV - Hale regions 16740, 16815, and 16850

Dopplergrams made in C IV 1548 A are studied for evidence of velocity shear near H-alpha dark filaments and for large-scale flow convergent on active regions. The three regions studied support earlier conclusions that shear is a common property of active regions and that active regions may be the foci of converging plasma flow. Flow patterns near filaments show divergence or convergence as well as shear. Also the sense of the shear can be either cyclonic or anticyclonic. No preference is noted for convergence or divergence or for a particular sense of shear, and there appears to be no correlation between the sense of the shear and the sign of the velocity gradient normal to the filament. The close association of H-alpha dark filaments with shear lines leads to the suggestion that the filaments may arise from a cooling instability induced by the Bernoulli effect.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Magnetic shear. II - Hale region 17244

A B-gamma(delta) sunspot group with growing delta-spots of trailing polarity shows evidence in H-alpha filament structure of a transition from a state of weak magnetic shear to a state of strong shear. The shear develops in the chromosphere and transition region to the corona overlying the photospheric magnetic neutral line separating the delta-spots from the leading polarity at a time when the delta-spots are undergoing rapid growth. Several major flares occur along the sheared portion of the neutral line following the shear development. Other segments of the neutral line far removed from the delta-spots show similar evidence of shear in the H-alpha filament structure and in C IV velocity patterns as well. These 'quiescent' regions of shear are relatively steady or decaying with time and show very little related activity.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1985

Magnetic shear. I - Hale region 16918

The present investigation is concerned with a study of the large-scale morphological and dynamical properties of selected active areas of the sun, taking into account a combination of data from the UVSP experiment on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) spacecraft and ground-based data. The area considered comprises NOAA active regions 2516, 2517, and 2519 (Hale regions 16918 and the nothern portions of 16923), whose disk passage occurred during rotation 1696 in the latter half of June 1980. The method of analysis is discussed, and the general characteristics of the regions are examined. Attention is given to the designation of features, magnetograms, spectroheliograms, Dopplergrams, H-alpha filaments, and H-alpha fibrils.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

SMM/UVSP observations of the distribution of transition region oscillations and other properties in a sunspot

Observations of a sunspot in the C IV line at 1548 A formed in the transition region have been analyzed to obtain the time variations and/or mean values of the velocity, intensity, longitudinal magnetic field, and line width. Oscillations with periods between approximately 110 and 200 s are observed only over the umbra where the transition region magnetic field is highest and the line width is smallest. When periodic intensity variations occur at the same frequency as the velocity oscillations, the peak intensities occur slightly before the maximum upward motions. No periodic variations in the transition region magnetic field have been detected. Scatter diagrams are presented which show possible relationships between the flow velocity, emission line intensity, line width, and transition region magnetic field.

Henze, W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Fluid motions in the solar chromosphere-corona transition region. III - Active region flows from wide slit Dopplergrams

Large-scale velocity patterns observed in C IV in active regions show close correspondence with photospheric magnetic field patterns. In a large majority of cases, magnetic neutral lines show blueshift on their sun center side and redshift on their limbward side. The large-scale flow is consistent with widespread loop structure having downflow in both legs of the loops. Studies of individual bright loops, confirm that the flow is downward in most cases. However, an important subset of loops show flow from one end of the loop to the other.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Steady flows in the solar transition region observed with SMM

Steady flows in the quiet solar transition region have been observed with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter experiment on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite. The persistent vertical motions seen at disk center have spatial rms amplitudes of 1.4 km/s in the C II line, 3.9 km/s in Si IV, and 4.2 km/s in C IV. The amplitudes of the more horizontal flows seen toward the limb tend to be somewhat higher. Plots of steady vertical velocity versus intensity seen at disk center in Si IV and C IV show two distinct branches.

Gebbie, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The chromosphere and transition region

An empirical definition of the chromosphere and chromosphere-corona transition region is presented. Various general characteristics of the chromosphere are described and include: radiative equilibrium; spatial and temporal fluctuations; spectral characteristics; and thermodynamic structure.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Preliminary observations and results obtained with the ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter

New observation with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter (UVSP) of a number of manifestations of solar activity obtained during the first three months of Solar Maximum Mission operations are presented. Attention is given to polarimetry in sunspots, oscillations above sunspots, density diagnostics of transition-zone plasmas in active regions, and the eruptive prominence - coronal transient link.

Tandberg-Hassen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Solar Maximum Mission Experiment - Ultraviolet Spectroscopy and Polarimetry on the Solar Maximum Mission

The Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission spacecraft is described. It is pointed out that the instrument, which operates in the wavelength range 1150-3600 A, has a spatial resolution of 2-3 arcsec and a spectral resolution of 0.02 A FWHM in second order. A Gregorian telescope, with a focal length of 1.8 m, feeds a 1 m Ebert-Fastie spectrometer. A polarimeter comprising rotating Mg F2 waveplates can be inserted behind the spectrometer entrance slit; it permits all four Stokes parameters to be determined. Among the observing modes are rasters, spectral scans, velocity measurements, and polarimetry. Examples of initial observations made since launch are presented.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Chromospheric structure in relation to radiation losses

It is assumed that cool star chromospheres are heated by mechanical energy dissipation that depends quasilinearly on density and cooled by radiation loss and it is shown that the basic properties of chromospheres are determined by the ionization of hydrogen. It is hydrogen ionization that provides the freedom for chromospheres to adjust their radiation losses to balance the prescribed heat input, resulting in an extended region of low temperature gradient. Chromospheric radiation losses in cool stars occur mainly in the strongest spectral lines at wavelengths greater than about 2000 A and the fraction of the chromosphere is effectively thin. The most important lines include Ca II H and K and the infrared triplet and Mg II h and k. The strong lines of other abundant species, are less important because their high excitation energies reduce the collisional excitation rates. Lyman alpha losses are important because of the overwhelming abundance of hydrogen. However, the inability of chromospheres to adjust their Lyman alpha losses limits the geometrical thickness of the effectively thin region in Lyman alpha and limits the total Lyman alpha flux.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Impulsive EUV bursts observed in C IV with OSO-8

Time sequences of profiles of the 1548 A line of C IV containing 51 EUV bursts observed in or near active regions are analyzed to determine the brightness, Doppler shift and line broadening characteristics of the bursts. The bursts have mean lifetimes of approximately 150 s, and mean increases in brightness at burst maximum of four-fold as observed with a field of view of 2 x 20 arc sec. Mean burst diameters are estimated to be 3 arc sec, or smaller. All but three of the bursts show Doppler shifts with velocities sometimes exceeding 75 km/s; 31 are dominated by red shifts and 17 are dominated by blue shifts. Approximately half of the latter group have red-shifted precursors. The bursts are interpreted as prominence material, such as surges and coronal rain, moving through the field of view of the spectrometer.

Athay, R. G.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Solar maximum ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter

The objectives of the UVSP experiment are to study solar ultraviolet radiations, particularly from flares and active regions, and to measure constituents in the terrestrial atmosphere by the extinction of sunlight at satellite dawn and dusk. The instrument is designed to observe the Sun at a variety of spectral and spatial resolutions in the range from 1150 to 3600 A. A Gregorian telescope with effective focal length of 1.8 m is used to feed a 1 m Ebert-Fastie spectrometer. A polarimeter containing rotatable magnesium fluoride waveplates is included behind the spectrometer entrance slit and will allow all four Stokes parameters to be determined. Velocities on the Sun can also be measured. The instrument is controlled by a computer which can interact with the data stream to modify the observing program. The observing modes, including rasters, spectral scans, velocity measurements, and polarimetry, are also described along with plans for mission operations, data handling, and analysis of the observations.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E.↗