Engineering topics

Choudhary, Debi Prasad

Publications and source records attributed to Choudhary, Debi Prasad.

11 records

NASA NTRS2005

Decay of Solar Active Regions

We examine the record of sunspot group areas observed over a period of 100 years to determine the rate of decay of solar active regions. We exclude observations of groups when they are more than 60deg in longitude from the central meridian and only include data when at least three days of observations are available following the date of maximum area for a spot group's disk passage. This leaves data for some 24,000 observations of active region decay. We find that the decay rate is a constant 20 microHem/day for spots smaller than about 200 microHem (about the size of a supergranule). This decay rate increases linearly to about 90 microHem/day for spots with areas of 1000 microHem. We find no evidence for significant variations in active region decay from one solar cycle to another. However, we do find that the decay rate is slower at lower latitudes. This gives a slower decay rate during the declining phase of sunspot cycles.

Hathaway, David H.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Supergranule Diffusion and Active Region Decay

Models of the Sun's magnetic dynamo include turbulent diffusion to parameterize the effects of convective motions on the evolution of the Sun's magnetic field. Supergranules are known to dominate the evolution of the surface magnetic field structure as evidenced by the structure of both the active and quiet magnetic network. However, estimates for the dif hivity attributed to su perymules differ by an order of magnitude from about 100 km sup2/s to more than 1000 km sup2/s. We examine this question of the e i v i t y using three merent approaches. 1) We study the decay of more than 30,000 active regions by determining the rate of change in the sunspot area of each active region from day-to-day. 2) We study the decay of a single isolated active region near the time of solar minimum by examining the magnetic field evolution over five solar rotations fiom SOHOMDI magnetograms obtained at 96-minute intervals. 3) We study the characteristics of supergranules that influence the estimates of their diffusive properties - flow speeds and lifetimes as functions of size - fiom SOHO/MDI Dopplergrams.

Hathaway, David H.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Triggering of the Two X-class Flares of 28 and 29 October 2003

From H-alpha movies from Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences and from Prairie View Solar Observatory, hard X-ray movies from RHESSI, line-of-sight magnetogram movies from SOHO/MDI, and vector magnetograms from Marshal Space Flight Center, we examine the magnetic structure and evolution of the large delta-sunspot active region NOAA 10486 in relation to the onset and development of the two X-class flares that occurred in this active region on 28 and 29 October 2003. We find evidence that each of these flares was triggered by strongly sheared magnetic field via "tether-cutting" reconnection with adjacent/overlying strongly sheared field. In the first flare, the initial brightening in H-alpha: (1) was partly rooted in emerging sheared magnetic field along the edge of the large positive-polarity flux domain of the delta sunspot, and (2) consisted of four flare kernels, two in negative magnetic flux and two in positive magnetic flux. In the second flare, the brightening started in the core of a Z-shaped sigmoidal sheared magnetic field and the inner two of four H-alpha kernels were visible in 30-50 Kev hard X-ray image from RHESSI. Each flare spread from the initial quadrupolar brightening to develop into a much larger two-ribbon flare straddling a much more extensive swath of strongly sheared field along the edge of the large positive-flux domain of the delta sunspot, the first flare on the leading side and the second flare on the trailing side of this domain. Thus, localized internal reconnection triggered the explosion of these extensive sheared magnetic fields.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2004

Quiet-Region Filament Eruptions

We report characteristics of quiescent filament eruptions that did not produce coronal mass ejections (CMEs). It is known that there is a dichotomy of quiescent filament eruptions: those that produce CMEs and those that do not. We examined the quiescent filament eruptions, each of which was located far from disk center (greater than or equal to 0.7 R(sub Sun)) in diffuse remnant magnetic fields of decayed active regions, was well observed in Ha observations and Fe XII, and had good coronagraph coverage. We present the similarity and differences of two classes of filament eruptions. From their lack of CME production and the appearance of their eruptive motion in Fe XII movies, we conclude that the non-CME-producing filament eruptions are confined eruptions like the confined filament eruptions in active regions. We take the similarity of the confined and eruptive quiescent filament eruptions with their active-region counterparts to favor runaway tether-cutting connection for unleashing the magnetic explosion in all these eruptions.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2004

Evidence of "Tether-Cutting" Reconnection in the Onset of a Quadrupolar Solar Magnetic Eruption

Extensive study of the near-limb solar filament eruption event on 2000 February 26, involving coronal images from YOHKOH, SOHO EIT and photospheric magnetogram from MID have shown that that both "runaway-tether-cutting-type reconnection" and "fast breakout-type reconnection" may have occurred early in the fast phase of the eruption and may have played an important role in unleashing the explosion (Sterling & Moore 2004). That study did not identify which or if either of these types of reconnection actually triggered the fast phase. Here, together with a magnetogram and He1 10830 A filtergram from NSO/KP, we present Halpha filtergrams from Big Bear Solar Observatory, that show evidence of "tether-cutting-type reconnection" before and during the eruption of the southern filament, situated at one of the neutral lines of the quadrupole magnetic structure.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2003

Filament Eruption without Coronal Mass Ejection

We report characteristics of quiescent filament eruptions that were not associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We examined 12 quiescent filament eruptions, each of which was located far from disk center (20.7 R(sub sun)) in diffuse remnant magnetic fields of decayed active regions, was well observed in full-disk movies in Ha and Fe XI, and had good coronagraph coverage. Of the 12 events, 9 were associated with CMEs and 3 were not. Even though the two kinds of eruption were indistinguishable in their magnetic setting and in the eruptive motion of the filament in the Ha movies, each of the CME-producing eruptions produced a two-ribbon flare in Ha and a coronal arcade and/or two-ribbon flare in Fe XII, and each of the non-CME-producing eruptions did not. From this result, and the appearance of the eruptive motion in the Fe XII movies, we conclude that the non-CME-associated filament eruptions are confined eruptions like the confined filament eruptions in active regions.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2003

Filament Eruption without Coronal Mass Ejection

We report characteristics of quiescent filament eruptions that did not produce coronal mass ejections (CMEs). We examined 12 quiescent filament eruptions, each of which was located far from disk center (greater than or equal to 0.7 R (sub sun)) in diffuse remnant magnetic fields of decayed active regions, was well observed in full-disk movies in H alpha and Fe XII, and had good coronagraph coverage. Of the 12 eruptions, 7 produced CMEs and 5 did not. Even though the two kinds of eruption were indistinguishable in their magnetic setting and in the eruptive motion of the filament in the H alpha movies, each of the CME-producing eruptions produced a two-ribbon flare in H alpha and a flare arcade in Fe XII, and each of the non-CME-producing eruptions did not. From this result, and the appearance of the eruptive motion in the Fe XII movies, we conclude that the non-CME-producing filament eruptions are confined eruptions like the confined filament eruptions in active regions. We take the similarity of the confined and eruptive quiescent filament eruptions with their active-region counterparts to favor runaway tether-cutting reconnection for unleashing the magnetic explosion in all these eruptions.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2003

Large Solar Observatory

This article summarizes the scientific aim, design considerations and observatory site of a large optical solar telescope. The day time "seeing" is better on the islands, surrounded by large body of water, compared to the mountain sites. Therefore, in order to obtain the solar images with sub-arcsec resolution, the observatory site should be preferably located on an island. A list of potential sites on Himalayas and surrounding region is given. A brief description of the telescope design, enclosure and back-end instruments are also presented.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2003

Asymmetric Stokes-V Profiles at the Penumbral Boundary of a Sunspot

We present the spectropolarimetric measurements of a sunspot in the active region NOAA 6958 (15S03W), situated near the central meridian disk passage. The follower polarity sunspot was somewhat symmetrically round shaped with an elongated penumbra. There were several opposite polarity magnetic elements at, and beyond the penumbral boundary. The H-alpha images of the sunspot show the bright emission regions near the penumbral boundary towards the sun-center, which was of opposite polarity with respect to the main spot. The net-circular polarization (NCP) map shows that NCP is negative in the inner part of the spot and positive at the penumbral boundary and near the H-alpha plage. The Doppler velocities were determined by measuring the center-of-gravity (COG) of the Stokes-I profile and zero-crossing (ZC) wavelength of the Stokes-V profiles. The COG velocity map in general agrees with the Evershed flow. In addition, it shows the up flow in the penumbral region. The ZC velocities show the strong down flow at the penumbral boundary. Double-lobed Stokes-V profiles are observed at the locations, where the penumbral fibrils terminate coinciding the H-alpha plage. The Double lobed profiles had an unshifted component similar to the Stokes-V profiles of the sunspot penumbra and a shifted component with a velocity of about 5 km/s. The amplitude of the second component increases along the penumbral fibril as a function of the distance from the center of the sunspot. In this paper we discuss the role of emerging flux in generating the observed double lobed profiles. Based on our present observations, we propose to observe with the Solar-B Spectropolarimeter for understanding the nature of emerging flux near the sunspots.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS2001

Large Solar Flares and Sheared Magnetic Field Configuration

This Comment gives additional information about the nature of flaring locations on the Sun described in the article "Sun unleashes Halloween storm", by R. E. Lopez, et al. What causes the large explosions from solar active regions that unleash huge magnetic storms and adverse space weather? It is now beyond doubt that the magnetic field in solar active regions harbors free energy that is released during these events. Direct measurements of the longitudinal and transverse components of active region magnetic fields with the vector magnetograph at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), taken on a regular basis for the last 30 years, have found key signatures of the locations of powerful flares. A vector magnetograph detects and measures the magnetic shear, which is the deviation of the observed transverse magnetic field direction from the potential field. The sheared locations possess abundant free magnetic energy for solar flares. In addition to active region NOAA 10486, the one that produced the largest flares last October, the NASA/MSFC vector magnetograph has observed several other such complex super active regions, including NOAA 6555 and 6659.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗

NASA NTRS1998

Magnetic Field Configuration of Active Region NOAA 6555 at the Time of a Long Duration Flare on 23 March 1991: An Exception to Standard Flare Reconnection Model

The high-resolution H(sub alpha) images observed during the decay phase of a long duration flare on 23 March 1991 are used to study the three-dimensional magnetic field configuration of the active region NOAA 6555. Whereas, all the large flares in NOAA 6555 occurred at the location of high magnetic shear and flux emergence, this long duration flare was observed in the region of low magnetic shear at the photosphere. The H(sub alpha) loop activity started soon after the maximum phase of the flare. There were few long loop at the initial phase of the activity. Some of these were sheared in the chromosphere at an angle of about 45 deg with the east-west axis. Gradually, increasing number of shorter loops, oriented along the east-west axis, started appearing. The chromospheric Dopplergrams show blue-shifts at the end points of the loops. By using different magnetic field models, we have extrapolated the photospheric magnetograms to the chromospheric heights. The magnetic field lines computed by using the potential field model correspond to most of the observed H(sub alpha) loops. The height of the H(sub alpha) loops were derived by comparing them with the computed field lines. From the temporal evolution of the H(sub alpha) loop activity, we derive the negative rate of appearance of H(sub alpha) features as a function of height. It is found that the field lines oriented along one of the neutral lines was sheared and low lying. The higher field lines were mostly potential. The paper also outlines a possible scenario for describing the post-flare stage of the observed long duration flare.

Choudhary, Debi Prasad↗