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Feldman, U.

Publications and source records attributed to Feldman, U..

At least 73 records · Page 4
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1981

Solar observations and atomic data for the 3s2 1s0-3s3p 3P1 transition in S v

High resolution solar observations of the S v intersystem line at 1199.18 A are available from Skylab. This line is potentially useful as a density diagnostic for high density plasmas expected in solar flares. S v lines are also prominent in solar spectra at wavelengths below 1000 A. Collision strengths and radiative decay rates are calculated for levels of the configurations 3 s2, 3s3p, 3p2, and 3s3d. Level populations for the five lowest energy levels have been calculated as a function of electron density. These calculations are carried out assuming the temperature at which S v is most abundant in solar plasmas. The calculated population of the 3s3p 3P1 level reaches a pseudo-Boltzmann equilibrium at a density which is about five times higher than is derived from solar spectra and previous density determinations. It is believed that the discrepancy is due to a significant contribution from resonances to the 3s2-3s3p 3P excitation rate coefficient. It is suggested that the contribution of the resonances to the S v excitation rate coefficient can be estimated from a comparison of the experimental results and the theoretical calculations.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A discussion of theoretical ionization equilibrium calculations based on solar flare X-ray spectra

Several sets of ionization equilibrium calculations exist for use in interpreting X-ray and EUV spectra of astrophysical plasmas. In particular, the calculations of Jordan (1969, 1970), Jacobs et al. (1977, 1978) and Summers (1974) are well known. The temperatures of maximum fractional abundance calculated by Summers for the more highly ionized and heavier elements such as iron are about a factor of two higher than the temperatures calculated by Jordan and Jacobs et al. By the use of recently obtained X-ray spectra of solar flares, it is shown that the temperatures calculated by Summers (1974) for iron are incorrect. The temperatures calculated by Jordan or Jacobs et al. should be used until further improvements become available.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On the relationship between soft X-rays and H-alpha-emitting structures during a solar flare

Based on data obtained during a solar flare on March 31, 1979, soft X-ray (SXR) and hard X-ray (HXR) bursts are analyzed and compared with other available data in order to identify structures in H-alpha that may correspond to the SXR-emitting site. Measurements taken with the X-ray telescope and the XUV spectroheliograph flown on Skylab, have shown that the SXR emission from many flares comes from rather small structures of about 10-20 arcsec across. These structures appear to be loops that cross the magnetic neutral line. Understanding of the morphology of SXR was based on data of the solar flare of June 15, 1973, observed from Skylab, and the work of Moore et al., (1980). Dense, highly emissive coronal structures, not suggested to be the X-ray source, were forming, lost energy rapidly by emission and conduction, and finally formed the loops. It is concluded that bright H-alpha loops form rapidly as the SXR emission rises, and the overall decay (cooling rate) of SXR emission is much slower than the formation time of individual loops.

Zirin, H.↗
NASA NTRS1981

High resolution X-ray spectra of solar flares. V - Interpretation of inner-shell transitions in Fe XX-Fe XXIII

The paper examines high-resolution solar flare iron line spectra recorded between 1.82 and 1.97 A by a spectrometer flown by the Naval Research Laboratory on an Air Force spacecraft launched on 1979 February 24. The emission line spectrum is due to inner-shell transitions in the ions Fe XX-Fe XXV. Using theoretical spectra and calculations of line intensities obtained by methods discussed by Merts, Cowan, and Magee (1976), electron temperatures as a function of time for two large class X flares are derived. These temperatures are deduced from intensities of lines of Fe XXII, Fe XXIII, and Fe XXIV. The determination of the differential emission measure between about 12-million and 20-million K using these temperatures is considered. The possibility of determining electron densities in flare and tokamak plasmas using the inner-shell spectra of Fe XXI and Fe XX is discussed.

Doschek, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1981

What produces the high densities observed in solar flare plasmas

Attention is drawn to the implications of the high densities observed in flare plasmas in the wide temperature range from 10 to the 4th K to more than 10 to the 7th K. The chromospheric evaporation theory for the decay phase is discussed, and it is found that it is not consistent with the observations. It is pointed out that all the flare mechanisms proposed so far, e.g., magnetic field reconnection in various geometries, have entirely ignored the fundamental problem of how the high densities arise in the first place, and, in fact, they are unable to answer this question. It is suggested that compressional heatings of a flaring loop might be responsible for the density and emission measure (EM) increases observed in flare plasmas. Chromospheric evaporation associated with local heating in the initial rising phase of the flare, in distinction to the existing evaporation theory which assumes a coronal heating source, is also discussed. Possible observational tests, utilizing the newly launched Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite, are presented.

Cheng, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The detection of companion stars to the Cepheid variables ETA Aquilae and T Monocerotis

Ultraviolet spectra of the classical Cepheid variables eta Aq1 and T Mon at several phases in their periods were obtained with IUE. For eta Aq1 significant ultraviolet emission is detected at wavelengths less than 1600 A, where little flux is expected from classical Cepheids. Furthermore, the emission at wavelengths less than about 1600 A does not vary with phase. Comparison with model atmosphere flux distributions shows that the nonvariable emission is consistent with the flux expected from a main sequence companion star with an effective temperature of about 9500 K (AO V - A1 V). For T Mon a nonvarying component to the ultraviolet emission is observed for wavelengths less than 2600 A. Comparison with model atmosphere flux distributions suggests that the companion has an effective temperature of around 10,000 K (AO) and is near the main sequence.

Mariska, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A solar extreme ultraviolet telescope and spectrograph for Shuttle/Spacelab

An instrument for advanced studies of the solar corona is described. Its optical system provides nearly stigmatic imaging of selected portions of the sun over the spectral range from 22.5 to 44.0 nm. Both spectroheliograms and emission line profiles of coronal features will be obtained over a wide range of coronal temperatures.

Neupert, W. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

High-resolution X-ray spectra of solar flares. IV - General spectral properties of M type flares

The spectral characteristics in selected narrow regions of the X-ray spectrum of class M solar flares are analyzed. High-resolution spectra in the ranges 1.82-1.97, 2.98-3.07, 3.14-3.24 and 8.26-8.53 A, which contain lines important for the determination of electron temperature and departure from ionization equilibrium, were recorded by spaceborne Bragg crystal spectrometers. Temperatures of up to 20,000,000 K are obtained from line ratios during flare rise phases in M as well as X flares, while in the decay phase the calcium temperature can be as low as 8,000,000 K, which is significantly lower than in X flares. Large nonthermal motions (on the order of 130 km/sec at most) are also observed in M as well as X flares, which are largest during the soft X-ray rise phase. Finally, it is shown that the method proposed by Gabriel and Phillips (1979) for detecting departures of electrons from Maxwellian velocity distributions is not sufficiently sensitive to give reliable results for the present data.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Physical conditions in the solar atmosphere above an active region

From a series of EUV spectra obtained at several heights above the limb in a solar active region, the volume emission measure is derived as a function of the electron temperature in the temperature range 70,000-1,500,000 K and the electron density at two locations. The emission measure from the coronal material (temperature greater than 700,000 K) is nearly the same everywhere and represents most of the material in the line of sight, while the emission measure from the transition region material (temperature between 70,000 and 250,000 K) fluctuates by two orders of magnitude from position to position above the active region. This is in agreement with the picture of this active region as consisting of a number of well-defined loops or lower portions of loops at transition region temperatures that are inhomogeneously distributed in much larger and more diffuse loop structures at coronal temperatures. The coronal data are in reasonable agreement with simple coronal models. Emission measures near 1,000,000 K evaluated using different ions differ by a factor of 4, suggesting difficulties with the atomic physics data.

Mariska, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

High-resolution X-ray spectra of solar flares. III - General spectral properties of X1-X5 type flares

High-resolution X-ray spectra of six class X1-X5 solar flares are discussed. The spectra were recorded by spaceborne Bragg crystal spectrometers in the ranges 1.82-1.97, 2.98-3.07 and 3.14-3.24 A. Electron temperatures derived from dielectronic satellite line to resonance line ratios for Fe XXV and Ca XIX are found to remain fairly constant around 22,000,000 and 16,000,000 K respectively during the rise phase of the flares, then decrease by approximately 6,000,000 K during the decay phase. Nonthermal motions derived from line widths for the April 27, 1979 event are found to be greatest during the rise phase (approximately 130 km/sec) and decrease to about 60 km/sec during decay. Volume emission measures for Fe XXV, Ca XIX and Ca XX are derived from photon fluxes as a function of temperature, and examination of the intensity behavior of the Fe K alpha emission as a function of time indicates that it is a result of fluorescence. Differences between the present and previous observations of temperature variation are discussed, and it is concluded that the flare plasmas are close to ionization equilibrium for the flares investigated.

Doschek, G. A.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Atomic data for S IV and solar observations of the 3x/2/3p /2/P-3s3p/2/ /4/P multiplet

High resolution observations of intersystem lines of S IV near 1400 A are available from Skylab. These lines are potentially useful as density diagnostics for the solar atmosphere. Energy levels, transition probabilities and collision strengths have, therefore, been calculated for S IV, including the configurations 3x(2)3p, 3s3p(2), and 3s(2)3d. Line intensities and level populations have been calculated as a function of electron density. The calculated population of the 3s3p(2) (4)P(5/2) level is found to reach a pseudo-Boltzmann equilibrium at a density which is four times higher than is inferred from solar spectra and level population calculations of lighter ions such as O IV.

Bhatia, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Observations of the O I 1355.6 A and C I 1355.8 A lines in solar flares

The paper presents observations of the intersystem line O I 1355.6 A and the allowed line C I 1355.8 A in solar flares. In flares, the intersystem O I line is weaker than the allowed C I line and the intensity ratio O I/C I is 0.3-0.7. On the other hand, in active regions, O I line is stronger than the C I line and O I/C I is about 1-2, while in quiet sun regions, the O I line is much stronger than the C I line and O I/C I not in excess of 20. The variation of the intensity ratio from quiet sun region to flares may be due to an electron density enhancement of a factor of about 50 in flares.

Cheng, C. C.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The detection of a companion star to the Cepheid variable Eta Aquilae

Ultraviolet spectra have been obtained with IUE of the classical Cepheid Eta Aquilae at several phases in the 7.18 day period. Significant ultraviolet emission is detected at wavelengths less than 1600 A, where little flux is expected from classical Cepheids. Furthermore, the emission at wavelengths less than about 1600 A does not vary with phase. Comparison with model atmosphere flux distributions shows that the nonvariable emission is consistent with the flux expected from a main-sequence companion star with an effective temperature of about 9500 K (A0 V). The observed ultraviolet flux and spectral type are used to compute a distance of 300 pc to the system, in agreement with the distance predicted using the period luminosity relation.

Mariska, J. T.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Atomic data and level populations of highly ionized Ti for tokamak plasmas

The paper presents calculations of electron impact collision strengths and spontaneous radiative decay rates for titanium ions of the LiI through FI isoelectronic sequences for transitions between levels of the 2S(2)2p(k), 2s2p(k+1), and 2p(k+2) configurations. From these atomic data, excitation-rate coefficients are calculated along with level populations for these three configurations. The calculations of level populations include the effects of proton excitation, and are carried out at electron temperatures and densities typical of tokamak plasmas. Wavelengths of forbidden and intersystem lines are given, and a synthetic spectrum is presented for a typical temperature and density.

Bhatia, A. K.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Spectroscopy and atomic physics of highly ionized Cr, Fe, and Ni for tokamak plasmas

The paper considers the spectroscopy and atomic physics for some highly ionized Cr, Fe, and Ni ions produced in tokamak plasmas. Forbidden and intersystem wavelengths for Cr and Ni ions are extrapolated and interpolated using the known wavelengths for Fe lines identified in solar-flare plasmas. Tables of transition probabilities for the B I, C I, N I, O I, and F I isoelectronic sequences are presented, and collision strengths and transition probabilities for Cr, Fe, and Ni ions of the Be I sequence are given. Similarities of tokamak and solar spectra are discussed, and it is shown how the atomic data presented may be used to determine ion abundances and electron densities in low-density plasmas.

Feldman, U.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Impulsive phase of solar flares

The present understanding of the impulsive phase of a solar flare, characterized by short-duration bursts of impulsive hard X-ray, EUV, optical and radio emission indicating the release of energetic electrons is reviewed. Observations of the spectral distribution of impulsive hard X-ray bursts and of Type III and radio continuum bursts are presented and interpreted in terms of energetic electron distributions, and impulsive EUV, XUV, soft X-ray and optical observations, which provide a lower limit to total energy release during the impulsive phase, are discussed. The role of energetic electrons in exciting the hard X-ray, EUV and microwave emissions is considered, and thin-target, thick-target, partial-precipitation and thermal models of impulsive phase electron acceleration are evaluated in light of the observations. It is noted that available data do not allow discrimination between a thermal or a nonthermal electron distribution, on which depends the proportion of flare energy supplied by the energetic electrons, and that data favors models which permit at least partial electron precipitation. Future observational and theoretical work is indicated.

Kane, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1979

New atomic data for Si/6+/, S/8+/ and Ar/10+/

The paper gives new atomic data, populations of excited levels, and line intensity ratios for the ions Si VII, S IX, and Ar XI of the O I isoelectronic sequence. Ten levels are included in the calculations, i.e., the levels of the 2s/2/2p/4/ and 2s2p/5/ and 2p/6/ configurations. It is noted that the calculations are done for applications to solar plasmas. The line ratios (2s/2/2p/4/3P1 - 2s2p/5/3P0) / (2s/2/2p/4/3P1 - 2s2p/5/3P1) and (2s/2/2p/4/1D2 - 2s2p/5/1P/1/) / (2s/2/2p/4/3P/1/ - 2s1p/5/3P/1/) are two of the ratios useful for electron density determination. Finally, density sensitive line ratios of Ca XIII and Fe XIX are also discussed.

Bhatia, A. K.↗