Engineering topics

Hick, P.

Publications and source records attributed to Hick, P..

11 records

NASA NTRS1997

Post-flare loops embedded in a hot coronal fan-like structure

Limb events were demonstrated on the sun in which rising post-flare loops were embedded in hot structures looking in soft X-rays like fans of rays, formed during the flare and extending high into the corona. One of these structures is analyzed and it is suggested that these fans of rays represent temporary ministreamers, along which mass flows into interplanetary space. This suggestion is supported by maps of solar wind density constructed from scintillation measurements.

Svestka, Z.↗

NASA NTRS1996

Solar coronal structure: A comparison of NSO/SP ground-based coronal emission line intensities and temperatures with Yohkoh SXT and WSO magnetic data

The large-scale structure of the solar corona is investigated using synoptic maps produced from Fe XIV (530.3 nm), Fe X (637.4 nm) and Ca XV (569.4 nm) data obtained at National Solar Observatory (NSO/SP), Yohkoh/Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) X-ray data and Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) 'source surface' maps. We find that the Fe XIV data are an excellent proxy for spatially-average Yohkoh/SXT data. Isolated emission features and large-scale structures are nearly identical in SXT and Fe XIV maps. In addition, coronal holes and other low-emission regions are very similar. Synoptic temperature maps, calculated from the Fe X/Fe XIV ratio, show a tendency for the highest temperatures to occur where the large-scale magnetic fields change polarity at high latitudes, while lower-latitude features, including active regions, have lower apparent tempertures. Regions of enhanced temperature generally follow the helisopheric current sheet (HCS) as defined by the WSO maps. Further, emission in Ca XV (formed at T is approximately equal to 3 MK), generally occurs only over low-latitude regions that are bright in both FE X (T approximately equal to 1 MK) and Fe XIV (T approximately equal to 2 MK). Thus, there is evidence for low (approximately equal to 1 MK), moderate (approximately equal to 2 MK) and high (approximately 3 MK) temperatures in close proximity in the low corona.

Altrock, R. C.↗

NASA NTRS1996

IPS observations of heliospheric density structures associated with active regions

Interplanetary scintillation (IPS) measurements of the 'disturbance factor' g, obtained with the Cambridge (UK) array can be used to explore the heliospheric density structure. We have used these data to construct synoptic (Carrington) maps, representing the large-scale enhancements of the g-factor in the inner heliosphere. These maps emphasize the stable corotating, rather than the transient heliospheric density enhancements. We have compared these maps with Carrington maps of Fe XIV observations National Solar Observatory ((NSO), Sacramento Peak) and maps based on Yohkoh Soft X-Ray Telescope (SXT) X-ray observations. Our results indicate that the regions of enhanced g tend to map to active regions rather than the current sheet. The implication is that act ve regions are the dominant source of the small-scale (approximately equal 200 km) density variations present in the quiet solar wind.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Evidence of active region imprints on the solar wind structure

A common descriptive framework for discussing the solar wind structure in the inner heliosphere uses the global magnetic field as a reference: low density, high velocity solar wind emanates from open magnetic fields, with high density, low speed solar wind flowing outward near the current sheet. In this picture, active regions, underlying closed magnetic field structures in the streamer belt, leave little or no imprint on the solar wind. We present evidence from interplanetary scintillation measurements of the 'disturbance factor' g that active regions play a role in modulating the solar wind and possibly contribute to the solar wind mass output. Hence we find that the traditional view of the solar wind, though useful in understanding many features of solar wind structure, is oversimplified and possibly neglects important aspects of solar wind dynamics

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Yohkoh/SXT x-ray synoptic maps of coronal brightness and temperature

The Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope (SXT) records on the order of 50 solar images per day in two different color filters. These provide material for the generation of synoptic maps, which compress the 3-dimensional data cube into two dimensions. We are creating synoptic maps from strips of data both at disk center and at different heights, including limb maps that are analogous to those produced by ground-based coronagraphs. The ratios of intensities in images taken in two filters provide estimates of the electron temperature in the range 1 - 3 x 10(exp 6) K. These are broad-band temperature maps; rather than maps created with discrete sampling as in the case of the coronal green and red lines. We discuss the properties of these maps and their application to the study of energy release in the corona.

Slater, G. L.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Coronal synoptic temperature maps derived from the Fe XIV/Fe X intensity ratio

The large-scale temperature structure of the low corona is investigated using synoptic temperature maps, derived from the intensity ratio of the green (Fe XIV) and red (Fe X) coronal lines as observed at the National Solar Observatory/Sacramento Peak. This intensity ratio is sensitive to coronal plasma with temperatures in the range of 1-2 MK. The synoptic maps indicate an association between high coronal temperature and the large-scale magnetic field. A comparison with WSO 'source surface' synoptic maps shows that especially when the heliospheric current sheet is stable over several rotations, the large-scale high-temperature features follow the current sheet remarkably well. For recent Carrington rotations temperature maps have been constructed for various heights between 1.15 and 1.45 solar radii. For these maps the correspondence with the current sheet (calculated at 2.5 solar radii) improves with height. Deviations between temperature structure and magnetic structure appears to be largest when the magnetic structure changes rapidly from rotation to rotation.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Synoptic IPS and Yohkoh soft X-ray observations

Interplanetary scintillation measurements of the disturbance factor, g, from October 1991 to October 1992 are used to construct synoptic Carrington maps. These maps, which show the structure of the quiet solar wind, are compared with X-ray Carrington maps from the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) instrument. For the period studied the global structure outlined by (weakly) enhanced g-values apparent in the interplanetary scintillation (IPS) maps tend to match the active regions (as shown in the X-ray maps) significantly better than the heliospheric current sheet. Contrary to traditional opinion, which views active regions as magnetically closed structures that do not have any significant impact on the solar wind flow, our results suggest that density fluctuations in the solar wind are significantly enhanced over active regions. These results support the suggestion by Uchida et al. (1992), based on Yohkoh observations of expanding active regions, that active regions play a role in feeding mass into the quiet solar wind.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Solar wind mass and momentum flux variations at 0.3 AU

In the past we have used electron Thomson scattering brightness observations, obtained with the zodiacal-light photometers on board the spacecraft Helios 1 and Helios 2, to study the global density structure of the quiet corona and inner heliosphere (greater than 17 solar radii). This was done by means of a comparison of synoptic maps based on these Thomson scattering observations and synoptic maps based on other solar/heliospheric data, such as IPS velocity, K-coronameter brightness and magnetic source surface data. In this paper we continue this approach by combining the Helios Thomson scattering maps (which provide density information) with IPS solar wind velocity maps to map out variations in mass and momentum flux of the solar wind as a function of latitude and phase of the solar cycle. The method used to construct the Helios and IPS synoptic maps emphasizes the global, persistent (as opposed to transient) structures, and thus can be viewed as approximating conditions in the quiet corona and inner heliosphere.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1992

Synoptic maps of heliospheric Thomson scattering brightness from 1974-1985 as observed by the Helios photometers

We display the electron Thomson scattering intensity of the inner heliosphere as observed by the zodiacal light photometers on board the Helios spacecraft in the form of synoptic maps. The technique extrapolates the brightness information from each photometer sector near the Sun and constructs a latitude/longitude map at a given solar height. These data are unique in that they give a determination of heliospheric structures out of the ecliptic above the primary region of solar wind acceleration. The spatial extent of bright, co-rotating heliospheric structures is readily observed in the data north and south of the ecliptic plane where the Helios photometer coverage is most complete. Because the technique has been used on the complete Helios data set from 1974 to 1985, we observe the change in our synoptic maps with solar cycle. Bright structures are concentrated near the heliospheric equator at solar minimum, while at solar maximum bright structures are found at far higher heliographic latitudes. A comparison of these maps with other forms of synoptic data are shown for two available intervals.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Synoptic maps for the heliospheric Thomson scattering brightness as observed by the Helios photometers

A method for displaying the electron Thomson scattering intensity in the inner heliosphere as observed by the zodiacal light photometers on board the Helios spacecraft in the form of synoptic maps is presented. The method is based on the assumption that the bulk of the scattering electrons along the line of sight is located near the point closest to the sun. Inner-heliospheric structures will generally be represented properly in these synoptic maps only if they are sufficiently long-lived (that is, a significant fraction of a solar rotation period). The examples of Helios synoptic maps discussed (from data in April 1976 and November 1978), indicate that it is possible to identify large-scale, long-lived density enhancements in the inner heliosphere. It is expected that the Helios synoptic maps will be particularly useful in the study of corotating structures (e.g., streamers), and the maps will be most reliable during periods when few transient featurs are present in the corona, i.e., during solar minimum.

Hick, P.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Synoptic maps constructed from brightness observations of Thomson scattering by heliospheric electrons

Observations of the Thomson scattering brightness by electrons in the inner heliosphere provide a means of probing the heliospheric electron distributions. An extensive data base of Thomson scattering observations, stretching over many years, is available from the zodiacal light photometers on board the two Helios spacecraft. A survey of these data is in progress, presenting these scattering intensities in the form of synoptic maps for successive Carrington rotations. The Thomson scattering maps reflect conditions at typically several tenths of an astronomical unit from the sun. Some representative examples from the survey in comparison with other solar/heliospheric data, such as in situ observations of the Helios plasma experiment and synoptic maps constructed from magnetic field, H alpha and K-coronameter data are presented. The comparison will provide some information about the extension of solar surface features into the inner heliosphere.

Hick, P.↗