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Sime, D. G.

Publications and source records attributed to Sime, D. G..

13 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1993

Reformation of a coronal helmet streamer by magnetic reconnection after a coronal mass ejection

A bright feature observed on Jan. 24-26, 1992 with the soft X-ray telescope on the YOHKOH spacecraft and with the coronameter at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory assumed the appearance of a coronal helmet streamer as it slowly expanded. Mauna Loa observations from Jan. 22-24 indicate that a prominence eruption and coronal mass ejection occurred before this feature was seen. We interpret the Jan. 24-26 observations as evidence for 'reformation' of a magnetically closed helmet structure as a consequence of magnetic reconnection that proceeded along a vertical magnetic neutral sheet formed by the mass ejection.

Hiei, E.↗
NASA NTRS1990

The structure of the white-light corona and the large-scale solar magnetic field

The large-scale density structure of the white-light solar corona is compared to the organization of the solar magnetic field as identified by the appearance of neutral lines in the photosphere to examine whether any consistent relationship exists between the two. During the period covering Carrington rotations 1717 to 1736 brightness enhancements in the low corona tend to lie over the global neutral sheet identified in the photospheric magnetic field. The brightest of these enhancements are associated with neutral lines throguh active regions. These associations are not 1-1, but do hold both in stable and evolving conditions of the corona. A significant number of long-lived neutral lines is found, including filaments seen in H-alpha, for which there are not coronal enhancements.

Sime, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Solar coronal and magnetic field observations near the time of the 1988 March 18 solar eclipse

Observations made during the interval March 1-31, 1988, are presented which were designed to provide a synoptic context in which data from the March 18, 1988, total solar eclipse can be interpreted. Daily observations made with the Mark III K-coronameter and the H-alpha prominence monitor at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, along with photographic records of the Sun in H-alpha from the flare patrol at Mees Solar Observatory on Haleakala, Maui, are included. Observations of the longitudinal component of the photospheric magnetic field made at Mees Solar Observatory were also gathered around the period of the eclipse. Together with the white-light image of the corona at the eclipse, these coronal and magnetic field observations assembled into synoptic maps for this epoch, are presented. On the basis of these observations, an interpretation of the global density distribution of the corona at the time of the eclipse is constructed.

Sime, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1987

The coronal mass ejection of July 6, 1980 - A candidate for interpretation as a coronal shock wave

The July 6, 1980 looplike coronal mass ejection observed with the Solar Maximum Mission coronagraph is described and analyzed. Two observations are given special consideration: (1) the sides of the loop moved laterally while they were visible and did not form stationary bright columns, or 'legs', in the late stage, and (2) raylike features initially outside the mass ejection loop were not pushed aside or bent until the laterally moving loop sides passed over them. These observations, as well as the results of quantitative analysis of the motion of the bright loop, are consistent with the identification of the bright loop as a shock front. The loop top moved outward faster (at about 1000 km/s) than most mass ejections studied previously, and possibly faster than the Alfven speed in the corona, while the loop sides moved laterally at a speed of about 800 km/s and showed no evidence of deceleration. The excess mass in the bright loop is estimated to be less than about 2 x 10 to the 14th g, well below the value found to be typical of coronal mass ejections.

Sime, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The sun as a star - 1982 June 14-August 13

During a 60-day period in the summer of 1982, a joint observing project between the High Altitude Observatory and the University of Hawaii was undertaken to collect a set of solar photospheric, chromospheric, and coronal data. From these data, the relationships between quantities recognized to be related to solar activity are specified. The amplitude of rotational modulation of the diagnostic parameters derived for the full disk was approximately equal to the modulation observed over an entire solar cycle. Those integrated solar data have been used as diagnostics of generalized stellar activity. A relationship between the Ca II line K flux and total inferred coronal mass of the sun existed during this observation period, and this fact leads to the hypothesis that ca II flux modulation in other stars may be used to infer stellar coronal conditions.

Fisher, R.↗
NASA NTRS1984

Density distribution in looplike coronal transients - A comparison of observations and a theoretical model

Skylab coronagraph observations of intensity changes in the five outer coronal 'loop-like' transients indicate trends toward the greatest concentration of material at the flanks of the bright loops characterizing such transients, together with the presence of a large depleted density region within the loops and the development of bright legs which contain most of the material in the transient and display minimal lateral motion as the top of the bright loop moves radially outward through the corona. Theoretical models for these phenomena predict a maximum enhancement at the top of the loop, rather than at the flanks, and legs that move laterally with a significant fraction of the propagation speed of the loop top, in contrast with observation. Agreement cannot be achieved without the use of a geometry that conflicts with that used for the model calculations.

Sime, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1984

The corona near the time of the 1983 June 11 total solar eclipse

Observations are presented of the corona during the June 11, 1983 total solar eclipse, together with preliminary results of a coordinated observing program conducted to investigate the relationship between the corona and the lower parts of the solar atmosphere. Synoptic observations of the white light corona and disk in H-alpha are compared with the eclipse image, together with the inferred longitudinal component of the photospheric magnetic field measured using the magnetically sensitive Fe line at 6303 A. Using these data, an interpretation of the global three-dimensional coronal structure is attempted; showing that the eclipse image contains bright features which are far from the plane of the sky, and that it is dominated by streamers over polar filament neutral lines.

Sime, D. G.↗
NASA NTRS1983

Magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the coronal transient associated with the solar limb flare of 1980, June 29, 18:21 UT

The spatial and temporal behavior of excess and depleted density regions of the coronal transient accompanying the west limb solar flare of 18:21 UT on June 29, 1980, is modeled mathematically on the basis of SMM-X-ray-polychrometer data, and the results are compared to observations made with the radio spectrograph at Harvard Radio Astronomy Station at Fort Davis and with the NCAR/HAO Mark III K-coronameter at Mauna Loa. Input data for the model include T(max) = about 20 x 10 to the 6th K, n(max) = about 4 x 10 to the 11th/cu cm, and an assumed ejection velocity of 200 km/sec. Computations using an improved 2D nonplane MHD model are carried out for locally open and closed magnetic topologies. The spatially wide, large-amplitude, temporarily steepened MHD wave predicted by the model for both magnetic topologies is shown to agree well with the observations, except that the predicted density enhancement exceeded observed values by at least 50 percent for the closed field and by a factor of 3 for the open field. This discrepancy is seen as an indication that the mass emitting soft X-rays was confined in closed-field regions near the sun during the obervation period.

Wu, S. T.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The properties of coronal voids

Skylab coronagraph observations of the outer solar corona have revealed dark, ray-like structures whose identification as a true coronal phenomenon rather than a subtle photographic effect is presently undertaken. Photometric analysis indicates that these features represent a reduction of 5% in coronal radiance, and the use of a previously developed model of the coronal electron component allows the specification of void electron densities over a 2.5-4.5 solar radius range. Projection of the phenomena onto synoptic surface maps indicates a close relationship with filaments and neutral lines, and a potentially significant temporal correlation between void formation and the formation of the underlying prominence is noted.

Macqueen, R. M.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Solar cycle changes in the polar solar wind

It is noted that although the 11 year solar cycle was first recognized in 1843, it is still only poorly understood. Further, while there are satisfactory models for the magnetic variations, the underlying physics is still obscure. New observations on the changing three-dimensional form of the solar wind are presented which help relate some of the modulations observed in geomagnetic activity, the ionosphere, and the flux of galactic cosmic rays.

Coles, W. A.↗
NASA NTRS1976

High-latitude observations of solar wind streams and coronal holes

Interplanetary scintillation observations of the solar wind velocity during 1973 and the first part of 1974 reveal several corotating high-speed streams. These streams, of heliographic latitudes from +40 deg to -60 deg, have been mapped back to the vicinity of the sun and have been compared with coronal holes identified in wide band XUV solar images taken during the manned portions of the Skylab mission. There is some evidence that the high-speed streams are preferentially associated with coronal holes and that they can spread out from the hole boundaries up to about 20 deg in latitude. However, this association is not one to one; streams are observed which do not map back to coronal holes, and holes are observed which do not lie at the base of streams. To the extent that a statistical interpretation is possible the association is not highly significant, but individual consideration of streams and holes suggests that the statistical result is biased somewhat against a strong correlation.

Ricket, B. J.↗