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At least 199 records · Page 11

The solar cycle variation of coronal temperature and density during cycle 21-22

In this paper we characterize the temperature and the density structure of the corona utilizing co-spatial spectrophotometric observations during the descending phase of cycle 21 through the ascending phase of cycle 22. The data include ground-based intensity observations of the green (5303A Fe XIV) and red (6374A Fe X) coronal forbidden lines from Sacramento Peak and synoptic maps of white-light K-coronal polarized brightness, pB from the High Altitude Observatory, and photospheric magnetographs from the National Solar Observatory, Sacramento Peak. A determination of plasma temperature T can be derived unambiguously from the intensity ratio Fe X/Fe XIV, since both emission lines come from ionized states of Fe, and the ratios are only weakly dependent on density. The latitudinal variation of the temperature and the density within the descending and the ascending phases of solar cycle 21 and 22 are presented. There is a large-scale organization of the inferred coronal temperature distribution; these structures tend to persist through most of the magnetic activity cycle. This distribution differs in spatial and temporal characterization from the traditional picture of sunspot and active region evolution over the range of sunspot cycle.

Guhathakurta, M.↗

Stratospheric N2O mixing ratio profile from high-resolution balloon-borne solar absorption spectra and laboratory spectra near 1880/cm

A nonlinear least-squares fitting procedure is used to derive the stratospheric N2O mixing ratio profile from balloon-borne solar absorption spectra and laboratory spectra near 1880/cm. The atmospheric spectra analyzed here were recorded during sunset from a float altitude of 33 km with the University of Denver's 0.02/cm resolution interferometer near Alamogordo, N.M. (33 deg N) on Oct. 10, 1979. The laboratory data are used to determine the N2O line intensities. The measurements suggest an N2O mixing ratio of 264 ppbv near 15 km, decreasing to 155 ppbv near 28 km.

Rinsland, C. P.↗

Density sensitive X-ray line ratios in the Be I, B I, and Ne I isoelectronic sequences

The intensities of X-ray transitions in highly charged ions in the Be I, B I, and Ne I isoelectronic sequences have been calculated as functions of electron density. The intensities of the transitions from the 2s(n)2p(m)3p configuration, relative to the intensities from the 2s(n)2p(m)3s and 2s(n)p(m)3d configurations, are strong functions of electron density in high-density plasmas. The density sensitivity occurs at electron densities between 10 to the 16th/cu cm (for Si ions) and 10 to the 22nd/cu cm (for Kr ions). Opacity is unimportant for plasma dimensions that are characteristic of dense laser-produced plasmas. These X-ray line ratios represent a promising new density diagnostic for high-density plasmas.

Feldman, U.↗

The relative line strength and intensity of the N II 2143 doublet

The doublet emission from N II at 2139.7 A and 2143.6 A was observed by a 1.4-m scanning spectrometer with 3.1 A resolution in the daytime, high-altitude thermosphere during moderate levels of solar activity. The spectrometer viewed the earth's limb 5 deg below the local horizontal to give a nominal tangent height of 152 km. Both sub band heads of the nitric oxide gamma band system were resolved in the data at the resolution used. The emission features from N II are clearly evident on the short wavelength shoulder of the (1, 0) band. Synthetic profiles of the (1, 0) gamma band and the (0, 3) delta band of nitric oxide were fitted to the data using a chi-square analysis. These contributions were removed from the data leaving a residual emission, considered to be the N II doublet. A chi-square minimization of the data relative to a synthetic intensity profile was done. The minimum was for a line strength ratio between the 2139 A and 2143 A lines of 0.58 + or - 0.08. The mean solar EUV flux deduced from the intensity of the N II emission in this experiment is lower than other reported observations, consistent with a lower solar activity level.

Bucsela, Eric J.↗

Inference of molecular divertor density from filtered camera analysis of molecularly induced Balmer line emission during detachment in JET L-mode plasmas

Here a previously presented Monte Carlo method for estimating local plasma conditions in 2D based on intensity ratios of deuterium Balmer D α , D γ and D ε lines was amended to consider also the D α and D γ emission contributions arising from molecular processes. The obtained estimates were used to infer the molecular divertor density with the help of the molecular databases of EIRENE. The method was benchmarked against EDGE2D-EIRENE simulations and observed to reproduce the molecularly induced emission fractions and the molecular divertor densities primarily within 25% of the references. Experimental analysis of a JET L-mode density scan suggested molecularly induced D α and D γ contributions of up to 60–70% and 20%, respectively, during the process of detachment. The independent estimates of the molecular divertor density inferred from the obtained molecularly induced D α and D γ intensities agree within uncertainties with each other. Both estimates show the molecular density increasing up to approximately 1.0–2.0 x 10 20 m -3 at the outer strike point in deep detachment with its ratio to the local electron density agreeing with EDGE2D-EIRENE predictions within the scatter of the experimental data.

interferometry↗

Simultaneous observations of solar plage with the solar extreme ultraviolet rocket telescope and spectrograph (SERTS), the VLA, and the Kitt Peak magnetograph

We obtained simultaneous images of solar plage on 1991, May 7 with SERTS, the VLA,4 and the NASA/National Solar Observatory spectromagnetograph at the NSO/Kitt Peak Vacuum Telescope. Using intensity ratios of Fe XVI to Fe XV emission lines, we find that the coronal plasma temperature is (2.3-2.9) x 10 exp 6 K throughout the region. The column emission measure ranges from 2.5 x 10 exp 27 to l.3 x 10 exp 28 cm exp -5. The calculated structure and intensity of the 20 cm wavelength thermal bremsstrahlung emission from the hot plasma observed by SERTS is quite similar to the observed structure and intensity of the 20 cm microwave emission observed by the VLA. Using the Meyer (1991, 1992) revised coronal iron abundance, we find no evidence either for cool absorbing plasma or for contributions from thermal gyroemission. Using the observed microwave polarization and the SERTS plasma parameters, we calculate a map of the coronal longitudinal magnetic field. The resulting values, about 30-60 G, are comparable to extrapolated values of the potential field at heights of 5000 and 10,000 km.

Brosius, Jeffrey W.↗

The critical densities for some emission lines

The critical densities for some emission lines of astronomical interest, especially in the UV range, are calculated on the basis of recent atomic data. Many lines can be used to estimate the densities between 100,000-100 million/cu cm. It is suggested that the intensity ratios of forbidden ArIV 2869/2854 A and forbidden NeIV 2425/2422 A line pairs are good density indicators.

Zheng, Wei↗

A theoretical and observational analysis of He I triplet lines in class 1 Seyfert galaxy spectra

The equations of statistical equilibrium are solved for 11 levels of the helium atom that are most relevant to the production and radiative transfer of He I triplet lines. Solutions are obtained for several densities and temperatures over a run of optical depth in the 10,830-A line, and the results for emission-line strengths are plotted. Spectrophotometric scans and pertinent line strengths are presented for the class 1 Seyfert galaxies 3C 120, NGC 7469, and Mrk 618, as well as for Mrk 335, which exhibits a 'more normal' He I 5876/H-beta ratio. A comparison of the theoretically determined line intensities with the observational results verifies that the He I triplet line intensities are significantly enhanced by electron collisional excitation from 2(3)P and 2(3)S. It is suggested that the gas which gives rise to the broad He I lines in 3C 120, Mrk 618, and NGC 7469 is characterized by a number density of about 5 billion per cu cm, a temperature of approximately 15,000 K, and an optical depth of 100 to 120 in the 10,830-A line.

Feldman, F. R.↗

Investigations of turbulent and directed motions in solar flares

A method is presented for fitting asymmetric line profiles from spectrally resolved observations of solar flares obtained during the past solar maximum. The method is applied to more than 40 flares observed with the Bent Crystal Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission. Correlations between turbulent and directed motions are discussed. From ratios of Ca XIX and Fe XXV line intensities, the temperature of the upflowing component is inferred separately from the stationary component.

Lemen, J. R.↗

High-dispersion observations of emission lines in the postnova HR Delphini

Results are reported for analysis of high-resolution line profiles obtained with an echelle spectrograph in the postnova HR Del. The investigated emission lines include H-alpha, the forbidden N II lines at 6548 and 6583 A, and the forbidden O III line at 5007 A. Heliocentric radial velocities of the line components are given along with their normalized relative intensities. The lines are found to have considerable structure which probably arises from condensations in the expanding nebula. It is shown that all the lines contain two major velocity groups, designated as shells A and B, and that shell B is more highly ionized and probably has a higher electron temperature. A large ratio between the intensities of the 6584-A and H-alpha lines is observed in shell A, and it is concluded that this is consistent with a nitrogen excess of a factor of two or more.

Gallagher, J. S.↗

Infrared line diagnostics of active galactic nuclei

The CLOUDY photoionization code of Ferland (1991) is employed to predict intensities and ratios of the near-, mid-, and far-IR ionic fine-structure lines from AGN of the LINER and Seyfert types, and starbursts. The depths of varying the important model parameters, including ionization parameter, density, and optical depth, are investigated. The way in which detailed IR spectroscopy can reveal the presence of density inhomogeneities and abundance anomalies is shown, and the slope of the ionizing continuum and the amount of reddening and the reddening law are determined. The predictions of the present model and others are compared to the observed line ratios of the starburst galaxy M82 and of the Galactic center. No single-zone model adequately predicted all of the observed lines, but a simple combination of a starburst plus photodissociation region of higher density have a good fit for M82. The present model predictions are used to estimate the detectability of IR fine-structure lines in various active galaxies.

Spinoglio, Luigi↗

Carbon recombination lines as a diagnostic of photodissociation regions

We have observed the C91 alpha radio recombination line toward the Orion H II region. This narrow (approximately 3-5 km per sec full width at half maximum (FWHM)) line is spatially very extended (approximately 8 arcmin or 1 pc). These charateristics compare well with the observed characteristics of the C II fine structure line at 158 microns. Thus, the C91 alpha line originates in the predominantly neutral photodissociation regions separating the H II region from the molecular cloud. We have developed theoretical models for the C II radio recombination lines from photodissociation regions. The results show that the I(C91 alpha)/I(C158) intensity ratio is a sensitive function of the temperature and density of the emitting gas. We have also extended theoretical models for photodissociation regions to include the C II recombination lines. Comparison with these models show that, in the central portion of the Orion region, the C91 alpha line originates in dense (10(exp 6) per cu cm), warm (500-1000 K) gas. Even at large projected distances (approximately 1 pc), the inferred density is still high (10(exp 5) per cu cm) and implies extremely high thermal pressures. As in the case of the (C II) 158 microns line, the large extent of the C91 alpha line shows that (FUV) photons can penetrate to large distances from the illuminating source. The decline of the intensity of the incident radiation field with distance from Theta(sup 1) C seems to be dominated by geometrical dilution, rather than dust extinction. Finally, we have used our models to calculate the intensity of the 9850 A recombination line of C II. The physical conditions inferred from this line are in good agreement with those determined from the radio recombination and the far-infrared fine-structure lines. We show that the ratio of the 9850 A to the C91 alpha lines is a very good probe of very high density clumps.

Natta, A.↗

The N (II) 205 micron line in M82: The warm ionized medium

Detection of the 205 micrometer fine structure line of N II in the nearby starburst galaxy M82 is reported. The intensity wihin a 54 sec Full width at Half Maximum (FWHM) beam is (7.1 +/- 1.2) x 10(exp -19) W cm(exp -2). The ratio of the intensity of the recently detected 122 micrometer line to that of the 2.5 micrometer lines is = (4.2) (sup =1.6) (sub -1.2), significantly larger than the corresponding Galactic value of 1.6 +/- 0.3, reflecting higher electron densities within the central 850 pc of M82 in comparison to the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) Galactic average. The 2.5 micrometer line profile is consistent with other far-infrared fine-structure line profiles observed in M82. The observations are interpreted in the context of a two-component model of the ionized medium in M82. We find that a component of density as low as approximately 50 cm(exp -3) can comprise up to 70% of the total mass of warm ionized gas within the beam. The balance of the ionized mass is comprised of a component of density approximately greater than 100 cm(exp -3). A model is explored in which the dneser ionized medium constitute the boundaries of neutral surfaces which border the expanding hot plasma from the nuclear region.

Petuchowski, S. J.↗

Benchmark of the Fe xvv 𝓡 ratio in photoionized plasma during eclipse of Centaurus X-3 with XRISM/Resolve

The $\mathcal {R}$ ratio is a useful diagnostic of the X-ray emitting astrophysical plasmas and is defined as the intensity ratio of the forbidden over the inter-combination lines in the K$\alpha$ line complex of He-like ions. The value is altered by excitation processes (electron impact or UV photoexcitation) from the metastable upper level of the forbidden line, thereby constraining the electron density or UV field intensity. The diagnostic has been applied mostly in electron density constraints in collisionally ionized plasmas using low-Z elements, as was originally proposed for the Sun (Gabriel & Jordan, 1969a, MNRAS, 145, 241), but it can also be used in photoionized plasmas. To make use of this diagnostic, we need to know its value in the limit of no excitation of metastables ($\mathcal {R}_{0}$), which depends on the element, how the plasmas are formed, how the lines are propagated, and the spectral resolution affecting line blending principally with satellite lines from Li-like ions. We benchmark $\mathcal {R}_0$ for photoionized plasmas by comparing calculations using radiative transfer codes and observation data taken with the Resolve X-ray microcalorimeter onboard XRISM. We use the Fe xxv He$\alpha$ line complex of the photo-ionized plasma in Centaurus X-3 observed during eclipse, in which the plasma is expected to be in the limit of no metastable excitation. The measured $\mathcal {R} = 0.65 \pm 0.08$ is consistent with the value calculated using xstar for the plasma parameters derived from other line ratios of the spectrum. We conclude that the $\mathcal {R}$ ratio diagnostic can be used for high-Z elements such as Fe in photoionized plasmas, which has wide applications in plasmas around compact objects at various scales.

X-rays: binaries↗

Rapid changes in H alpha-flares correlated with microwaves

The time evolution of several flares was studied in H alpha with a time resolution of 1.4 seconds. The time profiles of the linecenter intensity show fast fluctuations and spikes. During the impulsive phase, prominent spikes occur in different kernels and they are correlated with microwave and Hard X-ray spikes. Spectral resolved observations show major changes of the ratio between H alpha line width and H alpha linecenter intensity at time scales in the order of 1 minute. No significant fluctuations occurred at shorter time scales.

Wuelser, J-P.↗

Recombination-cascade X-ray spectra of highly charged helium-like ions

It is shown that the relative intensity distribution among the X-ray spectral lines of helium-like ions from the n = 2 states produced through recombination processes such as radiative and charge transfer recombination may be given by considering in detail the radiative cascades following recombination. Model calculations are presented with predicted line ratios for Ar XVII and Fe XXV in recombination-dominated noncoronal plasmas. In particular, compared to coronal intensities, the singlet resonance line (w) should be much weaker relative to the triplet intercombination (x, y) and forbidden (z) lines, yielding large values for the ratio G = (x + y + z)/w. Accurate configuration interaction type wave functions are employed to calculate the eigenenergies, transition probabilities, and cascade coefficients. Certain relevant tokamak and astrophysical observations are discussed.

Pradhan, A. K.↗

The importance of spectroscopy in the 80-800 A region for plasma diagnostics in the solar atmosphere

The importance of the spectral range from about 80 to 800 A for determining physical conditions in different regions of the solar atmosphere is discussed. Examples are given of line ratios that may be used to determine electron densities in quiet-sun regions, active regions, and flares. The possibility of determining electron temperatures from line ratios in the EUV is considered. It is shown that profiles, as well as intensities, of spectral lines must be obtained for a proper interpretation of the spectra. Approximate parameters are provided for a solar grazing-incidence spectrograph suitable for the study of the 80-800-A wavelength region.

Feldman, U.↗

Spectrophotometry of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 4593

Spectrophotometry of the bright class 1 Seyfert galaxy NGC 4593 is presented. The emission-line characteristics are briefly discussed and compared with those of other Seyfert galaxies. The measured hydrogen Balmer-line ratios are reasonably consistent with expected recombination values, and the emission intensities of Fe II, He I 5876, and forbidden O III 4363 relative to other lines are stronger than average in NGC 4593.

Macalpine, G. M.↗