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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 253 records · Page 14

Observations of the solar corona with a high resolution EUV imaging spectrograph

An extreme ultraviolet imaging spectrograph was used to obtain coronal observations with high spectral and spatial resolution. The imaging properties of the instrument enable measurements of spectral line shapes and positions in discrete spatial elements of a region, so that the dynamic characteristics of the coronal plasma, as well as the distribution of emission measure with temperature and well known density diagnostics, can be studied for specific features. The instrumentation is described and several results of a sounding rocket flight on 5 May 1989, when the corona over NOAA Region 5464 including emission over the umbra of the region's largest sunspot and the pre-impulsive phase emission of a small flare was recorded, are summarized.

Neupert, Werner M.↗

The Saturn spectrum in the EUV - Electron excited hydrogen

Recent laboratory observations of electron excited H2 in the EUV have brought about the realization that higher Rydberg series band systems make a significant contribution to the emission spectrum. Theoretical cross section estimates for the excitation of the D, D-prime, B-prime, and B-double-prime states agree with these results. Model calculations for particle excitation of the Saturn atmosphere, including the higher states, now show excellent agreement with Voyager auroral and dayside equatorial spectra. The model data also confirm the relative spectral response calibration of the Voyager instruments, providing a basis for accurate analysis of the excitation processes on both Jupiter and Saturn.

Shemansky, D. E.↗

Thermal Non-equilibrium Consistent with Widespread Cooling

Time correlation analysis has been used to show widespread cooling in the solar corona; this cooling has been interpreted as a result of impulsive (nanoflare) heating. In this work, we investigate wide-spread cooling using a 3D model for a solar active region which has been heated with highly stratified heating. This type of heating drives thermal non-equilibrium solutions, meaning that though the heating is effectively steady, the density and temperature in the solution are not. We simulate the expected observations in narrowband EUV images and apply the time correlation analysis. We find that the results of this analysis are qualitatively similar to the observed data. We discuss additional diagnostics that may be applied to differentiate between these two heating scenarios.

Winebarger, A.↗

Thermal Non-equilibrium Consistent with Widespread Cooling

Time correlation analysis has been used to show widespread cooling in the solar corona; this cooling has been interpreted as a result of impulsive (nanoflare) heating. In this work, we investigate wide-spread cooling using a 3D model for a solar active region which has been heated with highly stratified heating. This type of heating drives thermal non-equilibrium solutions, meaning that though the heating is effectively steady, the density and temperature in the solution are not. We simulate the expected observations in narrowband EUV images and apply the time correlation analysis. We find that the results of this analysis are qualitatively similar to the observed data. We discuss additional diagnostics that may be applied to differentiate between these two heating scenarios.

Winebarger, A.↗

The First Multiple Layer Doppler Imaging of an Active Binary

Preliminary results were presented at the Cool Stars, Stellar Systems, and the Sun in Cambridge, MA in July 1997. A copy of the two published papers (in press) is attached. The project has met or exceeded our expectations. The rapid readout data have given us an excellent data set to model in detail the flare behavior. The large number of spectral features observed between the EUVE and HST data have allowed us to compute a mean model atmosphere and compare the results to another well studied system (HR 1099 - Cycle 3 HST observation previously published). I developed a model (anisotropic macroturbulence) that fits the CIV and MgII better than previously achieved. These results have been constrained by the EUVE data. In early studies, 2 gaussians were applied to the profile. The interpretation of these features was unclear. The anisotropic macroturbulence model fits the data better than previously possible and gives a physically reasonable interpretation: there appears to be an asymmetrical distribution between the radial and tangential velocity fields. This is similar to case of the Sun.

Dempsey, Robert C.↗

Solar Magnetism eXplorer (Solme X)

The magnetic field plays a pivotal role in many fields of Astrophysics. This is especially true for the physics of the solar atmosphere. Measuring the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere is crucial to understand the nature of the underlying physical processes that drive the violent dynamics of the solar corona-that can also affect life on Earth. SolmeX, a fully equipped solar space observatory for remote-sensing observations, will provide the first comprehensive measurements of the strength and direction of the magnetic field in the upper solar atmosphere. The mission consists of two spacecraft, one carrying the instruments, and another one in formation flight at a distance of about 200 m carrying the occulter to provide an artificial total solar eclipse. This will ensure high-quality coronagraphic observations above the solar limb. SolmeX integrates two spectro-polarimetric coronagraphs for off-limb observations, one in the EUV and one in the IR, and three instruments for observations on the disk. The latter comprises one imaging polarimeter in the EUV for coronal studies, a spectro-polarimeter in the EUV to investigate the low corona, and an imaging spectro-polarimeter in the UV for chromospheric studies. SOHO and other existing missions have investigated the emission of the upper atmosphere in detail (not considering polarization), and as this will be the case also for missions planned for the near future. Therefore it is timely that SolmeX provides the final piece of the observational quest by measuring the magnetic field in the upper atmosphere through polarimetric observations

Magnetic Fields↗

Solar rotation as determined from OSO-4 EUV spectroheliograms.

Spectroheliograms obtained in extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lines and the Lyman continuum are used to determine the rotation rate of the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. A cross-correlation analysis of the observations indicates the presence of differential rotation through the chromosphere and transition region. The rotation rate does not vary with height. The average sidereal rotation rate is given by omega (deg/day) = 13.46-2.99 sin squared B where B is the solar latitude. This rate agrees with spectroscopic determinations of the photospheric rotation rate, but is slower by about 1 deg/day than rates determined from the apparent motion of photospheric magnetic fields and from the brightest points of active regions observed in the EUV. The corona does not clearly show differential rotation as do the chromosphere and transition region.

Dupree, A. K.↗

Core and Large-Scale Structure of the 2000 November 24 X-Class Flare and Coronal Mass Ejection

In this paper, we present three important aspects of the XI .8 flare and the associated coronal mass ejection (CME) that occurred on 2000 November 24: (1) The source of the flare is clearly associated with a magnetic channel structure, as was noted in a study by Zirin & Wang , which is due to a combination of flux emergence inside the leading edge of the penumbra of the major leading sunspot and proper motion of the sunspot group. The channel structure provides evidence for twisted flux ropes that can erupt, forming the core of a CME, and may be a common property of several superactive regions that have produced multiple X-class flares in the past. (2) There are actually three flare ribbons visible. The first can be seen moving away from the flare site, while the second and third make up a stationary ribbon near the leader spot. The moving ribbons could be due to a shock associated with the erupting flux rope or due to the interaction of erupting rope and the surrounding magnetic fields. In either case, the ribbon motion does not fit the classical Kopp-Pneuman model, in which the separation of ribbons is due to magnetic reconnection at successively higher and higher coronal altitudes. (3) From the coronal dimming observed with the EUV Imaging Telescope (EIT), the CME involved a much larger region than the initial X-class flare. By comparing high-resolution full-disk Ha and EIT observations, we found that a remote dimming area is cospatial with the enhanced Ha emission. This result is consistent with the recent model of Yokoyama & Shibata that some dimming areas near footpoints may be due to chromospheric evaporation.

Wang, Haimin↗

On the problem of density diagnostics for the EUV spectrum of the solar transition zone

Spectral-line ratios that may be used to determine the electron temperature and density in the solar transition zone and corona are identified. The problem of interpreting the intensity ratios of C III lines observed in Skylab EUV limb spectra is considered. It is shown that the intensity distribution with height above the solar limb of the 1176-A C III lines is different from that of the 1909-A C III lines in the Skylab spectra, suggesting that model atmospheres must be folded into the C III calculations for proper interpretation of the data. Possible reasons for the differences in the intensity distributions and widths of the 1176-A and 1909-A lines are discussed along with an application to the analogous lines of Si III.

Doschek, G. A.↗

Impulsive phenomena in a small active region

The temporal and spatial variations of EUV emission from a small growing active region were investigated. Frequent localized short-term (about a few minutes) fluctuations in EUV emission were observed throughout the 7.2 hr interval when the most continuous observations were acquired. Approximately 20 percent of the 5-arcsec x 5-arcsec pixels had intensity variations exceeding a factor of 1.3 for the chromospheric L-alpha line, a factor of 1.5 for lines formed in the chromospheric-coronal transition region and a factor of 1.4 for the coronal Mg X line. A subflare in the region produced the largest intensity enhancements, ranging from a factor of about 2.3 for the chromospheric L-alpha line to about 8 for the transition region and coronal lines. The EUV fluctuations in this small active region are similar to those observed in coronal bright points, suggesting that impulsive heating is an important, perhaps dominant form of heating the upper chromospheric and lower coronal plasmas in small magnetic bipolar regions. The responsible mechanism most likely involves the rapid release of magnetic energy, possibly associated with the emergence of magnetic flux from lower levels into the chromosphere and corona.

Withbroe, G. L.↗

Energy budget in coronal holes.

EUV and radio observation, supplemented by other data, have made it possible to determine the flux of energy, F sub c, conducted from the corona into the chromosphere. Of the mechanical flux input in the corona, F sub m (of which F sub c is a large fraction), there are no direct measurements but limits can be found to it. It is shown that, if the described quantities relative to quiet regions are compared with the same quantities as observed in regions of different activity, it is possible to obtain important information on the regions of origin of the solar wind. In particular, it is found that the regions of very low EUV emission, i.e., the so-called coronal holes, appear to be the source of high energy streams of solar wind.

Noci, G.↗

Using Strong Solar Coronal Emission Lines as Coronal Flux Proxies

A comparison of Skylab results with observations of the strong EUV lines of Fe XVI at 335 A and 361 A from the Goddard Solar EUV Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) flight of 1989 suggests that these lines, and perhaps others observed with SERTS, might offer good proxies for estimating the total coronal flux over important wavelength ranges. In this paper, we compare SERTS observations from a later, 1993 flight with simultaneous cospatial Yohkoh soft X-ray observations to test this suggestion over the energy range of the Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT) on Yohkoh. Both polynomial and power-law fits are obtained, and errors are estimated, for the SERTS lines of Fe XVI 335 A and 361 A, Fe XV 284 A and 417 A, and Mg IX 368 A. It is found that the power-law fits best cover the full range of solar conditions from quiet Sun through active region, though not surprisingly the 'cooler' Mg IX 368 A line proves to be a poor proxy. The quadratic polynomial fits yield fair agreement over a large range for all but the Mg IX line, but the linear fits fail conspicuously when extrapolated into the quiet Sun regime. The implications of this work for the He 11 304 A line formation problem are briefly considered. The paper concludes with a discussion of the value of these iron lines observed with SERTS for estimating stellar coronal fluxes, as observed for example with the EUVE satellite.

Falconer, David A.↗

Magnetic TRAnsition Region Probe (MTRAP)

MTRAP (Magnetic Transition Region Probe) will reveal the fine-scale physical processes in the Sun's magnetic transition region, the complex layer from the upper photosphere to the upper chromosphere/lower transition region. In the magnetic transition region plasma forces and magnetic forces are of comparable strength, which results in complex interplay of the two, which interplay governs the coupling of the convectively-driven deeper layers to the magnetically-driven upper transition region and inner corona. The fine-scale magnetic structure, processes, and events in the magnetic transition region are key to the genesis of the Sun's entire hot, dynamic outer atmosphere and to the initiation of large eruptive events. MTRAP will be a single spacecraft in Sun-synchronous Earth orbit. Because MTRAP will probe and measure the 3-D structure and dynamics of the magnetic field and plasma in the chromosphere and transition region with unprecedented resolution, the required telescope size and telemetry rates dictate that MTRAP be in Earth orbit, not in deep space. The observations will feature visible and infrared maps of vector magnetic and velocity fields in the magnetic transition region and photosphere. These will have large field of view (greater than 100,000 km), high resolution (greater than 100 km), and high sensitivity (greater than 30 G in transverse field). These observations of the lower atmosphere will be complemented by UV maps of the structure, velocity, and magnetic field (including the full vector field if technically feasible) higher up, in the upper chromosphere and lower transition region. MTRAP will also have an EUV imaging spectrograph observing coronal structure and dynamics in the same field of view with comparable resolution. Specific phenomena to be analyzed include spicules, bright points, jets, the base of plumes, and the triggering of eruptive flares and coronal mass ejections. Additional information is included in the original extended abstract.

Moore, R. L.↗

Models of flaring loops

The somewhat questionable concept of an isolated flare loop and the various physical mechanisms believed to be responsible, to some degree, for energy transport within the loop structure is reviewed. Observational evidence suggests a predominant role for high-energy electrons as an energy transport mechanism, and the consequences of such a scenario is explored in some detail, focusing on radiation signatures in the soft X-ray, hard X-ray, and EUV wavebands, as observed by recent satellite observatories. It is found that the predictions of flare loop models are in fact in excellent agreement with these observations, reinforcing both the notion of the loop as a fundamental component of solar flares and the belief that electron acceleration is an integral part of the flare energy release process.

Emslie, A. Gordon↗

A New Diagnostic Technique for the Solar Corona

Over the last 30-40 years spectroscopic observation of the EUV (extreme ultraviolet) line emission has proved invaluable as a diagnostic of the solar coronal plasma state. Line ratios have been used to determine electron density, electron temperature and ion flow velocity. In this paper, we present results obtained with a new measurement technique that uses spectroscopic observations of the white light corona to obtain the electron density, temperature, and flow velocity. A prototype instrument has been designed and built to obtain visible light spectra (3800-4300 A) with modest resolution. This instrument was used to obtain coronal observations during the June 2001 eclipse in Zambia. The data were corrected for sky and instrument transmission to derive the electron temperature and flow speed. Results from these measurements will be discussed.

Nelson, R.↗

Polar Coronal Hole Ephemeral Regions, the Fast Solar Wind and the Global Magnetic Dynamo

The X-Ray Telescope aboard Hinode has been regularly observing both the north and south solar polar coronal holes from November 2006 through March 2009. We use the observations of emerged flux regions within the coronal hole as evidenced by small x-ray bright points to study the physical properties of these regions. The width of the emerged flux region loop footpoints, the duration of the x-ray emission lifetime for the emerged flux region, the latitude of formation and whether an x-ray or EUV jet was observed were all recorded. In the present work we detail these observations and show a dependence on the width of the emerged flux region (bright point) to the number of x-ray jets observed. The distribution of base width is then related to a power law for number of emerged flux regions as a function of base width.

Cirtain, Jonathan W.↗

The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer and the local interstellar medium

The EUV Explorer (EUVE) mission is described, with emphasis on the overall capabilities of the instrumentation and the relevance of the mission to determining parameters of the local interstellar medium. The primary purpose of the mission is to search the celestial sphere for astronomical sources of EUV radiation (100-1000 A). The search will be accomplished with the use of three EUV telescopes, sensitive to different segments of the EUV band. A fourth telescope will perform a high-sensitivity search of a limited sample of the sky in the shortest-wavelength bands. The all-sky survey will be carried out in the first six months of the mission. The second six months of the mission, conducted entirely by Guest Investigators selected by NASA, will be devoted to spectroscopic observations of selected EUV sources. The instrumentation is now well developed. The best mirror has full-width/half-energy spread of 8 arcsec and a surface finish of 20 A. Prototype thin-film bandpass filters have been flown on the Space Shuttle and their performance optimized. Prototype detectors have been developed which have 600 by 600-pixel imaging capability and up to 80-percent quantum efficiency in parts of the EUV band.

Bowyer, Stuart↗

3D MHD Models of Active Region Loops

Present imaging and spectroscopic observations of active region loops allow to determine many physical parameters of the coronal loops, such as the density, temperature, velocity of flows in loops, and the magnetic field. However, due to projection effects many of these parameters remain ambiguous. Three dimensional imaging in EUV by the STEREO spacecraft will help to resolve the projection ambiguities, and the observations could be used to setup 3D MHD models of active region loops to study the dynamics and stability of active regions. Here the results of 3D MHD models of active region loops are presented, and the progress towards more realistic 3D MHD models of active regions. In particular the effects of impulsive events on the excitation of active region loop oscillations, and the generation, propagations and reflection of EIT waves are shown. It is shown how 3D MHD models together with 3D EUV observations can be used as a diagnostic tool for active region loop physical parameters, and to advance the science of the sources of solar coronal activity.

Ofman, Leon↗