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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 37 records · Page 2
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NASA NTRS1986

Energy balance in solar active regions - The dip of April, 1985

The presence of a solar active region affects the luminosity of the sun. Sunspots directly produce 'dips' in the total solar irradiance approximately proportionally to their projected area, while faculae produce excess energy. These effects were discovered during the solar maximum period of 1980, and the sunspot effect during solar minimum is examined. The 'dip' due to an active region in April, 1985, as observed in the total solar irradiance by the ACRIM instrument on the Solar Maximum Mission is examined. These data (obtained after the spacecraft repair in May, 1984) have simple variations, relative to those observed in 1980, because of the reduced level of activity approaching solar minimum. It is found that the PSI index of projected sunspot area as defined in 1980 appears to describe this 'dip' satisfactorily.

Hudson, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS2000

Multi-wavelength Observations of Solar Active Region NOAA 7154

We report on observations of a solar active region in May 1992 by the Solar Plasma Diagnostic Experiment (SPDE) in coordination with the Yohkoh satellite (producing soft X-ray images) and ground-based observatories (producing photospheric magnetograms and various filtergrams including those at the CN 3883 A line). The main focus is a study of the physical conditions of hot (T is approximately greater than 3 MK) coronal loops at their foot-points. The coronal part of the loops is fuzzy but what appear to be their footpoints in the transition region down to the photosphere are compact. Despite the morphological similarities, the footpoint emission at 10(exp 5) K is not quantitatively correlated with that at approximately 300 km above the tau (sub 5000) = 1 level, suggesting that the heat transport and therefore magnetic field topology in the intermediate layer is complicated. High resolution imaging observations with continuous temperature coverage are crucially needed.

Bruner, M. E.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Early evolution of an X-ray emitting solar active region

The birth and early evolution of a solar active region has been investigated using X-ray observations from the mapping X-ray heliometer on board the OSO-8 spacecraft. X-ray emission is observed within three hours of the first detection of H-alpha plage. At that time, a plasma temperature of four million K in a region having a density on the order of 10 to the 10th power per cu cm is inferred. During the fifty hours following birth almost continuous flares or flare-like X-ray bursts are superimposed on a monotonically increasing base level of X-ray emission produced by the plasma. If the X-rays are assumed to result from heating due to dissipation of current systems or magnetic field reconnection, it may be concluded that flare-like X-ray emission soon after active region birth implies that the magnetic field probably emerges in a stressed or complex configuration.

Wolfson, C. J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observation of low energy electrons and protons from solar active regions

Enhancements in 2-300 keV electron flux and 40 keV-2 MeV proton flux lasting for periods from about 1 to more than 5 days have been observed by the Apollo 15 and 16 subsatellites. Many of these enhancements appear to be associated with the passage of flare-producing active regions on the solar disk. Boundaries of these flux enhancements are sometimes correlated with the passage of sector boundaries in the interplanetary magnetic field. The energy spectra of the observed low energy particles suggests that continual acceleration occurs at coronal heights over solar active regions.

Mcguire, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

VLA observations of solar active regions at 6 cm wavelength

Synthesized maps of two solar active regions obtained from observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) with 9-arcsec resolution are presented. The most intense sources in these regions are found to be associated with filamentary structures and magnetic neutral lines as shown in H-alpha and photospheric magnetograms. These sources are not located directly over sunspots in disagreement with earlier observations. EUV and X-ray observations have suggested that similar structures should be visible at cm wavelengths around but, outside of, sunspots if the magnetic field is sufficiently strong. These results are consistent with the locations of hot (greater than 1,000,000 K) plasmas in active regions expected from generalization based on optical photographs. Given the sizes of the radio sources, the volume emission measures of soft X-rays observed from OSO-8 rule out the possibility of thermal bremsstrahlung being of any significance, as far as the 6 cm emission is concerned. Therefore, gyroresonance absorption process is the most likely cause of 6 cm emission from these sources, and its likelihood is enhanced by the magnetic field geometry that is known to exist over filaments and neutral lines.

Kundu, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1993

Investigation of solar active regions at high resolution by balloon flights of the solar optical universal polarimeter, extended definition phase

Technical studies of the feasibility of balloon flights of the former Spacelab instrument, the Solar Optical Universal Polarimeter, with a modern charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, to study the structure and evolution of solar active regions at high resolution, are reviewed. In particular, different CCD cameras were used at ground-based solar observatories with the SOUP filter, to evaluate their performance and collect high resolution images. High resolution movies of the photosphere and chromosphere were successfully obtained using four different CCD cameras. Some of this data was collected in coordinated observations with the Yohkoh satellite during May-July, 1992, and they are being analyzed scientifically along with simultaneous X-ray observations.

Tarbell, Theodore D.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Observations at 6 cm of the solar active region

Preliminary results are reported for the synthesis of a solar active region from observations with a synthesis radio telescope at a wavelength of 6 cm. Several individual sources are observed in the total-intensity and circular-polarization maps. These are shown to correspond to two large sunspots, two groups of small sunspots, and a plage. A magnetogram indicates that this active region had a bipolar structure with positive polarity concentrated on the main sunspots and negative polarity scattered over the plage and some of the small sunspots. It is noted that several radio bursts were recorded during the observation period and that one corresponded to a H-alpha flare near one of the sunspot groups.

Kundu, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1983

VLA observations of a solar active region and coronal loops

In May 1981, observations of a solar active region at 6 cm and 20 cm were conducted with the aid of a Very Large Array (VLA). It was found that the 6 cm emission was associated with sunspots and transverse magnetic fields between spots. The 20 cm emission came from elongated sources connecting regions of opposite magnetic polarity. The sources of the emission at 20 cm could be identified as coronal loops. A model for hydrostatic loops proposed by Rosner et al. (1978) was employed to determine a likely mechanism for the emission at 20 cm. It was found that a two-component model of bremsstrahlung emission from the feet and gyroresonance emission from the top of the loops can satisfactorily explain the observations.

Mcconnell, D.↗
NASA NTRS1986

A comparison of photospheric electric current and ultraviolet and X-ray emission in a solar active region

This paper presents an extensive set of coordinated observations of a solar active region, taking into account spectroheliograms obtained with the aid of the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) Ultraviolet Spectrometer Polarimeter (UVSP) instrument, SMM soft X-ray polychromator (XRP) raster maps, and high spatial resolution ultraviolet images of the sun in Lyman-alpha and in the 1600 A continuum. These data span together the upper solar atmosphere from the temperature minimum to the corona. The data are compared to maps of the inferred photospheric electric current derived from the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) vector magnetograph observations. Some empirical correlation is found between regions of inferred electric current density and the brightest features in the ultraviolet continuum and to a lesser extent those seen in Lyman-alpha within an active region.

Haisch, B. M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Extreme ultraviolet spectrum of a solar active region from SERTS

We present wavelengths and absolute intensities for 243 emission lines from a single active region observed by the Solar Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Rocket Telescope and Spectrograph (SERTS) on 1989 May 5. For this catalog, the imaged spectra have been spatially averaged over a field of view 7 sec x 276 sec cutting through the center of AR5464 at S18 W45. Wavelength coverage is 170-450 A with a spectral resolution approaching 10,000. Most of the line positions are determined to 5 mA or better, representing the highest accuracy yet obtained for solar wavelengths throughout this spectral interval. The relative photometric calibration of the instrument is good to +/- 20% over its first-order range, and has been placed onto an absolute scale that should be correct to within a factor less than 2. Where known, identifications, atomic transitions and formation temperatures are also given. The identified lines arise from temperatures that cover the range log T greater than or equal to 4.7 and less than or equal to 6.8, providing information about the Sun's corona and upper transition region. Upper limits to the intensity of any emission line not included here can be estimated from the measured instrumental sensitivity. This averaged EUV spectrum should prove useful as a source of accurate wavelengths and intensities for emission characteristic of the high-temperature plasma associated with a solar active region and small subflare.

Thomas, Roger J.↗
NASA NTRS1987

Simultaneous SMM flat crystal spectrometer and Very Large Array observations of solar active regions

High-resolution images of the quiescent emission from two solar active regions at 20 cm (VLA) and soft X-ray (SMM FCS) wavelengths are compared. There are regions where the X-ray coronal loops have been completely imaged at 20 cm wavelength. In other regions, the X-ray radiation was detected without detectable 20 cm radiation, and vice versa. The X-ray data were used to infer average electron temperatures of about 3-million K and average electron densities of about 2.5 x 10 to the 9th/cu cm for the X-ray emitting plasma in the two active regions. The thermal bremsstrahlung of the X-ray emitting plasma is optically thin at 20 cm wavelength. The 20 cm brightness temperatures were always less than T(e), which is consistent with optically thin bremsstrahlung. The low T(B) can be explained if a higher, cooler plasma covers the hotter X-ray emitting plasma. Thermal gyroresonance radiation must account for the intense 20 cm radiation near and above sunspots where no X-ray radiation is detected.

Lang, Kenneth R.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Coronal Magnetography of Solar Active Regions Using Coordinated SOHO/CDS and VLA Observations

The purpose of this project is to apply the coronal magnetographic technique to SOHO (Solar Heliospheric Observatory) /CDS (Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer) EUV (Extreme Ultraviolet Radiation) and coordinated VLA microwave observations of solar active regions to derive the strength and structure of the coronal magnetic field. A CDS observing plan was developed for obtaining spectra needed to derive active region differential emission measures (DEMs) required for coronal magnetography. VLA observations were proposed and obtained. SOHO JOP 100 was developed, tested, approved, and implemented to obtain coordinated CDS (Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer)/EIT (Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope)/ VLA (Very Large Array)/ TRACE (Transition Region and Coronal Explorer)/ SXT (Solar X Ray Telescope) observations of active regions on April 12, May 9, May 13, and May 23. Analysis of all four data sets began, with heaviest concentration on COS data. It is found that 200-pixel (14 A in NIS1) wavelength windows are appropriate for extracting broadened Gaussian line profile fit parameters for lines including Fe XIV at 334.2, Fe XVI at 335.4, Fe XVI at 360.8, and Mg IX at 368.1 over the 4 arcmin by 4 arcmin CDS field of view. Extensive efforts were focused on learning and applying were focused on learning and applying CDS software, and including it in new IDL procedures to carry out calculations relating to coronal magnetography. An important step is to extract Gaussian profile fits to all the lines needed to derive the DEM in each spatial pixel of any given active region. The standard CDS absolute intensity calibration software was applied to derived intensity images, revealing that ratios between density-insensitive lines like Fe XVI 360.8/335.4 yield good agreement with theory. However, the resulting absolute intensities of those lines are very high, indicating that revisions to the CDS absolute intensity calibrations remain to be included in the CDS software, an essential step to deriving reliable coronal magnetograms. With lessons learned and high quality data obtained during the past year, coronal magnetography will be successfully pursued under my new SOHO GI program.

Brosius, Jeffrey W.↗
NASA NTRS1980

The coronal and transition region temperature structure of a solar active region

Using measurements of EUV and X-ray spectral lines, the differential emission measure vs electron temperature from the transition region to the corona of an active region (electron temperature between 100,000 and 5,000,000 K) is derived. The total emission measure and radiative losses are of the order 3 x 10 to the 48th/cu cm and 4 x 10 to the 26th ergs/sec, respectively. The emission measure at electron temperatures greater than approximately 1,000,000 K (i.e. that mainly responsible for the X-ray emission) is about 75% of the total. The use of the Mg x line at 625 A as an indicator of coronal electron density is also examined. A set of theoretical energy balance models of coronal loops in which the loop divergence is a variable parameter is presented and compared with the observations.

Levine, R. H.↗
NASA NTRS1980

6 cm observations of a solar active region and bursts with approximately 6 arcsec resolution

The paper examines the solar active region located near N04E49, that was mapped at a 6 cm wavelength over a period of 12 hours, employing the Westerbork synthesis radio telescope. Two impulsive radio bursts were recorded during this time, one of which was associated with a chromospheric flare. One-dimensional fan beam scans of the burst sources were synthesized in order to display their time history with regard to intensity, polarization, position and size.

Erskine, F. T.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Polarization of solar active regions at 9.5 mm wavelength.

A study of the circular polarization structure of solar active regions has been made from data obtained at 9.5 mm. All important active regions observed at 9.5 mm are bipolar in nature, the degree of polarization is about the same for both right and left circular components, and it ranges up to about 4%. These oppositely polarized components correspond with the Mt. Wilson magnetic regions of opposite polarity; the line of zero polarization delineates clearly the neutral line between the regions of opposite polarity on magnetograms. Unipolar regions in magnetograms also show up as unipolar regions at 9.5 mm. Magnetic fields as low as 5-10 G on magnetograms manifest as distinctly polarized regions on 9.5 mm maps.

Kundu, M. R.↗