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The proceedings of a symposium of high energy phenomena on the sun are presented. The subjects discussed include the following: (1) flare theories and optical observations, (2) microwave and hard X-ray observations, (3) ultraviolet and soft X-ray emissions, (4) nuclear reactions in solar flares, (5) energetic particles from the sun, (6) magnetic fields and particle storage, and (7) radio emissions in the corona and interplanetary space.
Two-dimensional electrostatic particle simulations are presented which incorporate the effect of quasi-static electric fields on particle dynamics as well as effects associated with wave-particle interactions induced by the accelerated particles. The properties of the soft and hard X-ray and microwave emissions from such systems are examined. In particular, it is shown that acceleration by quasi-static electric fields and heating via wave-particle interactions produces electron distributions with a broken-power law, similar to those inferred from hard X-ray spectra. Also, heating of the ambient plasma gives rise to a region of hot plasma propagating down to the chromosphere at about the ion sound speed.
Secondary-emission dose contributions induced by solar proton radiation - spacecraft shielding
Where and how flares efficiently accelerate charged particles remains an unresolved question. Recent studies revealed that a “magnetic bottle” structure, which forms near the bottom of a large-scale reconnection current sheet above the flare arcade, is an excellent candidate for confining and accelerating charged particles. However, further understanding its role requires linking the various observational signatures to the underlying coupled plasma and particle processes. Here we present the first study combining multiwavelength observations with data-informed macroscopic magnetohydrodynamics and particle modeling in a realistic eruptive flare geometry. The presence of an above-the-loop-top magnetic bottle structure is strongly supported by the observations, which feature not only a local minimum of magnetic field strength but also abruptly slowing plasma downflows. It also coincides with a compact above-the-loop-top hard X-ray source and an extended microwave source that bestrides the flare arcade. Spatially resolved spectral analysis suggests that nonthermal electrons are highly concentrated in this region. Our model returns synthetic emission signatures that are well matched to the observations. The results suggest that the energetic electrons are strongly trapped in the magnetic bottle region due to turbulence, with only a small fraction managing to escape. The electrons are primarily accelerated by plasma compression and facilitated by a fast-mode termination shock via the Fermi mechanism. Our results provide concrete support for the magnetic bottle as the primary electron acceleration site in eruptive solar flares. They also offer new insights into understanding the previously reported small population of flare-accelerated electrons entering interplanetary space.
Papers are presented on satellite observations of new particle and field signatures associated with SAR arc field lines at magnetospheric heights, the structure of the polar oval from simultaneous observations of the optical emissions and particle precipitations during the period of high solar activity between 1981 and 1982, and SAR-arcs and emissions in the main trough of the electron concentration. Also considered are a model calculation of hydrogen Balmer emissions under various modes of proton precipitation, electron precipitation near L = 4, and an investigation of the thermosphere-ionosphere interaction by means of the neutral post-storm effect. Other topics include auroral electric field penetration into the middle-latitude trough, field-aligned currents and related phenomena in the cust, and the positive phase of ionospheric storms and its connection with the dayside cusp.
A review is given of the analysis of new observations of energetic particles and energetic secondary emissions obtained over the solar maxium (approx. 1980) by the Solar Maximum mission, Hinotori, the international Sun-Earth Explorer, Helios, Explorer satellites, and Voyager spacecraft. Solar energetic particle events observed in space, He(3)- rich events, solar gamma rays and neutrons, and solar neutrinos are discussed.
The most direct signatures of particle acceleration in flares are energetic particles detected in interplanetary space and in the Earth atmosphere, and gamma rays, neutrons, hard X-rays, and radio emissions produced by the energetic particles in the solar atmosphere. The stochastic and shock acceleration theories in flares are reviewed and the implications of observations on particle energy spectra, particle confinement and escape, multiple acceleration phases, particle anistropies, and solar atmospheric abundances are discussed.
Solar flares are a fundamental component of solar eruptive events (SEEs), along with solar energetic particles (SEPs) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Flare emission is the first component of a SEE to impact the Earth’s ionosphere which can set the stage for the later effects of the space weather event. Magnetic reconnection drives SEEs by restructuring the solar coronalmagnetic field, liberating a tremendous amount of energy which is partitioned into various physical manifestations: particle acceleration,mass and magnetic-field eruption, atmospheric heating, and the subsequent emission of radiation as solar flares. In this white paper we discuss the observational and theoretical advances required in order to make substantial progress in understanding the physical processes acting during the impulsive phase of a flare. That is, the initial rapid and intense period in which a tremendous amount of energy is released over the span of several minutes, resulting in the dramatic broadband increase to the solar radiative output. A second white paper by us covers the flare’s gradual phase, that is the decay phase where processes occur over longer timescales.
The mechanism that accelerates particles to the energies required to produce the observed high-energy impulsive emission in solar flares is not well understood. Drake et al. proposed a mechanism for accelerating electrons in contracting magnetic islands formed by kinetic reconnection in multi-layered current sheets (CSs). We apply these ideas to sunward-moving flux ropes (2.5D magnetic islands) formed during fast reconnection in a simulated eruptive flare. A simple analytic model is used to calculate the energy gain of particles orbiting the field lines of the contracting magnetic islands in our ultrahigh-resolution 2.5D numerical simulation. We find that the estimated energy gains in a single island range up to a factor of five. This is higher than that found by Drake et al. for islands in the terrestrial magnetosphere and at the heliopause, due to strong plasma compression that occurs at the flare CS. In order to increase their energy by two orders of magnitude and plausibly account for the observed high-energy flare emission, the electrons must visit multiple contracting islands. This mechanism should produce sporadic emission because island formation is intermittent. Moreover, a large number of particles could be accelerated in each magneto hydro dynamic-scale island, which may explain the inferred rates of energetic-electron production in flares. We conclude that island contraction in the flare CS is a promising candidate for electron acceleration in solar eruptions.
Solar flares are a fundamental component of solar eruptive events (SEEs), along with solar energetic particles (SEPs) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Flare emission is the first component of a SEE to impact the Earth’s atmosphere which can set the stage for the later arrival of the associated SEPs, CME, and space weather event. Magnetic reconnection drives SEEs by restructuring the solar coronal magnetic field, liberating a tremendous amount of energy which is partitioned into various physical manifestations: particle acceleration, mass and magnetic-field eruption, atmospheric heating, and the subsequent emission of radiation as solar flares. In this white paper we discuss the observational and theoretical advances required in order to make substantial progress in understanding the physical processes acting during the gradual phase of a flare. That is, the decay period, following the initial rapid release of energy during the impulsive phase (see our other white paper). In particular we want to address the unknown processes that sustain the long decay phase of flares and identify the unknown mechanism and magnitude of continued energy injection during the gradual phase.
Optical measurements of thermospheric and ionospheric processes and their interpretation are reviewed and the chemical reactions and their effects on emissions are discussed. Also included are the phenomena which excite the airglow and aurora, i.e., the solar UV/EUV flux and auroral particle precipitation. Consideration is given to solar flux, atomic emissions, molecular emissions, hydrogen geocorona, and molecular oxygen and the green line nightglow.
In this study we synthesize the results of four previous studies on the global energetics of solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which include magnetic, thermal, nonthermal, and CME energies in 399 solar M and X-class flare events observed during the first 3.5 years of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission. Our findings are: (1) The sum of the mean nonthermal energy of flare-accelerated particles (E(sub nt)), the energy of direct heating (E(sub dir)), and the energy in coronal mass ejections (E(sub CME)), which are the primary energy dissipation processes in a flare, is found to have a ratio of (E(sub nt)+E(sub dir)+E(sub CME))/E(sub mag) = 0.87±0.18, compared with the dissipated magnetic free energy E(sub mag), which confirms energy closure within the measurement uncertainties and corroborates the magnetic origin of flares and CMEs; (2) The energy partition of the dissipated magnetic free energy is: 0.51±0.17 in nonthermal energy of ≥ 6 keV electrons, 0.17± 0.17 in nonthermal ≥ 1 MeV ions, 0.07 ± 0.14 in CMEs, and 0.07 ± 0.17 in direct heating; (3) The thermal energy is almost always less than the nonthermal energy, which is consistent with the thick-target model; (4) The bolometric luminosity in white-light flares is comparable with the thermal energy in soft X-rays (SXR); (5) Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events carry a fraction ≈ 0.03 of the CME energy, which is consistent with CME-driven shock acceleration; and (6) The warm-target model predicts a lower limit of the low-energy cutoff at ec ≈ 6 keV, based on the mean differential emission measure (DEM) peak temperature of T(sub e) = 8.6 MK during flares. This work represents the first statistical study that establishes energy closure in solar flare/CME events.
In this study we synthesize the results of four previous studies on the global energetics of solar flares and associated coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which include magnetic, thermal, nonthermal, and CME energies in 399 solar M and X-class flare events observed during the first 3.5 years of the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) mission. Our findings are: (1) The sum of the mean nonthermal energy of flare-accelerated particles (E(sub nt)), the energy of direct heating (E(sub dir)), and the energy in coronal mass ejections (E(sub CME)), which are the primary energy dissipation processes in a flare, is found to have a ratio of (E(sub nt) + E(sub dir) + E(sub CME))/E(sub mag) = 0.87±0.18, compared with the dissipated magnetic free energy E(sub mag), which confirms energy closure within the measurement uncertainties and corroborates the magnetic origin of flares and CMEs; (2) The energy partition of the dissipated magnetic free energy is: 0.51±0.17 in nonthermal energy of ≥ 6 keV electrons, 0.17± 0.17 in nonthermal ≥ 1 MeV ions, 0.07 ± 0.14 in CMEs, and 0.07 ± 0.17 in direct heating; (3) The thermal energy is almost always less than the nonthermal energy, which is consistent with the thick-target model; (4) The bolometric luminosity in white-light flares is comparable with the thermal energy in soft X-rays (SXR); (5) Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) events carry a fraction ≈ 0.03 of the CME energy, which is consistent with CME-driven shock acceleration; and (6) The warm-target model predicts a lower limit of the low-energy cutoff at e(sub c) ≈ 6 keV, based on the mean differential emission measure (DEM) peak temperature of T(sub e) = 8.6 MK during flares. This work represents the first statistical study that establishes energy closure in solar flare/CME events.
The reflectance, R, solar absorption, alpha, thermal emittance epsilon, and the alpha/epsilon ratio were determined for several metals before and after bombardment by high velocity microprojectiles. Observed decreases of 1 to 26 percent in the reflectance of various metals were apparently dependent on the amount of surface area damaged as well as on the velocity of the impinging projectiles. The thermal emittance was observed to increase more than the solar absorptance, which resulted in a net decrease in the alpha/epsilon ratio in all metals investigated except stainless steel 304. In the case of stainless steel 304, alpha and epsilon were observed to increase equally, resulting in an alpha/epsilon ratio apparently insensitive to microprojectile bombardment. Recommendations for the continuation of these investigations are outlined.
Interplanetary dust particles physical properties may be approached through observations of the solar light they scatter, specially its polarization, and of their thermal emission. Results, at least near the ecliptic plane, on polarization phase curves and on the heliocentric dependence of the local spatial density, albedo, polarization and temperature are summarized. As far as interpretations through simulations are concerned, a very good fit of the polarization phase curve near 1.5 AU is obtained for a mixture of silicates and more absorbing organics material, with a significant amount of fluffy aggregates. In the 1.5-0.5 AU solar distance range, the temperature variation suggests the presence of a large amount of absorbing organic compounds, while the decrease of the polarization with decreasing solar distance is indeed compatible with a decrease of the organics towards the Sun. Such results are in favor of the predominance of dust of cometary origin in the interplanetary dust cloud, at least below 1.5 AU. The implication of these results on the delivery of complex organic molecules on Earth during the LHB epoch, when the spatial density of the interplanetary dust cloud was orders of magnitude greater than today, is discussed.
The current knowledge of the flare process and its particle and photon emissions is summarized. The impact of flares on the different regions of the solar-terrestrial environment, in order of their distance from the Sun to Earth: the heliosphere, the magnetosphere, the ionosphere, and atmosphere are considered. The effect of flares on modern technology and manned spaceflight is described. In all cases, an attempt is made to distinguish clearly what is known, what is suspected, and is unknown.
We report on further evidence that solar energetic particles are organized by the kinematic properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In particular, we focus on the starting frequency of type II bursts, which is related to the distance from the Sun where the radio emission starts. We find that the three groups of solar energetic particle (SEP) events known to have distinct values of CME initial acceleration, also have distinct average starting frequencies of the associated type II bursts. SEP events with ground level enhancement (GLE) have the highest starting frequency (107 MHz), while those associated with filament eruption (FE) in quiescent regions have the lowest starting frequency (22 MHz); regular SEP events have intermediate starting frequency (81 MHz). Taking the onset time of type II bursts as the time of shock formation, we determine the shock formation heights measured from the Sun center. We find that the shocks form on average closest to the Sun (1.51 Rs) in GLE events, farthest from the Sun in FE SEP events (5.38 Rs), and at intermediate distances in regular SEP events (1.72 Rs). Finally, we present the results of a case study of a CME with high initial acceleration (approx.3 km s-2) and a type II radio burst with high starting frequency (approx. 200 MHz) but associated with a minor SEP event. We find that the relation between the fluence spectral index and CME initial acceleration continues to hold even for this minor SEP event.
We report on further evidence that solar energetic particles are organized by the kinematic properties of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). In particular, we focus on the starting frequency of type II bursts, which is related to the distance from the Sun where the radio emission starts. We find that the three groups of solar energetic particle (SEP) events known to have distinct values of CME initial acceleration, also have distinct average starting frequencies of the associated type II bursts. SEP events with ground level enhancement (GLE) have the highest starting frequency (107 MHz), while those associated with filament eruption (FE) in quiescent regions have the lowest starting frequency (22 MHz); regular SEP events have intermediate starting frequency (81 MHz). Taking the onset time of type II bursts as the time of shock formation, we determine the shock formation heights measured from the Sun center. We find that the shocks form on average closest to the Sun (1.51 Rs) in GLE events, farthest from the Sun in FE SEP events (5.38 Rs), and at intermediate distances in regular SEP events (1.72 Rs). Finally, we present the results of a case study of a CME with high initial acceleration (approx. 3 km s-2) and a type II radio burst with high starting frequency (~200 MHz) but associated with a minor SEP event. We find that the relation between the fluence spectral index and CME initial acceleration continues to hold even for this minor SEP event.