Search

It is well established that elemental abundances vary in the solar atmosphere and that this variation is organized by first ionization potential (FIP). Previous studies have shown that in the solar corona low-FIP elements, such as Fe, Si, Mg, and Ca, are generally enriched relative to high-FIP elements, such as C, N, O, Ar, and Ne. In this paper we report on measurements of plasma composition made during impulsive heating events observed at transition region temperatures with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on Hinode. During these events the intensities of O IV, V, and VI emission lines are enhanced relative to emission lines from Mg V, VI, and VII and Si VI and VII and indicate a composition close to that of the photosphere. Long-lived coronal fan structures, in contrast, show an enrichment of low-FIP elements. We conjecture that the plasma composition is an important signature of the coronal heating process, with impulsive heating leading to the evaporation of unfractionated material from the lower layers of the solar atmosphere and higher frequency heating leading to long-lived structures and the accumulation of low-FIP elements in the corona., Comment: Not yet submitted to ApJ. Comments are welcome!

We present high-resolution X-ray observations of the chemically peculiar late-type B-star: mu Lep. However, we find spectroscopic and astrometric evidence, which show that the X-rays are not traced back to the B-star itself, but rather to a previously unresolved companion: mu Lep-B, whose X-ray spectrum resembles that of a coronally active source. We discuss the possibility that mu Lep-B is a pre-main-sequence companion, most likely of the non-accreting magnetically-active type., Comment: To be published in ApJ

Results are presented from detailed balance calculations, and a compilation of atomic data and other model calculations designed to support upcoming ISO and current observing programs involving IR coronal emission lines, together with a table with a complete line list of infrared transitions within the ground configurations 2s2 2p(k), 3s2 3p(k), and the first excited configurations 2s 2p and 3s 3p of highly ionized astrophysically abundant elements. The temperature and density parameter space for dominant cooling via IR coronal lines is presented, and the relationship of IR and optical coronal lines is discussed. It is found that, under physical conditions found in Seyfert nuclei, 14 of 70 transitions examined have significant population inversions in levels that give rise to IR coronal lines. Several IR coronal line transitions were found to have laser gain lengths that correspond to column densities of 10 exp 24-25/sq cm which are modeled to exist in Seyfert nuclei. Observations that can reveal inverted level populations and laser gain in IR coronal lines are suggested.

The abundance of calcium relative to hydrogen in soft X-ray-emitting solar flare plasmas is determined. Results were obtained for 25 flares. An average calcium-to-hydrogen abundance of about 5 x 10 exp -6, which is about a factor of 2 greater than measured for the photosphere, is found. This result is consistent with an enhancement of low first ionization elements in soft X-ray flare plasmas. For one flare, the calcium abundance was higher, at about 1.6 times the average results. It is inferred that the calcium abundance can vary among flares. Significant variations of the calcium abundance during the course of a flare were not detected.

Energetic emitting regions have traditionally been studied via x-ray, UV and optical emission lines of highly ionized intermediate mass elements. Such lines are often referred to as 'coronal lines' since the ions, when produced by collisional ionization, reach maximum abundance at electron temperatures of approx. 10(exp 5) - 10(exp 6) K typical of the sun's upper atmosphere. However, optical and UV coronal lines are also observed in a wide variety of Galactic and extragalactic sources including the Galactic interstellar medium, nova shells, supernova remnants, galaxies and QSOs. Infrared coronal lines are providing a new window for observation of energetic emitting regions in heavily dust obscured sources such as infrared bright merging galaxies and Seyfert nuclei and new opportunities for model constraints on physical conditions in these sources. Unlike their UV and optical counterparts, infrared coronal lines can be primary coolants of collisionally ionized plasmas with 10(exp 4) less than T(sub e)(K) less than 10(exp 6) which produce little or no optical or shorter wavelength coronal line emission. In addition, they provide a means to probe heavily dust obscured emitting regions which are often inaccessible to optical or UV line studies. In this poster, we provide results from new model calculations to support upcoming Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) and current ground-based observing programs involving infrared coronal emission lines in AGN. We present a complete list of infrared (lambda greater than 1 micron) lines due to transitions within the ground configurations 2s(2)2p(k) and 3s(2)3p(k) (k = 1 to 5) or the first excited configurations 2s2p and 3s3p of highly ionized (x greater than or equal to 100 eV) astrophysically abundant (n(X)/n(H) greater than or equal to 10(exp -6)) elements. Included are approximately 74 lines in ions of O, Ne, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, Ca, Fe, and Ni spanning a wavelength range of approximately 1 - 280 microns. We present new results from detailed balance calculations, new critical densities for collisional de-excitation, intrinsic photon rates, branching ratios, and excitation temperatures for the majority of the compiled transitions. The temperature and density parameter space for dominant cooling via infrared coronal lines is presented, and the relationship of infrared to optical coronal lines is discussed.

Upflows of the soft X-ray emission regions of four flares located near sun center have been determined from the blueshift of the absolute wavelength of the Ca XIX resonance lines recorded by the SOLFLEX spectrometer on the P-78 spacecraft. Peak upward velocities were 35-90 km/s and occurred during the time of gradual increase in the Ca XIX count rate and prior to the peak H-alpha emission. Rises in altitude of 7000-80,000 km were inferred from the upward velocities.

We have examined images of 10 flares observed by the Soft X-ray Telescope on-board the Yohkoh spacecraft. These images show that the hottest portion of the soft X-ray flare is located in compact regions that appear to be situated at the tops of loops. These compact regions form at, or shortly after, flare onset, and persist well into the decay phase of the flares. In some cases, the compact regions are only a few thousand kilometers in size and are small compared to the lengths of flaring loops. This is inconsistent with the smoother intensity distribution along the loops expected from models of chromospheric evaporation.

The paper presents preliminary results of an investigation of thickness variations along coronal loops observed with the Yohkoh Soft X-ray Telescope (SXT), using observations from ten loops selected from the SXT data. The quantitative results indicate that coronal X-ray loops do not expand. This contradicts the expectation that, if plasma loops coincide with magnetic loops, many loops must be significantly broader at their tops than at their foot points. Possible interpretations of the obtained results are proposed.

The validity of the daily sea ice concentration charts obtained from Nimbus-7 SMMR data is tested against thermal IR NOAA AVHRR-4 images with a 1.1 x 1.1 km resolution. Polynyas and fractures recorded in both data sets are compared for the same times over the same areas. Although the coarser resolution of SMMR data leads to a loss of detail, it is found that the ice concentration charts provide valuable data on openings in the ice. The SMMR data on the location, orientation, and size of polynyas and fractures are shown to be in good agreement with the AVHRR data. Also, the results suggest that the location and orientation of plynyas and fractures are related to the direction of surface winds.