A. Fludra

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer for the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer is designed to probe the solar atmosphere through the detection of spectral emission lines in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength range 150–800 A. By observing the intensities of selected lines and line profiles we may derive temperature, density, flow and abundance information for the plasmas in the solar atmosphere. Spatial and temporal resolutions of down to a few arcseconds and seconds, respectively, allow such studies to be made within the fine-scale structure of the solar corona. Furthermore, coverage of large wavelength bands provides the capability for simultaneously observing the properties of plasmas across the wide temperature ranges of the solar atmosphere.

The Bragg Crystal Spectrometer for SOLAR-A

The Bragg Crystal Spectrometer (BCS) is one of the instruments which makes up the scientific payload of the SOLAR-A mission. The spectrometer employs four bent germanium crystals, views the whole Sun and observes the resonance line complexes of H-like Fexxvi and He-like Fexxv, Caxix, and Sxv in four narrow wavelength ranges with a resolving power (λ/Δλ) of between 3000 and 6000. The spectrometer has approaching ten times better sensitivity than that of previous instruments thus permitting a time resolution of better than 1 s to be achieved. The principal aim is the measurement of the properties of the 10 to 50 million K plasma created in solar flares with special emphasis on the heating and dynamics of the plasma during the impulsive phase. This paper summarizes the scientific objectives of the BCS and describes the design, characteristics, and performance of the spectrometers.

Solar minimum streamer densities and temperatures using Whole Sun Month coordinated data sets

We model electron densities of the simplest, most symmetric solar minimum streamer structure observed during the Whole Sun Month (WSM) campaign, using coronal observations of both visible white light and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) emission. Using white light data from the SOHO/LASCO/C2 and HAO/Mauna Loa Mark 3 coronagraphs, we determine electron densities by way of a Van de Hulst inversion. We compare the white light densities to those determined from the density sensitive EUV line ratios of Si IX 350/342 A observed by the SOHO/coronal diagnostic spectrometer (CDS). Moreover, from the white light density profiles we calculate hydrostatic temperature profiles and compare to temperatures derived from the Si XII/Mg X line ratio. We find the white light and spectral analysis produce consistent density and temperature information.

Coronal activity in F-, G-, and K-type stars. III - The coronal differential emission measure distribution of Capella, Sigma-squared CrB, and Procyon

EXOSAT soft X-ray spectra of three binary systems of cool stars are analyzed: Capella (G6 III + F9 III), Sigma-squared CrB (F8 V + G1 V), and Procyon (F5 IV-V + DF). The EXOSAT transmission grating spectrometer permits the study of individual spectral lines and line complexes between 10 and 200 A with approximately 3 A resolution. First it is demonstrated that the spectra can be described reasonably well by a two-temperature model corona. Then the assumption that only two temperatures exist in the stellar coronas is relaxed and differential emission measure distributions are derived from the three spectra. The results from the multithermal modeling are consistent with those of the two-temperature models: emission from the coronas of each of the three stars is dominated by plasma in two relative narrow temperature intervals. These intervals are centered on 5 MK and 25 MK in the cases of Capella and Sigma-squared CrB, and 0.6 MK and 3 MK in the case of Procyon. The implications of the results for the structure of stellar coronas are briefly discussed. 41 refs.

Electron density and temperature of the lower solar corona

Off limb observations of the quiet Sun corona were made with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on SOHO during the Whole Sun Month campaign in August 1996. Selected spectral lines in the Normal Incidence range were recorded up to 1.2 solar radii above the east and west limb and above the polar coronal holes. Intensities of the coronal lines covering the temperature range from 9 × 105 to 2 × 106 K have been measured and used to derive electron temperature and electron density as a function of the radial distance above the solar limb. Results from the east and west equatorial regions and polar coronal holes are compared. The temperature and density in the coronal holes is found to be lower than in the closed field regions. A density-sensitive line ratio of Si IX 350/342 A is used to derive an average electron density which is found to decrease from 5 × 108 cm−3 near the limb to 1 × 108 cm−3 at 1.15RS, in the equatorial region. Over the polar coronal holes, where polar plumes dominate the emission close to the limb, the density varies from 2 × 108 cm−3 at the limb to 6 × 107 cm−3 at 1.1RS. The lowest density found inside the coronal hole on the disk is 9.9 × 107 cm−3. An increase in the quiet Sun temperature with the radial distance is found from the Si XII/Mg X and Si XII/Mg IX line ratios, and an increase in the coronal hole temperature is seen from the Mg X/Mg IX ratio. The Si XII/Mg X temperature varies from 1.1 × 106 K at r = RS to 1.4 × 106 K at r = 1.2RS in the equatorial regions. The EUV emission is compared with that of the soft X rays as measured by the Yohkoh SXT. The densities and temperatures determined from the SXT show a similar behavior to that determined from the CDS. Density and temperature, averaged over a position angle range of 20 – 54°, show very little variation over a period of 20 days.

Physical properties of a coronal hole from a coronal diagnostic spectrometer, Mauna Loa Coronagraph, and LASCO observations during the Whole Sun Month

Until recently [Guhathakurta and Fisher, 1998], inference of electron density distribution in the solar corona was limited by the field of view of white-light coronagraphs (typically out to 6 Rs). Now, for the first time we have a series of white-light coronagraphs (SOHO/LASCO) whose combined field of view extends from 1.1–30 Rs. Quantitative information on electron density distribution of coronal hole and coronal plumes/rays are estimated by using white-light, polarized brightness (pB) observations from the SOHO/LASCO/C2 and C3 and HAO/Mauna Loa Mark III coronagraphs from 1.15 to 8.0 Rs. Morphological information on the boundary of the polar coronal hole and streamer interface is determined from the white-light observations in a manner similar to the Skylab polar coronal hole boundary estimate [Guhathakurta and Holzer, 1994]. The average coronal hole electron density in the region 1–1.15 Rs is estimated from the density-sensitive EUV line ratios of Si IX 350/342 A observed by the SOHO/coronal diagnostic spectrometer (CDS). We combine these numbers with the estimate from white-light (WL) observations to obtain a density profile from 1 to 8 Rs for the plumes and the polar coronal hole. We find that white light and spectral analysis produce consistent density information. Extrapolated densities inferred from SOHO observations are compared to Ulysses in situ observations of density. Like the density inferred from the Spartan 201–03 coronagraph, the current SOHO density profiles suggest that the acceleration of the fast solar wind takes place very close to the Sun, within 10–15 Rs. The density information is used to put constraints on solar wind flow velocities and effective temperatures. Finally, these results are compared to the recent analysis of the Spartan 201–03 white-light observations.

Turbulent and directed plasma motions in solar flares

An improved method for fitting asymmetric soft X-ray line profiles from solar flares is presented. A two-component model is used where one component represents the total emission from directed upflow plasma and the other the emission from the plasma at rest. Unlike previous methods, the width of the moving component is independent from that of the stationary component. Time variations of flare plasma characteristics (i.e., temperature, emission measure of moving and stationary plasma, upflow and turbulent velocities) are derived from the Ca XIX and Fe XXV spectra recorded by the Bent Crystal Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission. The fitting technique provides a statistical estimation for the uncertainties in the fitting parameters. The relationship between the directed and turbulent motions has been studied, and a correlation of the random and directed motions has been found in some flares with intensive plasma upflows. Mean temperatures of the upflowing and stationary plasmas are compared for the first time from ratios of calcium to iron X-ray line intensities. Finally, evidence for turbulent motions and the possibility of plasma upflow late into the decay phase is presented and discussed. 26 refs.

Multispectral observations of chromospheric evaporation in the 1991 November 15 X-class solar flare

We analyze simultaneous H(alpha) images and spectra (from Mees Solar Observatory), and soft and hard X-ray images and spectra (from YOHKOH) during the early phase of an X1.5/3B flare. We investigate the morphological relationship between chromospheric downflows, coronal upflows, and particle precipitation sites, and the energetic relationship between conductive heating, nonthermal particle heating, and the chromospheric response. We find that the observations consistently fit the chromospheric evaporation model. In particular, we demonstrate that the observed upflowing coronal and downflowing chromospheric plasma components originate in the same locations, and we show that our unique set of optical and X-ray observations can clearly distinguish between conductively driven and electron beam driven evaporation.

Active Regions Observed in Extreme Ultraviolet Light by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer on Soho

We present observations of five active regions made by the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). CDS observes the Sun in the extreme ultraviolet range 150–780 Å. Examples of active region loops seen in spectral lines emitted at various temperatures are shown. Several classes of loops are identified: those that are seen in all temperatures up to 2 x 106 K; loops seen at 106 K but not reaching 1.6 x 106 K; those at temperatures 2– 4 x 10-5 K and occasionally at 6 x 10-5 K but not reaching 106 K. An increasing loop size with temperature and the relationship between the cool and hot structures is discussed. CDS observations reveal the existence of loops and other unresolved structures in active regions, at temperatures between 1.5– 4 x 10-5 K, which do not have counterparts in lines emitted above 8 x 10-5 K. Bright compact sources only seen in the transition region lines are investigated. These sources can have lifetimes of up to several days and are located in the vicinity of sunspots. We study the variability of active region sources on time scales from 30 sec to several days. We find oscillatory behaviour of Hei and Ov line intensities in an active region on time scales of 5–10 min.

Detailed evidence for flare-to-flare variations of the coronal calcium abundance

The analysis of X-ray solar flare spectra obtained by the Bent Crystal Spectrometer on board the Solar Maximum Mission satellite is presented. The ratio of the Ca XIX resonance line intensity to the nearby continuum is used to measure the calcium abundance relative to hydrogen (ACa). A description of the spectroscopic method of determining the absolute calcium abundance is given. Possible instrumental and solar effects that might influence the abundance estimates are evaluated. Over 5000 spectra from more than 100 flares are analyzed. We find a flare-to-flare variation for ACa that is not correlated with flare size, Hα importance, or with several other flare characteristics. For flares observed from two active regions, the observed value of ACa increases as a function of time. The average for all flares is ACa = (5.77 ± 1.41) × 10-6. A discussion of investigated correlations of derived ACa values with several flare characteristics is presented.