Earle B. Mayfield

On the source of the slowly varying component at centimeter and millimeter wavelenghts

The general features of the slowly varying component at centimeter and millimeter wavelengths are explained by magneto-ionic thermal emission. A model of an active region is constructed in which the electron temperature and density profile is based on recent EUV measurements, and the current-free magnetic field configuration is derived from a longitudinal magnetogram and scalar potential theory. In the model, the contributions of the reflected component of the inward extraordinary wave is important in determining the characteristic features of the radio flux and polarization. Emission by the mechanism of resonance absorption does not appear to be a significant factor in this model.

VARIATIONS IN SOLAR EMISSION AT 3.3 mm WAVELENGTH AND THEIR RELATION TO FLARES.

An investigation of variations in solar radio emission at 3.3 mm wavelength as observed with an antenna of half-power beamwidth of 2.8 arc-min indicates the existence of hot stable regions associated with sunspots. These regions are enhanced from 240 K (4%) to more than 3200K (50%) over the quiet center of the disk temperature of 6 600K. Positions of maximum enhancement occur near the neutral lines of primarily bipolar magnetic fields as determined from magnetograms of the longitudinal component of the field. Fourteen of the 113 regions studied were observed to produce flares reported as importance class 2 or greater during the period from mid-February through mid-August 1967. Eleven of the regions which flared had an enhancement of 8.5% or greater and a temperature gradient of 0.5%/deg or greater.

Pre-flare association of magnetic fields and millimeter-wave radio emission

Observations of radio emission at 3.3 mm wavelength associated with magnetic fields in active regions are reported. Results of more than 200 regions during the years 1967–1968 show a strong correlation between peak enhanced millimeter emission, total flux of the longitudinal component of photospheric magnetic fields and the number of flares produced during transit of active regions. For magnetic flux greater than 1021 maxwells flares will occur and for flux of 1023 maxwells the sum of the Hα flare importance numbers is about 40. The peak millimeter enhancement increases with magnetic flux for regions which subsequently flared. Estimates of the magnetic energy available and the correlation with flare production indicate that the photospheric fields and probably chromospheric currents are responsible for the observed pre-flare heating and provide the energy of flares.

Magnetic Fields Associated with Solar Flares

An investigation of strong magnetic fields associated with flares was made with the 61 cm vacuum telescope and spectroheliograph at the San Fernando Observatory. Magnetograms of the longitudinal component of the field were made daily during the period of September 25–29, 1969. Observations were also made during this same period of the enhanced radio emission at 3.3 mm wavelength. On September 27 an importance class 3 or 4 flare occurred in the region studied. Total magnetic flux was determined for September 25, 26, 28 and 29 for the region which included the flare. In an area of about 190 arc s by 250 arc s the flux values for these dates were respectively 2.4, 2.5, 2.2 and 2.8 × 1022 Mx. Following the flare of September 27 the flux decreased significantly. Magnetic energy change in the region of the flare can be determined if an appropriate height is known. Following Howard and Severny (Astrophys. J. 137, 1242, 1963) a height of 109 cm was used. This yields a value of 5 × 1031 ergs for the decrease of magnetic energy in the longitudinal component of the field.

Eclipse of radio emission on 7 March, 1970 at 10 cm wavelength from the active region associated with McMath plage 10 618

Radio emission of 10 cm from the whole disk was monitored during the eclipse of 7 March, 1970 by the Aerospace San Fernando Observatory and AFCRL Sagamore Hill Solar Radio Observatory. For both, the active region associated with sunspot 17 774, McMath region 10 618, was occulted. At Sagamore Hill the entire region was occulted. At SFO only the southern half of the sunspot group and the hydrogen plage southeast of the group was occulted. This region produced an importance class 1N flare and 10 cm burst beginning at 1601 UT and was enhanced about 15 flux units above the mean value of 190 units at onset.The Sagamore Hill data indicate the region was about 3.8′ and contributed about 0.21 of the total radiation from the disk. The SFO data gave about 5.4′ for the size of the southern half of the region and showed that about 0.20 of the total radiation came from there. Radiation came primarily from the hydrogen plage southeast of the major spot of the group. The hydrogen plage northwest of the group did not contribute significantly. Although the small flare occurred in this region, it did not contribute more than 0.04 of the total (0.20 of the active region) at occultation of region 10 618.

Millimeter Radio Evidence for Containment Mechanisms in Solar Flares

Recent theories of solar flares are reviewed with emphasis on the aspects of pre-flare heating. The heating evident at 3.3-mm wavelength is analyzed in the form of daily maps of the solar disk and synoptic maps compiled from the daily maps. It is found that isotherms defining antenna temperature enhancements of 340 K correspond in shape and location to facular areas reported by Waldmeier. Maximum enhancements occur over sunspots or near neutral lines of the longitudinal magnetic fields which indicates heating associated with chromospheric currents. These enhancements are correlated with flare importance number and are observed to increase during several days preceding flaring. This evidence for a containment mechanism in the chromosphere is collated with current theories of solar flares.