J. E. R. Costa

Solar atmospheric model with spicules applied to radio observation

An atmospheric model was constructed in order to reproduce quantitatively the observations at 17 GHz from Nobeyama Radio Heliograph, namely the brightness temperature at disk center (from 1.4 to 400 GHz), center-to-limb bright- ening distribution, and radius derived from 17 GHz solar maps. The two dimensional solar atmospheric model, that takes into account the curvature of the Sun, includes spicules, which physical characteristics (such as size, temperature, density, position, and inclination angle) were randomly attributed. After the interferometer instrumental response is taken into account, the results showed than an atmospheric model without spicules produces 36% of limb brightening, approximately the value observed at the solar poles. However, the inferred solar radius from the model (970 �� )w as 6 �� smaller than the mean value derived from the solar maps. An improvement of the model is made by including spicules. Results from this upgraded model showed that depending on their physical parameters, limb brightening and solar radius values are obtained in agreement with the radio observations (except for polar regions).

New telescopes for ground-based solar observations at submillimeter and mid-infrared

The solar submillimeter-wave telescope (SST) is the only one of its kind dedicated to solar continuous observations. Two radiometers at 0.740 mm (405 GHz), and four at 1.415 mm (212 GHz) are placed in the Cassegrain focal plane of the 1.5-m dish at El Leoncito high altitude site, San Juan, Argentina. The aperture efficiencies are close to design predictions: 20% and 35% for 2 and 4 arcminutes beam sizes at 405 and 212 GHz, respectively. The positioner absolute pointing accuracy is 10 arcseconds. Spectral coverage is complemented by ground-based mid-infrared telescopes developed for high cadence observations in the continuum 10 micron band (30 THz), using small apertures and room-temperature microbolometer cameras. Using the system, a new solar burst spectral component was discovered, exhibiting fluxes increasing for smaller wavelengths, separated from the well known microwave component. Rapid sub-second pulsations are common for all bursts. The pulsations onset times of appear to be connected to the launch times of CMEs. Active regions are brighter for shorter submillimeter-waves. Mid-IR bright regions are found closely associated with calcium plages and magnetic structures near the solar photosphere. Intense and rapid 10 micron brightening was detected on active centers in association with weak flares. These results raise challenging difficulties for interpretation.

Rapid Pulsations in Sub-THz Solar Bursts

A new solar burst emission spectral component has been found showing sub-THz fluxes increasing with frequency, spectrally separated from the well known microwave component. Rapid pulsations are found present in all events observed at the two frequencies of the solar submillimeter-wave telescope: 212 and 405 GHz. They were studied in greater detail for three solar bursts exhibiting the new THz spectral component. The pulse amplitudes are of about 5%-8% of the mean flux throughout the bursts durations, being comparable for both frequencies. Pulsations range from one pulse every few seconds to 8-10 per second. The pulse repetition rates (R) are linearly proportional to the mean burst fluxes (S), following the simple relationship S = kR, suggesting that the pulsations might be the response to discrete flare particle accelerator injections quantized in energy. Although this result is consistent with qualitative trends previously found in the GHz range, the pulse amplitude relative to the mean fluxes at the sub-THz frequencies appear to be nearly ten times smaller than expected from the extrapolation of the trends found in the GHz range. However there are difficulties to reconcile the nearly simultaneous GHz and THz burst emission spectrally separated components, exhibiting rapid pulsations with considerably larger relative intensities in the GHz range.

Rapid Submillimeter Brightenings Associated with a Large Solar Flare

We present high time resolution observations of Active Region 8910 obtained simultaneously at 212 and 405 GHz during a large Hα flare, which produced a soft X-ray class X1.1 event. Data were obtained with the new solar submillimeter telescope recently installed at the El Leoncito Observatory to explore this poorly known part of the solar emission spectrum. A small slow submillimeter enhancement (≤300 sfu) was associated to bulk emissions at X-rays, Hα, and microwaves. The event exhibited numerous submillimeter-wave 100-300 ms duration spikes, the larger ones with fluxes on the order of 220 and 500 sfu (±20%) at 212 and 405 GHz, respectively. A dramatic increase in the incidence rate of submillimeter spikes sets in as a new large loop system appears in AR 8910, and X-ray emission increases nearly 1 hr before the large flare. The brightening incidence rate (~20 per minute) correlates well with the large flare light curves at X-rays and Hα. The submillimeter spikes may be associated to microflares, waves, or quakes in flaring active regions.

Solar bursts gyrosynchrotron emission from three-dimensional sources

Aims. In this study we have analyzed the spectral and spatial characteristics of gyrosynchrotron emission and the polarization of solar bursts in a highly inhomogeneous medium. Our main goal was to investigate the effects of the geometry of the source on the resulting spectrum. Methods. The SOHO/EIT and TRACE high resolution images revealed structured magnetic configurations in detail over solar active regions. In our method, we represent the magnetic field geometry by three-dimensional structures obtained from magnetic field extrapolation, tomography, or any geometry that resembles the observed structures. The gyrosynchrotron radiation was numerically calculated through a modified version of Ramaty’s code. Results. We calculated the radiation produced by non-thermal electron distributions in this complex environment and solved the radiative transfer equation. The results, presented in brightness distribution maps, polarization maps, and spectra, are discussed. Our numerical results agree with statistical analyses of observed spectra present in the literature. We note a spectral broadening due to the spatial and intensity inhomogeneity of the magnetic field and no center-to-limb variations, which cannot be explained by homogeneous source models. The computed maps revealed a non uniform brightness distribution, with small-scale structures, and different spatial characteristics in each frequency. Also, we found different spectral characteristics at different regions of the emitting source. Polarization maps reveal its high dependence on geometry and on the position of the source on the solar disk.

A multibeam antenna for solar MM-wave burst observations with high spatial and temporal resolution

In this paper a new method for the determination of the position of microwave burst sources on the Sun, its implementation and first observational results, are presented. The 13.7 m antenna at Itapetinga with a five-channel receiver operating at 48 GHz and with a time resolution of 1 ms is used. Five horn antennas clustered around the focus of the Cassegrain reflector provide 5 beams diverging by about 2′. This configuration allows the observation of different parts of an active region and the determination of the center of the burst position with an accuracy of 5″ to 20″ depending on the angular distance relative to the antenna axis. The field of view is ≈ 2′ by ≈ 4′. The time resolution of 1 ms is suitable to search for fast structures at 48 GHz. A total bandwidth of 400 MHz is used in order to achieve a sensitivity of 0.04 s.f.u. sufficient for the detection of weak bursts. First observational results of the flare on May 11, 1991 show a well-located source position during all stages.

The new submillimeter-wave solar telescope

A new and unique solar submillimeter telescope (SST) was installed in the El Leoncito site, Argentina Andes. It has a 1.5 m radome-enclosed cassegrain antenna, and arrays of four 212 GHz and two 405 GHz radiometers placed in the focal plane. We present a brief technical description of the system, preliminary results on its performance, the atmospheric opacity measured at the site, and the first detection of solar flare submm-wave emissions.

A method for arc-second determination of solar burst emission centers with high time resolution and sensitivity at 48 GHz

A 48 GHz five-radiometer front end was installed at the Cassegrain focus of the 13.7-m Itapetinga antenna for the observation of solar bursts. The system works with five beam patterns partly overlapping. The five antenna temperatures are recorded with a temporal resolution of 1 millisecond, including time and antenna position. The ratios of the incoming antenna signals are used to determine the centroid of burst emission. Its coordinates are determined from groups of three receivers by using a least-square fit. In favourable observing conditions we obtain an angular accuracy of about 2 arc sec (r.m.s.), with a time resolution of 1 ms and a sensitivity of 0.05 s.f.u. The accuracy of the antenna tracking, the absolute pointing and the quality of radio seeing at Itapetinga are discussed. A preliminary analysis of an impulsive solar burst event is used to illustrate the capabilities of the method described here.

Temporal and angular variation of the solar limb brightening at 17 GHz

In order to better understand the atmosphere structure of the Sun, we have analyzed over 3000 daily maps of the Sun taken at 17 GHz from the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) from 1992 through 2001, focusing on the excess brightness temperature observed near the limb. The purpose of this work is to characterize the limb brightness in two ways: (i) study the temporal variation of the intensity and radial width of polar brightening; and (ii) measure the brightness distribution along the limb as a function of position angle and compare it with data at other wavelengths throughout the solar cycle. The mean intensity of the polar regions were found to be approximately 13% and 14% above quiet Sun levels at the North and South poles, respectively. Moreover, the polar brightenings are strongly anti-correlated with solar activity (as measured by sunspot number). The radial width of the excess brightness is slightly over 1 arcmin for both polar regions. Only a small variation with the solar cycle was observed during the decline of last maximum, that is, the Southern polar brightening was found to be both wider and brighter than the Northern one for the 23rd cycle. As for the angular variation of the limb brightening, for a month during a period of minimum activity, it reaches 25% above quiet Sun levels at the poles, ∼15% near the equator, and 10% at intermediate regions. Hα images also show brightening enhancements at the polar regions for the same period. We also found a strong anti-correlation between the radio polar brightenings and the coronal holes seen in soft X-ray images from 1992 to 2001. There seems to be a strong association of the radio limb brightening at 17 GHz with faculae. The implications of these correlations are discussed.

THE BEHAVIOR OF THE 17 GHz SOLAR RADIUS AND LIMB BRIGHTENING IN THE SPOTLESS MINIMUM XXIII/XXIV

The current solar minimum has surprised the entire solar community because the spotless period is presently almost 2-3 years longer than the usual minima. To better understand this, we studied the variation of the solar radius and the polar limb brightening at 17 GHz, comparing the results from the minimum at the end of cycle XXIII with those of the previous one. Daily maps obtained by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph (NoRH) from 1992 through 2010 were analyzed. Whereas the variation of the solar radius at radio frequencies indicates the heating of the solar atmosphere due to solar activity, the limb brightening intensity depends on the organization of the polar magnetic field of the Sun, including the global dipole and the features formed around it. These features are more prominent during minima periods. As a common result, researchers have observed a decrease in both radius and limb brightness intensity at 17 GHz during the present minimum when compared with the previous one. The mean solar radius is 09 ± 06 smaller and the limb brightening reduced its intensity by around 20%. Both decrements are interpreted in terms of the weaker solar chromospheric activity of the present cycle. Measurement of the radius and limb brightening at 17 GHz can be used as an alternative solar activity index and should be included in the set of parameters used to predict future cycles.