T. Fredvik

Soho Observations of the Connection Between Line Profile Parameters in Active and Quiet Regions and the Net Red Shift in Euv Emission Lines

We present high spatial and spectral resolution observations of one active and one quiet-Sun region, obtained with CDS and SUMER on SOHO. The connections between the line profile parameters are studied and a systematic wavelength shift towards the red with increasing peak line intensity (line broadening) is detected. The large scatter in the data calls for another approach. We apply conditional probability analysis to a series of EUV emission lines and find significant correlations between line profile parameters. For a given interval in wavelength shift we find that: (1) line profiles with large intensities (line widths) and red shifts above the average constitute an increasing fraction of the profiles as the relative wavelength shift increases, (2) line profiles with large intensities (line widths) and blue shifts compared to the average, on the other hand, constitute a decreasing fraction of the profiles as the relative wavelength shift increases. These results extend the findings of an earlier quiet-Sun study from one to several emission lines and expand the validity to include the active region. Interestingly, the active region observations show correlations between peak line intensity and wavelength shift in the coronal lines.The tendency for red-shifted profiles to be more intense than blue-shifted profiles will shift line profiles derived by integrating along the slit towards the red. From the present observations we are not able to determine the fraction of the net red shift that emerges from this correlation. We suggest that the same mechanism is responsible both for the correlation between the line profile parameters and for the differential red shift between the transition region and chromospheric emission lines.

Euv Spectroscopy of the Sunspot Region Noaa 7981 Using Soho – II. Velocities and Line Profiles

We have studied the dynamics in the sunspot transition region between the chromosphere and the corona and investigated the extension of the flow field into the corona. Based on EUV spectra of a medium size sunspot and its surroundings, NOAA 7981, observed with CDS and SUMER on SOHO, we derive line-of-sight velocities and study the line profiles for a series of emission lines.The flow field in the low corona is found to differ markedly from that in the transition region. In the transition region the relative line-of-sight velocity shows an upflow in the umbra and relatively large areas with downflow that cover part of the penumbra. The spatial extent of these areas with upflow and downflow increases with increasing temperature in the transition region, but the whole flow field changes character as the temperature increases from the upper transition region to the low corona. Based on a calibration of the SUMER wavelength scale we find that the entire sunspot transition zone appears to be moving downwards towards the chromosphere. The relation between this finding and the general tendency for transition-region lines to show a net red shift is discussed.Several of the transition-region spectral line profiles are observed to show two line components with Gaussian shape and line-of-sight velocities that differ markedly. Several of the line profiles that are composed of two spectral line components occur close to the dividing line between up- and downflow. A discussion of this observation is presented. In small regions with spatial extent of a few arc sec we detect enhanced continuum emission underlying explosive events. The similarities between explosive events with continuum emission and the moustaches observed in Hα close to sunspots are so striking that we are tempted to introduce the notation ‘transition-region moustaches’.

Variability and dynamic state of active region loops

Abstract A set of 218 consecutive CDS rasters taken at the solar limb on October 26–28 1999 has been used to investigate the variability and plasma dynamics of active region loops. Each raster contains simultaneous images in 6 different lines, covering the full temperature range of CDS, 10 000 K (He I) to 2.7 MK (Fe XVI). Activity is seen to go on without breaks at temperatures below 1 MK for the full 39 hours of the series. Transition region loops or extended sections of loops, 50–200 Mm long, appear and disappear in intervals as short as 11 minutes, the observing cadence. In the corona the emission is less variable, but significant changes are seen. Measured Doppler shifts correspond to typical plasma velocities of 20 km s −1 to 100 km s −1 , at temperatures 10 000 K to 450 000 K, and siphon flows may occur in some of the loops. High velocities are frequently seen where the emitted intensities are weak, often on the outer edges of loops as defined in that particular spectral line. At coronal temperatures, 1 MK and higher, systematic loop velocities occur only occasionally. Simultaneous observations with EIT and SUMER were made during part of the raster series and are compared with the CDS result.

On the Sunspot Transition Region

The EUV line emission and relative line-of-sight velocity in the transition region between the chromosphere and corona of 36 sunspot regions are investigated, based on observations with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer – CDS and the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation – SUMER on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory – SOHO. The most prominent features in the transition-region intensity maps are the sunspot plumes. In the temperature range between log T=5.2 and log T=5.6 we find that 29 of the 36 sunspots contain one or two sunspot plumes. The relative line-of-sight velocity in sunspot plumes is high and directed into the Sun in the transition region, for 19 of the sunspots the maximum velocity exceeds 25 km s−1. The velocity increases with increasing temperature, reaches a maximum close to log T=5.5 and then decreases abruptly.

EUV spectroscopy of the sunspot region NOAA 7981 using SOHO. I. Line emission and time dependence

EUV spectra of a medium-size sunspot and its surroundings, NOAA 7981, were obtained on 2 August 1996 with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) and the Solar Ultraviolet Measurements of Emitted Radiation (SUMER) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO). The spectral lines formed in the transition region and corona show considerable structure and large deviations from a uniform spatial distribution over the active region. Enhanced EUV emissions in transition region lines are concentrated in small regions outside the umbra of the sunspot throughout most of the observing sequence. Only during a short, active period do we find an enhanced line emission that reaches into the umbra. Preliminary values for the umbral intensity are given.Marked changes are detected between the spatial distribution of line emission in the transition region and the low corona. The difference is not limited to cool and hot non-flaring loops not being cospatial, but includes differences both regarding the time variability and the orientation and size of the emission features. Whereas both rapid (≈ 4 and 2 min) and slow (≈ 10 and 12 h) temporal variations are found in the chromosphere (Hei 584 Ú) and transition region (Ov 629 Ú), the response in the low corona (Mgix 368 Ú) is slow (≈ 5 h). Furthermore, marked differences between the spatial distributions in the Mgviii 315 Ú, Mgix 368 Ú lines formed in the low corona and the coronal Fexiv 334 Ú, Fexvi 360 Ú lines are detected.

CORONAL RADIATION AND HELIUM λ584 EMISSION IN ACTIVE REGIONS

Based on EUV observations of eleven sunspot regions obtained with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer, CDS, on SOHO we have studied the spatial distribution, temporal variation and wavelength shift of the He i λ584 line. We find a relatively high spatial correlation between the coronal line Fe xvi λ360 and the He i λ584 line. This points to coronal back-radiation as an important contributor to the formation of the He i line in active regions. However, contribution to the line formation from another source is suggested by the following two findings: First, the red-shifted line profiles of both He i λ584 and the transition region lines tend to be more intense than blue-shifted profiles. Second, the He i λ584 emission changes significantly faster than the coronal line emission.

Flows in Sunspot Plumes Detected with SOHO

Bright EUV sunspot plumes have been observed in eight out of eleven different sunspot regions with the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer -- CDS on SOHO. From wavelength shifts we derive the line-of-sight velocity, relative to the average velocity in the rastered area, 120 arcsec x 120 arcsec. In sunspot plumes we find that the motion is directed away from the observer and increases with increasing line formation temperature, reaches a maximum between 15 and 41 km~s

Modeling of EIS Spectrum Drift from Instrumental Temperatures

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Oscillations Above Sunspots

close to log T

OSCILLATIONS IN THE UMBRAL ATMOSPHERE

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