A Unified View of Solar Flares and Coronal Mass Ejections
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Fundamentals of Impulsive Energy Release in the Corona Heliophysics 2050 Workshop White Paper A
Heliophysics 2050 White Papers (2021) 4093.pdf Fundamentals of impulsive energy release in the corona Heliophysics 2050 Workshop white paper A. Y. Shih (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center), L. Glesener (UMN), S. Krucker (UCB), S. Guidoni (Amer. Univ.), S. Christe (GSFC), K. Reeves (SAO), S. Gburek (PAS), A. Caspi (SwRI), M. Alaoui (GSFC/CUA), J. Allred (GSFC), M. Battaglia (FHNW), W. Baumgartner (MSFC), B. Dennis (GSFC), J. Drake (UMD), K. Goetz (UMN), L. Golub (SAO), I. Hannah (Univ. of Glasgow), L. Hayes (GSFC/USRA), G. Holman (GSFC/Emeritus), A. Inglis (GSFC/CUA), J. Ireland (GSFC), G. Kerr (GSFC/CUA), J. Klimchuk (GSFC), D. McKenzie (MSFC), C. Moore (SAO), S. Musset (Univ. of Glasgow), J. Reep (NRL), D. Ryan (GSFC/AU), P. Saint-Hilaire (UCB), S. Savage (MSFC), R. Schwartz (GSFC/AU), D. Seaton (NOAA), M. Stęślicki (PAS), T. Woods (LASP) Introduction Solar eruptive events are the most energetic and geo-effective space-weather drivers. They originate in the corona near the Sun’s surface as a combination of solar flares (impulsive bursts of radiation across the entire electromagnetic spectrum) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs; expulsions of magnetized plasma into interplanetary space). The radiation and energetic particles they produce can damage satellites, disrupt telecommunications and GPS navigation, and endanger astronauts in space. Many of the processes involved in triggering, driving, and sustaining solar eruptive events–including magnetic reconnection, particle acceleration, plasma heating, and energy transport in magnetized plasmas–also play important roles in phenomena throughout the Universe, such as in magnetospheric substorms, gamma-ray bursts, and accretion disks. The Sun is a unique laboratory to better understand these fundamental physical processes. -
Solar Science Timeline Final Wnasa ID
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Solar LAUNCH Windand A mission to travel directly through the Sun’s corona, providing up-close observations on what heats the solar atmosphere and accelerates CoronaTimeline the solar wind. Slow Solar Wind and Helmet Streamers Using observations from the joint ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, Neil R. Sheeley Jr. and colleagues identify puffs of slow solar wind emanating from helmet streamers — bright areas of the corona that form above magnetically active regions on the photosphere. Exactly how these puffs are formed is still not known. The Sun’s Poles Ulysses, a joint NASA-ESA mission, becomes the first mission to fly over the Sun’s north and south poles. Among other findings, Ulysses found that in periods of minimal solar activity, the fast solar wind comes from the poles, while the slow solar wind comes from equatorial regions. Nanoflares May Heat the Corona 2018 Eugene Parker proposes that frequent, small eruptions on the Sun — known as nanoflares — may heat the corona to its extreme temperatures. The nanoflare 1995 theory contrasts with the wave theory, in which heating is caused by the dissipation of Alfvén waves. 1990 Fast Wind from Coronal Holes Images from Skylab, the U.S.’s first manned space station, identify that the fast solar wind is emitted from coronal holes — comparatively cool regions of the corona where the Sun’s magnetic field lines open out into space. 1988 The Slow and Fast Solar Wind NASA’s Mariner 2 spacecraft observes the solar wind, 1973 detecting two distinct ‘streams’ within it: a slow stream travelling at approximately 215 miles per second, and a fast stream at 430 miles per second. -
Modelling Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares
Space Sci Rev (2018) 214:45 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-018-0478-5 Modelling Quasi-Periodic Pulsations in Solar and Stellar Flares J.A. McLaughlin1 · V. M . N a k a r i a ko v 2,3,4 · M. Dominique5 · P. Jelínek6 · S. Takasao7 Received: 19 May 2017 / Accepted: 24 January 2018 / Published online: 6 February 2018 © The Author(s) 2018. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract Solar flare emission is detected in all EM bands and variations in flux density of solar energetic particles. Often the EM radiation generated in solar and stellar flares shows a pronounced oscillatory pattern, with characteristic periods ranging from a fraction of a second to several minutes. These oscillations are referred to as quasi-periodic pulsa- tions (QPPs), to emphasise that they often contain apparent amplitude and period modu- lation. We review the current understanding of quasi-periodic pulsations in solar and stel- lar flares. In particular, we focus on the possible physical mechanisms, with an emphasis on the underlying physics that generates the resultant range of periodicities. These physi- cal mechanisms include MHD oscillations, self-oscillatory mechanisms, oscillatory recon- nection/reconnection reversal, wave-driven reconnection, two loop coalescence, MHD flow B J.A. McLaughlin [email protected] V.M. Nakariakov [email protected] M. Dominique [email protected] P. Jelínek [email protected] S. Takasao [email protected] 1 Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK 2 Centre for Fusion, Space and Astrophysics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK 3 School of Space Research, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, 446-701, Gyeonggi, Korea 4 St. -
Estimate of Plasma Temperatures Across a CME-Driven Shock from a Comparison Between EUV and Radio Data
Solar Phys (2020) 295:124 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11207-020-01686-0 Estimate of Plasma Temperatures Across a CME-Driven Shock from a Comparison Between EUV and Radio Data Federica Frassati1 · Salvatore Mancuso1 · Alessandro Bemporad1 Received: 9 March 2020 / Accepted: 6 August 2020 / Published online: 8 September 2020 © The Author(s) 2020 Abstract In this work, we analyze the evolution of an EUV wave front associated with a solar eruption that occurred on 30 October 2014, with the aim of investigating, through differential emission measure (DEM) analysis, the physical properties of the plasma com- pressed and heated by the accompanying shock wave. The EUV wave was observed by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and was accompanied by the detection of a metric Type II burst observed by ground-based radio spectrographs. The EUV signature of the shock wave was also detected in two of the AIA channels centered at 193 Å and 211 Å as an EUV intensity enhancement propagating ahead of the associated CME. The density compression ratio X of the shock as inferred from the analysis of the EUV data is X ≈ 1.23, in agreement with independent estimates obtained from the analysis of the Type II band-splitting of the radio data and inferred by adopting the upstream–downstream interpretation. By applying the Rankine–Hugoniot jump conditions under the hypothesis of a perpendicular shock, we also estimate the temperature ratio as TD/TU ≈ 1.55 and the post-shock temperature as TD ≈ 2.75 MK. The modest compression ratio and temperature jump derived from the EUV analysis at the shock passage are typical of weak coronal shocks. -
Comprehensive Characterization of Solar Eruptions with Remote and In-Situ Observations, and Modeling: the Major Solar Events on 4 November 2015
Solar Physics DOI: 10.1007/•••••-•••-•••-••••-• Comprehensive Characterization of Solar Eruptions With Remote and In-Situ Observations, and Modeling: The Major Solar Events on 4 November 2015 Iver H. Cairns?1 · Kamen A. Kozarev2 · Nariaki V. Nitta3 · Neus Agueda4 · Markus Battarbee5,6 · Eoin P. Carley7 · Nina Dresing8 · Ra´ulG´omez-Herrero9 · Karl-Ludwig Klein10 · David Lario11,12 · Jens Pomoell13 · Carolina Salas-Matamoros10,14 · Astrid M. Veronig15 · Bo Li1 · Patrick McCauley1 B Iver H. Cairns? [email protected],+61 2 9351 3961 Kamen A. Kozarev [email protected] Nariaki V. Nitta [email protected] Neus Agueda [email protected] Markus Battarbee [email protected] Eoin P. Carley [email protected] Nina Dresing [email protected] Ra´ulG´omez-Herrero [email protected] Karl-Ludwig Klein [email protected] David Lario [email protected] Jens Pomoell jens.pomoell@helsinki.fi Carolina Salas-Matamoros [email protected] Astrid M. Veronig arXiv:1910.03319v1 [astro-ph.SR] 8 Oct 2019 [email protected] Bo Li [email protected] SOLA: overview_51_8Oct19.tex; 9 October 2019; 0:35; p. 1 ISSI team: I.H. Cairns et al. c Springer •••• Abstract Solar energetic particles (SEPs) are an important product of solar activity. They are connected to solar active regions and flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), EUV waves, shocks, Type II and III radio emissions, and X- ray bursts. These phenomena are major probes of the partition of energy in solar eruptions, as well as for the organization, dynamics, and relaxation of coronal and interplanetary magnetic fields. -
Understanding Solar Flares and Coronal Heating at Present
The Case for Comprehensive Spectroscopic Measurements of the Sun: Understanding Solar Flares and Coronal Heating Jeffrey W. Brosius (Catholic University of America at NASA/GSFC) Peter R. Young, James A. Klimchuk (NASA/GSFC) At present the solar physics community’s efforts are largely focused on answering two of the overarching, unresolved questions in the field: (1) What heats the solar corona? (2) What causes the sudden, rapid release of en- ergy that produces flares? Comprehensive spectroscopic measurements are essential to answer these questions. The solar atmosphere along any given line of sight emits optically thin radiation from plasma over widely ranging temperatures. This is true no matter what solar feature is observed, from flares and quiescent active regions to quiet Sun areas and coronal holes. The range of temperature is larger during flares than it is in quiet areas or coronal holes, but in all cases it exceeds an order of magnitude. For example, the temperature of the upper chromosphere is around 20,000 K (log T = 4.3); during flares, plasma is > heated to tens of million Kelvin (log T ∼ 7.3), so the range of temperatures observed along a line of sight can exceed three orders of magnitude. In quiescent active regions the “typical” coronal temperature is around 3 MK, while in coronal holes and quiet Sun areas it is 1 - 2 MK; in these cases the range of temperatures is close to two orders of magnitude. To understand what initiates the release of flare energy, how that energy is transported throughout the flaring region, and how the atmosphere evolves in response, spectroscopic measurements are required over the entire range of temperature that occurs during flares. -
GSFC Heliophysics Science Division 2009 Science Highlights
NASA/TM–2010–215854 GSFC Heliophysics Science Division 2009 Science Highlights Holly R. Gilbert, Keith T. Strong, Julia L.R. Saba, and Yvonne M. Strong, Editors December 2009 Front Cover Caption: Heliophysics image highlights from 2009. For details of these images, see the key on Page v. The NASA STI Program Offi ce … in Profi le Since its founding, NASA has been ded i cated to the • CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected ad vancement of aeronautics and space science. The pa pers from scientifi c and technical conferences, NASA Sci en tifi c and Technical Information (STI) symposia, sem i nars, or other meetings spon sored Pro gram Offi ce plays a key part in helping NASA or co spon sored by NASA. maintain this impor tant role. • SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientifi c, techni cal, The NASA STI Program Offi ce is operated by or historical information from NASA pro grams, Langley Research Center, the lead center for projects, and mission, often concerned with sub- NASAʼs scientifi c and technical infor ma tion. The jects having substan tial public interest. NASA STI Program Offi ce pro vides ac cess to the NASA STI Database, the largest collec tion of • TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. En glish-language aero nau ti cal and space science STI in the world. trans la tions of foreign scien tifi c and techni cal ma- The Pro gram Offi ce is also NASAʼs in sti tu tion al terial pertinent to NASAʼs mis sion. mecha nism for dis sem i nat ing the results of its research and devel op ment activ i ties. -
Solar Orbiter and Sentinels
HELEX: Heliophysical Explorers: Solar Orbiter and Sentinels Report of the Joint Science and Technology Definition Team (JSTDT) PRE-PUBLICATION VERSION 1 Contents HELEX Joint Science and Technology Definition Team .................................................................. 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................. 4 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................ 6 1.1 Heliophysical Explorers (HELEX): Solar Orbiter and the Inner Heliospheric Sentinels ........ 7 2.0 Science Objectives .............................................................................................................................. 8 2.1 What are the origins of the solar wind streams and the heliospheric magnetic field? ............. 9 2.2 What are the sources, acceleration mechanisms, and transport processes of solar energetic particles? ........................................................................................................................................ 13 2.3 How do coronal mass ejections evolve in the inner heliosphere? ............................................. 16 2.4 High-latitude-phase science ......................................................................................................... 19 3.0 Measurement Requirements and Science Implementation ........................................................ 20 -
The Highenergy Sun at High Sensitivity: a Nustar Solar Guest
The High-Energy Sun at High Sensitivity: a NuSTAR Solar Guest Investigation Program A concept paper submitted to the Space Studies Board Heliophysics Decadal Survey by David M. Smith, Säm Krucker, Gordon Hurford, Hugh Hudson, Stephen White, Fiona Harrison (NuSTAR PI), and Daniel Stern (NuSTAR Project Scientist) Figure 1: Artist©s conception of the NuSTAR spacecraft Introduction and Overview Understanding the origin, propagation and fate of non-thermal electrons is an important topic in solar and space physics: it is these particles that present a danger for interplanetary probes and astronauts, and also these particles that carry diagnostic information that can teach us about acceleration processes elsewhere in the heliosphere and throughout the universe. Such non-thermal electrons can be detected via their X-ray or gamma-ray emission, their radio emission, or directly in situ in interplanetary space. To date, the state of the art in solar hard x-ray imaging has been the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI), a NASA Small Explorer satellite launched in 2002, which uses an indirect imaging method (rotating modulation collimators) for hard x-ray imaging. This technique can provide high angular resolution, but it is limited in dynamic range and in sensitivity to small events, due to high background. High-energy imaging of the active Sun is technically easiest in the soft x-ray band (see, for example, the detailed and dynamic images returned by the soft x- ray imager on Hinode, as well as the corresponding telescopes on Yohkoh and GOES), but these x-rays are generally emitted by lower-energy thermal plasmas. -
University of California Santa Cruz Hard X-Ray
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ HARD X-RAY CONSTRAINTS ON FAINT TRANSIENT EVENTS IN THE SOLAR CORONA A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in PHYSICS by Andrew J. Marsh June 2017 The Dissertation of Andrew J. Marsh is approved: Professor David M. Smith, Chair Professor Lindsay Glesener Professor David A. Williams Tyrus Miller Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies Table of Contents List of Figures vi List of Tables xv Abstract xvi Dedication xviii Acknowledgments xix 1 Introduction 1 1.1 Origins . .1 1.2 Structure of the Sun . .2 1.2.1 The Interior . .2 1.2.2 Lower Atmosphere . .4 1.2.3 Outer Atmosphere (Corona) . .5 1.3 Solar Cycle . .8 1.4 Summary . .9 2 Flares, Transient Events and Coronal Heating 12 2.1 Flare Physics . 12 2.1.1 Standard Flare Model . 13 2.1.2 Magnetic Reconnection . 14 2.1.3 Particle Acceleration . 17 2.2 Emission from the Solar Corona . 20 2.2.1 Thermal Bremsstrahlung . 21 2.2.2 Non-thermal Bremsstrahlung . 23 2.2.3 Emission Lines . 24 2.3 Observing the Corona . 27 2.3.1 Instruments . 27 2.3.2 Non-Flaring Active Regions . 30 2.3.3 Flares . 31 iii 2.3.4 The Quiet Sun . 33 2.4 The Coronal Heating Problem . 34 2.4.1 Flare Heating . 37 2.4.2 Nanoflare Heating . 38 3 Imaging Hard X-rays with Focusing Optics 42 3.1 Focusing Optics . 42 3.2 FOXSI . 48 3.2.1 Optics . -
1988Apj. . .330. .474P the Astrophysical Journal, 330:474-479
.474P The Astrophysical Journal, 330:474-479,1988 July 1 © 1988. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. .330. 1988ApJ. NANOFLARES AND THE SOLAR X-RAY CORONA1 E. N. Parker Enrico Fermi Institute and Departments of Physics and Astronomy, University of Chicago Received 1987 October 12; accepted 1987 December 29 ABSTRACT Observations of the Sun with high time and spatial resolution in UV and X-rays show that the emission from small isolated magnetic bipoles is intermittent and impulsive, while the steadier emission from larger bipoles appears as the sum of many individual impulses. We refer to the basic unit of impulsive energy release as a nanoflare. The observations suggest, then, that the active X-ray corona of the Sun is to be understood as a swarm of nanoflares. This interpretation suggests that the X-ray corona is created by the dissipation at the many tangential dis- continuities arising spontaneously in the bipolar fields of the active regions of the Sun as a consequence of random continuous motion of the footpoints of the field in the photospheric convection. The quantitative characteristics of the process are inferred from the observed coronal heat input. Subject headings: hydromagnetics — Sun: corona — Sun: flares I. INTRODUCTION corona. Indeed, it is just that disinclination that allows them to The X-ray corona of the Sun is composed of tenuous wisps penetrate the chromosphere and transition region to reach the of hot gas enclosed in strong (102 G) bipolar magnetic fields. corona. Various ideas have been proposed to facilitate dissi- The high temperature (2-3 x 106 K) of the gas is maintained pation (cf. -
A Small-Scale Filament Eruption Inducing Moreton Wave, Euv Wave and Coronal Mass Ejection
Draft version April 17, 2020 Preprint typeset using LATEX style AASTeX6 v. 1.0 A SMALL-SCALE FILAMENT ERUPTION INDUCING MORETON WAVE, EUV WAVE AND CORONAL MASS EJECTION Jincheng Wang1,2,3, Xiaoli Yan1,2, Defang Kong1,2, Zhike Xue1,2, Liheng Yang1,2, Qiaoling Li1,4 1Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650011, People.s Republic of China. 2Center for Astronomical Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 20A Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100012, People.s Republic of China 3CAS Key Laboratory of Solar Activity, National Astronomical Observatories, Beijing 100012, China 4University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yuquan Road, Shijingshan Block Beijing 100049, People.s Republic of China ABSTRACT With the launch of SDO, many EUV waves were observed during solar eruptions. However, the joint observations of Moreton and EUV waves are still relatively rare. We present an event that a small-scale filament eruption simultaneously results in a Moreton wave, an EUV wave and a Coronal Mass Ejection in active region NOAA 12740. Firstly, we find that some dark elongate lanes or fila- mentary structures in the photosphere existed under the small-scale filament and drifted downward, which manifests that the small-scale filament was emerging and lifting from subsurface. Secondly, combining the simultaneous observations in different Extreme UltraViolet (EUV) and Hα passbands, we study the kinematic characteristics of the Moreton and EUV waves. The comparable propagat- ing velocities and the similar morphology of Moreton and different passbands EUV wavefronts were obtained. We deduce that Moreton and different passbands EUV waves were the perturbations in dif- ferent temperature-associated layers induced by the coronal magneto-hydrodynamic shock wave.