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Kosugi, Takeo

Publications and source records attributed to Kosugi, Takeo.

Particle acceleration in flares

Particle acceleration is intrinsic to the primary energy release in the impulsive phase of solar flares, and we cannot understand flares without understanding acceleration. New observations in soft and hard X-rays, gamma-rays and coherent radio emissions are presented, suggesting flare fragmentation in time and space. X-ray and radio measurements exhibit at least five different time scales in flares. In addition, some new observations of delayed acceleration signatures are also presented. The theory of acceleration by parallel electric fields is used to model the spectral shape and evolution of hard X-rays. The possibility of the appearance of double layers is further investigated.

Benz, Arnold O.↗

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.

Wulser, Jean-Pierre↗

The X flare of 1991 November 15 - Coordinated Mees/Yohkoh observations

This is a preliminary report on two unique new results from coordinated observations at Mees Solar Observatory and Yohkoh of the X1.5 flare of November 15, l991 using vector magnetograms, H-alpha imaging spectra, X-ray images, and X-ray spectra. First, we find a close spatial relationship between H-alpha redshifts and X-rays from a flare loop and its footpoints at a time of large X-ray blueshifts. Second, we find that impulsive-phase hard X-rays originate in regions that are new, but not coincident with, the peaks of the vertical electrical current density distribution in AR 6919.

Canfield, Richard C.↗

Energetic electrons in impulsive and extended solar flares as deduced from flux correlations between hard X-rays and microwaves

The peak flux relationship between hard X-rays and microwaves from solar flares is studied using about 400 events simultaneously recorded with the hard X-ray burst spectrometer on the SMM satellite and the Nobeyama 17 GHz radiometer. The data indicate that the hard X-ray and microwave peak fluxes correlate best for X-ray energies of less than about 80 keV for impulsive flares and greater than about 360 keV for extended flares. By postulating that electrons responsible for microwave emission at 17 GHz are those emitting hard X-rays at these photon energies, it is concluded that: (1) in impulsive flares, microwaves at about 20 GHz are emitted mainly by electrons of less than about 200 keV from a layer through which the electrons stream down into the thick-target hard X-ray source; and (2) in extended flares, microwaves are emitted mainly by MeV electrons trapped in a coronal loop or loops.

Kosugi, Takeo↗

Quasi-periodic pulsations in solar hard X-ray and microwave flares

For more than a decade, various studies have pointed out that hard X-ray and microwave time profiles of some solar flares show quasi-periodic fluctuations or pulsations. Nevertheless, it was not until recently that a flare displaying large amplitude quasi-periodic pulsations in X-rays and microwaves was observed with good spectral coverage and with a sufficient time resolution. The event occurred on June 7, 1980, at approximately 0312 UT, and exhibits seven intense pulses with a quasi-periodicity of approximately 8 seconds in microwaves, hard X-rays, and gamma-ray lines. On May 12, 1983, at approximately 0253 UT, another good example of this type of flare was observed both in hard X-rays and in microwaves. Temporal and spectral characteristics of this flare are compared with the event of June 7, 1980. In order to further explore these observational results and theoretical scenarios, a study of nine additional quasi-periodic events were incorporated with the results from the two flares described. Analysis of these events are briefly summarized.

Kosugi, Takeo↗