Engineering topics

Kundu, M. R.

Publications and source records attributed to Kundu, M. R..

At least 73 records · Page 4

NASA NTRS1987

Clark Lake microbursts - On a lower limit to type III burst brightness temperatures

Further observations of solar microbursts by the Clark Lake radioheliograph are reported. The microbursts have properties consistent with weak type III bursts, with the implication that type III's can have brightness temperatures as low as 1 million K. The importance of this result is explored. A single model to explain the stronger type III bursts and the weaker microbursts is sought. It is shown that none of the models for stabilizing the strongest type III electron streams can explain the observed microbursts: these models have threshold levels of Langmuir waves which imply emission (due to spontaneous scattering off ions) with brightness temperatures in excess of those observed. It appears that either some vital physics is still missing from models for type III bursts, or that microbursts should have properties significantly different from those of type III bursts. In the latter case further observations should allow important tests of type III models.

White, S. M.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Coronal bright points at 6 cm wavelength

The results of the first observations of solar coronal bright points at 6 cm wavelength using the Very Large Array (VLA), with a spatial resolution of about 1.2 arcsec, are reported. The maximum brightness temperature of the sources observed is about 30,000 K with a mean value of about 10,000 K (above the quiet sun value). The lifetime of most sources is between 5 and 20 min. The average diameter of the sources is about 5-15 arcsec. The sources are Gaussian-like near the footpoint of miniature loops and they appear in groups. The observations indicate that significant fluctuations in the brightness temperature (sometimes quasi-periodic) and in the spatial extents of these sources can occur over periods of a few minutes.

Fu, Q.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Large-scale structure of the sun's corona from radio observations using the Clark Lake Radioheliograph

Meterwave maps of the solar corona made with the Clark Lake Radioheliograph at 30.9, 50, and 73.8 MHz for one solar rotation are presented. They are compared and contrasted with optical data: 10,830 A maps, white-light coronagraph images (SOLWIND and Mauna Loa K coronameter), and forbidden line scans. Most of the sources in the radio maps persist for two days or more, and appear to rotate approximately with the solar rate. A coronal hole seen against the disk at all three frequencies shows interesting similarities and significant differences with the optical signatures of the hole. Elongated features of the 50 MHz corona correspond rather well to the azimuthal position of white light streamers seen in SOLWIND images. Synoptic charts made from the radio maps show overall similarities to synoptic charts constructed from (limb) coronagraph data. Some of the differences may result from the different weightings given by the radio and optical data to density and temperature, or by the different sensitivities to nonradial geometries. It is shown that the combined use of meter wave and optical images provides considerable new insights into the three-dimensional structure of the low to middle corona.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Propagation of electrons emitting weak type III bursts in coronal streamers

The observations of weak type III bursts at 73.8, 57.5, 50.0, and 38.5 MHz from Clark Lake Radio Observatory on four days are reported and their characteristics are discussed. In addition to Clark Lake data, the magnetogram and sunspot/active region data and the coronal streamer data obtained by HAO's Coronagraph/Polarimeter aboard SMM satellite are used to study the location of the burst sources with respect to the coronal streamers emanating from active regions. It is shown that the bursts occur within or close to the edge of dense coronal streamers implying that the coronal streamers contain open magnetic field lines along which the electrons generating the bursts propagate. The positional analysis of the bursts is used to estimate the variation of coronal electron density with radial distance.

Gopalswamy, N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A type IV burst associated with a coronal streamer disruption event

A type IV burst was observed on February 17, 1985 with the Clark Lake Radio Observatory multifrequency radioheliograph operating in the frequency range 20-125 MHz. This burst was associated with a coronal streamer disruption event. From two-dimensional images produced at 50 MHz, evidence of a type II burst and a slow moving type IV burst are shown. The observations of the moving type IV burst suggests that a plasmoid containing energetic electrons can result from the disruption of a coronal streamer.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Imaging observations of the evolution of meter-decameter burst emission during a major flare

The results of a study of the evolution of the February 3, 1986 flare at meter-decameter wavelengths are presented, using the two-dimensional imaging observations made with the Clark Lake multifrequency radioheliograph. The flare was complex and produced various types of meter-decameter bursts. The preflare activity was observed in the form of type III bursts some tens of minutes prior to the impulsive onset. From the positional analysis of the preflare and impulsive phase type III bursts and other measured characteristics, the characteristics of energy release and possible magnetic field configurations in the vicinity of the energy release region are discussed. From positional and temporal studies of the flare continuum and type II burst in relation to the microwave and hard X-ray emissions, the possible magnetic field structures in which the accelerated particles are confined or along which they propagate are discussed; a schematic model of the flaring region is developed, based upon this study.

Gopalswamy, N.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Characteristics of shock-associated fast-drift kilometric radio bursts

The existence of a class of fast-drift, shock-associated (SA), kilometric radio bursts which occur at the time of metric type II emission and which are not entirely the kilometric continuation of metric type III bursts has been reported previously (Cane et al., 1981). In this paper unambiguous SA event criteria are established for the purpose of statistically comparing SA events with conventional kilometric type III bursts. Applying these criteria to all long-duration, fast-drift bursts observed by the ISEE-3 spacecraft during a 28-month interval, it is found that more than 70 percent of the events satisfying the criteria are associated with the radio signatures of coronal shocks. If a given event is associated with a metric type II or type IV burst, it is 13 times more likely to satisfy the SA criteria than an event associated only with metric type III activity.

Macdowall, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

A study of solar preflare activity using two-dimensional radio and SMM-XRP observations

A study of type III activity at meter-decameter wavelengths in the preflare phase of the February 3, 1986 flare is presented, using data obtained with the Clark Lake Multifrequency Radioheliograph. This activity is compared with similar type III burst activity during the impulsive phase, and it is found that there is a displacement of burst sources between the onset and end times of the activity. A comparison of this displacement at three frequencies suggests that the type III emitting electrons gain access progressively to diverging and different field lines relative to the initial field lines. The energetics of the type III emitting electrons are inferred from observations and compared with those of the associated hard X-ray emitting electrons. The soft X-ray data from SMM-XRP show enhanced emission measure, density, and temperature in the region associated with the preflare type III activity.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Simultaneous radio and white light observations of the 1984 June 27 coronal mass ejection event

Two-dimensional images of radio bursts in the 25-50-MHz frequency range obtained with the SMM Coronagraph/Polarimeter and Mauna Loa K-coronameter during a coronal mass ejection event on June 27, 1984 are discussed. The present event is shown to be spatially and temporally associated with precursors in the form of meter-decameter type III bursts, soft X-ray emission, and a H-alpha flare spray. The results suggest gyrosychrotron emission from a plasmoid containing a magnetic field of about 2.5 G and nonthermal electrons with a number density of about 100,000/cu cm and energy of greater than about 350 keV.

Gopalswamy, N.↗

NASA NTRS1986

VLA observations of slar filaments at 6 and 20 cm wavelengths

Using the Very Large Array we have observed several solar filaments at 1.5 and 5 GHz. The brightness temperatures of the filaments are 4-5 x 10 K at 20 cm and 1.5-1.6 x 10,000 K at 6 cm. The maximum temperature depressions appear to be associated with H alpha filaments. Comparison with He 10830 angstrons spectroheliogram shows that 20 cm temperature depressions correspond to the regions of reduced intensity in the He 10830 angstrons around filaments, which correspond to coronal cavities. We have studied the temperature and density structure of the transition sheath between the filament and the surrounding corona assuming that the energy radiated away is balanced by the energy conducted from the corona. Researchers find that the observations can be better explained by a model having a pressure gradient in the transition sheath around the filament.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Large scale structure of the corona

This is an introduction to this section of the proceedings. In this section is a brief description of some radio results obtained with meter-decameter radioheliograph. An optical study based upon synoptic data of polarized brightness (pB), H alpha line filtergrams and large scale B-fields is presented. This is followed by two papers on the interpretation of coronal mass ejection (CME) and modeling of three dimensional coronas.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Large scale structure of the sun's radio corona

Results of studies of large scale structures of the corona at long radio wavelengths are presented, using data obtained with the multifrequency radioheliograph of the Clark Lake Radio Observatory. It is shown that features corresponding to coronal streamers and coronal holes are readily apparent in the Clark Lake maps.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Three dimensional structures of solar active regions

Three dimensional structure of an active region is determined from observations with the Very Large Array (VLA) at 2, 6, and 20 cm. This region exhibits a single magnetic loop of length approx. 10 to the 10th power cm. The 2 cm radiation is mostly thermal bremsstrahlung and originates from the footpoints of the loop. The 6 and 20 cm radiation is dominated by the low harmonic gyroresonance radiation and originates from the upper portion of the legs or the top of the loop. The loop broadens toward the apex. The top of the loop is not found to be the hottest point, but two temperature maxima on either side of the loop apex are observed, which is consistent with the model proposed for long loops. From 2 and 6 cm observations it can be concluded that the electron density and temperature cannot be uniform in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the loop; the density should decrease away from the axis of the loop.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

VLA observations of coronal bright points at 6 and 20 cm wavelengths

Prior to and during the Spacelab-2 operation, observations were made at 6 and 20 cm of solar coronal bright points, using the Very Large Array (VLA) in the C-configuration. The ultraviolet coverage ranged from 200 to 18,000 wavelengths. The maps were convolved with beams of 18 x 18 inches at 20 km and 4 x 4 inches at 6 cm. Only the preliminary results from July 15 and July 31, 1985 observations.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A study of solar filaments from high resolution microwave observations

The Very Large Array was used to observe several solar filaments at 1.5 and 5 GHz. The maximum temperature depressions appear to be associated with H-alpha filaments. Comparison with He 10,830 A spectroheliogram shows that 20 cm temperature depressions correspond to the regions of reduced intensity in the He 10,830 A around filaments, which correspond to coronal cavities. The temperature and density structure of the transition sheath between the filament and the surrounding corona was studied assuming that the energy radiated away is balanced by the energy conducted from the corona. It is found that the observations can be better explained by a model having a pressure gradient in the transition sheath around the filament.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Solar coronal bright points observed with the VLA

The first observations of solar coronal bright points made at 20-cm wavelength with the VLA are reported. The brightness temperature of the sources observed varies between 1 and 5 x 10 to the 5th K. The observations indicate that significant fluctuations in the brightness temperature as well as in the spatial extent of these sources can occur over a few minutes. These fluctuations are shown to be due to density and temperature fluctuations at transition region heights combined with either plasma motions along magnetic field lines or changes in magnetic field topology, or both.

Habbal, S. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Decimeter continuum radio emission from a post-flare loop

It is shown how radio observations permitted the estimation of magnetic fields in the postflare loop associated with the May 19, 1979 long-lasting burst. The strongest 20-cm burst source is associated with H-alpha brightening at 20:41 UT. A comparison of spatially-resolved microwave and soft X-ray emission connected with the flare loop event showed that, at the time of maximum 20-cm flux from the source associated spatially with the declining X-ray flare, as much as one-half of the 20-cm flux could be thermal bremsstrahlung from the X-ray postflare groups. It is suggested that this 20-cm burst emission is produced either by a thermal free-free process or by thermal/nonthermal gyroradiation.

Kundu, M. R.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A study of hard X-ray associated meter-decameter bursts observed on December 19, 1979

The results of a study of the relationship of a complex meter-decameter wavelength radio burst observed with the Clark Lake E-W and N-S interferometers, with a hard X-ray burst observed with the X-ray spectrometer aboard ISEE-3 are presented. The radio burst consisted of several type III's, reverse drift type III's, a U burst, and type II and type IV bursts. The X-ray emission was also complex. The radio as well as hard X-ray emissions were observed before the flash phase of the flare; they were not always associated and it is conjectured that this may constitute evidence for acceleration of electrons high in the corona. On the other hand, all components of the reverse drift burst were associated with hard X-ray subpeaks, indicating multiple injection of electron beams along field lines with different density gradients. While the type II burst appeared to be related to the hard X-ray burst, a detailed correspondence between individual features of the radio and hard X-ray burst emissions could not be found. The type IV burst started after all hard X-ray emissions ceased. Its source appeared to be a magnetic arch, presumably containing energetic electrons reponsible for the gyrosynchrotron radiation of type IV.

Kundu, M. R.↗