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Shine, R. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Shine, R. A..

At least 37 records · Page 2
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NASA NTRS1982

Formation of the O I resonance triplet and intercombination doublet in the solar chromosphere

Spectrum synthesis calculations are presented for the O I resonance triplet at 1304 A and the intercombination doublet at 1358 A for the solar atmosphere and several variants, allowing for triplet fluorescence by the Ly-beta emission of H I. Profiles, synthesized from a seven-level plus continuum O I atom are compared to observations taken with the high-resolution spectrometer on OSO 8. It is found that the O I triplet emission is dominated by the Ly-beta fluorescence and that the agreement between observations and profiles computed with current chromospheric models is much improved over earlier studies.

Skelton, D. L.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Mass motions in the solar chromosphere and transition zone

A comparison is made between H-alpha and C IV observations of Active Region 2717 on October 9, 1980. On the basis of this comparison, it is found that upward velocities are present above sunspots in the chromosphere-corona transition zone (20 km/s). The downward velocities are found to be well correlated in both lines. Doppler-shift ratios between C IV and H-alpha levels (approximately 10) are seen to be much smaller than expected from density ratio estimates. The comparison is seen as suggesting that flow lines are probably far from vertical in the transition zone. It is pointed out, however, that this depends on model densities that may not be correct. A simple method for comparing matter flows is presented. The best fit between H-alpha and C IV levels is obtained when C IV Doppler shifts are multiplied by the line intensity to the power 0.5 (approximately) in order to make allowance for density fluctuations.

Mein, P.↗
NASA NTRS1982

The impulsive and gradual phases of a solar limb flare as observed from the solar maximum mission satellite

Simultaneous observations of a solar limb flare in the X-ray and ultraviolet regions of the spectrum are presented. Temporal and spectral X-ray observations were obtained for the 25-300 keV range while temporal, spectral, and spatial X-ray observations were obtained for the 30-0.3 keV range. The ultraviolet observations were images with a 10 arcsec spatial resolution in the line of O V and Fe XXI. The hard X-ray and O V data indicate that the impulsive phase began in the photosphere or chromosphere and continued for several minutes as materials was ejected into the corona. Impulsive excitation was observed up to 30,000 km above the solar surface at specific points in the flare loop. The Fe XXI observations indicate a preheating before the impulsive phase and showed the formation of hot post-flare loops. This later formation was confirmed by soft X-ray observations. These observations provide limitations for current flare models and will provide the data needed for initial conditions in modeling the concurrent coronal transient.

Poland, A. I.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Evidence of redshifts in the average solar line profiles of C IV and Si IV from OSO-8 observations

Line profiles of C IV and Si V obtained by the Colorado spectrometer on OSO-8 are presented. It is shown that the mean profiles are redshifted with a magnitude varying from 6-20 km/s, and with a mean of 12 km/s. An apparent average downflow of material in the 50,000-100,000 K temperature range is measured. The redshifts are observed in the line center positions of spatially and temporally averaged profiles and are measured either relative to chromospheric Si I lines or from a comparison of sun center and limb profiles. The observations of 6-20 km/s redshifts place constraints on the mechanisms that dominate EUV line emission since it requires a strong weighting of the emission in regions of downward moving material, and since there is little evidence for corresponding upward moving materials in these lines.

Roussel-Dupre, D.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Transition region oscillations in sunspots

Time series observations of the profile of the C IV resonance line 1548.19 A obtained in eight sunspots with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter (UVSP) on the Solar Maximum Mission are discussed. All of the sunspots exhibit significant oscillations in line-of-sight velocity with frequencies in the range from 5.8 mHz to 7.8 mHz (periods of 129-173 s). Significant intensity oscillations are observed at the same periods in four of the time series; the maximum intensity is in phase with maximum blueshift. Difference spectroheliograms ('Dopplergrams') of the two halves of the C IV line, as well as observations in the Si IV resonance line 1402.77 A and the O IV intersystem line 1401.16 A, also reveal velocity oscillations at similar frequencies but only over sunspots.

Gurman, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Observations of solar flare transition zone plasmas from the Solar Maximum Mission

The spatial and temporal evolution of the Si IV and O IV intensity, density and mass motions in preflare and flare transition zone plasmas are studied for the case of the April 8, 1980 flare. It is found that: (1) the UV flare observed in the Si IV and O IV lines is unambiguously identified as occurring in a low-lying, preexisting transition zone loop which spanned the magnetic neutral line separating a larger leader spot and a newly emerged, isolated spot of opposite polarity; (2) at the onset of the flare, the easternmost footpoint, which was anchored in an isolated spot region of high longitudinal magnetic field gradient, showed sudden, impulsive brightening with large intensity increases; and (3) the release flare energy was transported by way of large-scale connecting field lines to other parts of the active region, producing the hot plasma and H-alpha kernels observed near the trailing spot.

Cheng, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Steady flows in the solar transition region observed with SMM

Steady flows in the quiet solar transition region have been observed with the Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter experiment on the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) satellite. The persistent vertical motions seen at disk center have spatial rms amplitudes of 1.4 km/s in the C II line, 3.9 km/s in Si IV, and 4.2 km/s in C IV. The amplitudes of the more horizontal flows seen toward the limb tend to be somewhat higher. Plots of steady vertical velocity versus intensity seen at disk center in Si IV and C IV show two distinct branches.

Gebbie, K. B.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Spatial and temporal structures of impulsive bursts from solar flares observed in UV and hard X-rays

New observations are presented of impulsive UV and hard X-rays bursts in two solar flares obtained with instruments on Solar Maximum Mission. The UV bursts were observed in the Si IV and O IV emission lines, whose intensity ratio is density-sensitive. By comparing the spatially resolved Si IV/O IV observations with the corresponding hard X-ray observations, it is possible to study their spatial and temporal relationships. For one flare, the individual component spikes in the multiply peaked hard X-ray burst can be identified with different discrete Si IV/O IV flaring kernels of size 4 arcsec x 4 arcsec or smaller, which brighten up sequentially in time. For the other, many Si IV/O kernels, widely distributed over a large area, show impulsive bursts at the same time, which correlate with the main peak of the impulsive hard X-ray burst. The density of the flaring Si IV/O IV kernels is in the range from 5 x 10 to the 12th-13th/cu cm.

Cheng, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Observations of the 1980 April 30 limb flare by the ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission

Observations of the M2 limb flare of 1980 April 30 by the ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter in the C IV 1548 A line are described and compared with observations from other SMM instruments and with ground-based H-alpha data. Events observed during the 18 minutes leading up to the flare impulsive phase include the filling of a small loop with material moving at about 20 km/s, followed by a rapid brightening in C IV, H-alpha, and hard X-rays, with a subsequent brightening of a higher set of loops. The rapid brightening appears to be at the junction of the small loop with the overlying magnetic structures, which suggests the flare may be caused by their interaction.

Woodgate, B. E.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The photospheric vector magnetic field of a sunspot and its vertical gradient

The results of direct comparisons of photospheric and transition region line-of-sight field observations of sunspots using the SMM UV spectrometer and polarimeter are reported. The analysis accompanying the data is concentrated on demonstrating that the sunspot concentrated magnetic field extends into the transition region. An observation of a sunspot on Oct. 23, 1980 at the S 18 E 03 location is used as an example. Maximum field strengths ranged from 2030-2240 gauss for large and small umbrae viewed and inclination of the field to the line-of-sight was determined for the photosphere and transition region. The distribution of the magnetic field over the sunspot and variation of the line-of-sight gradient are discussed, as are the magnitudes and gradients of the photospheric field across the penumbral-photospheric boundaries.

Hagyard, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

UVSP/SMM observations of transition region oscillations in sunspots

Using Ultraviolet Spectrometer and Polarimeter data obtained in emission lines formed at temperatures of 70,000 K to 130,000 K, transition region oscillations in sunspots have been observed. The frequency of these oscillations lies in the range 5.8 mHz to 7.8 mHz. Their regular appearance in line-of-sight velocity and their frequent occurrence in intensity in phase with maximum blue shift leads to the interpretation of the oscillations as upward-propagating acoustic waves. The presence in two of the C IV wavelength 1548.19 time series of a phase-shifted oscillation in the line width may be caused by the presence of unidentified blends in the line wings. The energy flux carried by the umbral acoustic waves is less than 2000 erg/sq cm/s, some seven orders of magnitude smaller than the missing radiative flux of sunspots.

Gurman, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Line formation in the solar chromosphere. II - An optically thick region of the chromosphere-corona transition region observed with OSO 8

The University of Colorado ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the Orbiting Solar Observatory 8(OSO 8) has measured self-reversed profiles of the resonance line of C IV lamda 1548.2 at the limb passage of an active region. The degree of the self-reversal together with the absolute intensity of the line profile determine the electron density in the active region at 10 to the 10th/cu cm at temperatures where the C IV line is formed. The nonthermal component of the broadening velocity is no more than 14km/s, and the physical thickness of an equivalent plane-parallel slab in hydrostatic equilibrium that would give rise to the observed line profiles is about 430 km.

Lites, B. W.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Solar maximum ultraviolet spectrometer and polarimeter

The objectives of the UVSP experiment are to study solar ultraviolet radiations, particularly from flares and active regions, and to measure constituents in the terrestrial atmosphere by the extinction of sunlight at satellite dawn and dusk. The instrument is designed to observe the Sun at a variety of spectral and spatial resolutions in the range from 1150 to 3600 A. A Gregorian telescope with effective focal length of 1.8 m is used to feed a 1 m Ebert-Fastie spectrometer. A polarimeter containing rotatable magnesium fluoride waveplates is included behind the spectrometer entrance slit and will allow all four Stokes parameters to be determined. Velocities on the Sun can also be measured. The instrument is controlled by a computer which can interact with the data stream to modify the observing program. The observing modes, including rasters, spectral scans, velocity measurements, and polarimetry, are also described along with plans for mission operations, data handling, and analysis of the observations.

Tandberg-Hanssen, E.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Overlapping emission peaks in the solar C I multiplets at lambda 1560 and lambda 1657

Observations of the C I multiplets at 1560 and 1657 A made with the University of Colorado spectrometer on the OSO 8 satellite are presented and compared with computed profiles for the Vernazza-Avrett-Loeser solar atmosphere. These are optically thick emission lines formed in the solar chromosphere that show the central reversals typical of such lines. In each multiplet there is an interesting case of overlapping emission peaks which shows that such peaks do not constructively combine but instead weaken. This behavior is easily understood and reproduced with an optically thick, non-LTE mode of formation for these lines and is not consistent with an optically thin mechanism. We also find that the shapes of these blends are very sensitive to the magnitude of the nonthermal microvelocities.

Shine, R. A.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Line formation in the solar chromosphere. I - The C II resonance lines observed with OSO 8

The temperature structure of the upper chromosphere is investigated using center-to-limb measurements of the C II resonance lines at 1335 A from the University of Colorado spectrometer aboard OSO 8. Spectrum synthesis of these lines shows them to be extremely sensitive to the temperature and the physical extent of the 20,000 K plateau proposed by Vernazza et al (1973). Hydrostatic equilibrium models of the quiet chromosphere are computed to obtain theoretical spectra of the Lyman lines and continuum as well as the center-to-limb behavior of the C II lines. Good agreement is found with observations for a plateau at 16,500 K with about 25% more material than that of Vernazza et al.

Lites, B. W.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Analysis of the chromospheric spectrum of O I in Arcturus

The ultraviolet and near-infrared spectra of O I in Arcturus are analyzed by a 15-level 14-transition model for O I and the Ayres-Linsky (1975) model chromosphere. It is found that the anomalously bright O I resonance lines at 1302, 1305, and 1306 A can be readily explained by a Ly-beta-pumped fluorescence mechanism as originally proposed by Bowen (1974). Observed equivalent widths of the near-infrared triplet and singlet lines are also consistent with the model predictions, but the intercombination lines at 1355 and 1359 A and near-infrared quintet lines may pose a problem.

Haisch, B. M.↗